Women in Fire and National Volunteer Fire Council Release Fire Service Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit

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Successful fire and EMS departments prioritize the health and safety of their members and foster a
positive, inclusive environment where their members can thrive. Unfortunately, instances of
harassment, discrimination, and retaliation do just the opposite, harming individuals and the entire
department. Departments can protect their members and the organization by adopting proactive
measures to identify and respond to discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
To help departments and individual members of the fire service address this under-recognized problem,
Women in Fire and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to release the Fire Service
Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit. This new resource aims to help both volunteer and career first
responders prevent, identify, and respond to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the
workplace.

The toolkit is designed to fill in the gaps in understanding for members of the fire service who may not
know what qualifies as harassment and discrimination or what to do if they or someone they know is
the target of these actions. Information provided includes:

  • Who is protected by federal employment laws
  • Who can perpetrate harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation in the workplace
  • That conduct can be inappropriate for the workplace even if it does not meet the legal definition
    of unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation
  • What actions can constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in the workplace
  •  What to do if you suspect that you are being targeted by harassment, discrimination, or
    retaliation in the workplace
  • Where to find available resources

“Every emergency response leader must accept that discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated
in the workplace,” said NVFC Maryland Director David Lewis. “This applies equally in workplaces
employing paid and/or volunteer personnel. Ignorance of the laws, regulations, and requirements
cannot be held as an excuse for not taking appropriate action. The Fire Service Discrimination and
Harassment Toolkit is an excellent reference resource on the legal framework on discrimination and
harassment and should be used in every officer development training program as well as be a stand
ready reference guide on every officer’s bookshelf.”

Developed in consultation with an attorney specializing in these issues, the toolkit will equip responders
with the knowledge to recognize, confront, or prevent certain unlawful or unwanted employment
actions. However, it does not replace legal advice, and individuals experiencing discrimination or
harassment are encouraged to contact an attorney for advisement.

Women in Fire and the NVFC are committed to creating a respectful, harassment-free fire service for
future generations. Be part of the movement by understanding the issues of harassment, discrimination,
and retaliation and making changes in your department to eliminate these behaviors and create an
inclusive and welcoming firehouse environment for all.

Access the Fire Service Discrimination and Harassment Toolkit here: https://bit.ly/3A79d0W

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Calaveras County Volunteer Firefighters

Calaveras County consists of 10 volunteer fire departments:

  • Altavile/Melones
  • Angles Camp
  • Central Fire
  • Copperopolis
  • Ebbetts Pass
  • Calaveras Consolidated Fire
  • Mokelumne Hill
  • Murphys Fire
  • San Andreas
  • West Point Fire

The CCFCA fire agencies are located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 188 miles east of San Francisco and 135 miles west of Lake Tahoe in California. Found midway on State Highway 49, between Sacramento and Yosemite, Calaveras County links the two towns of the California Gold Country. With an average of 6,000 fire and emergency service calls a year, our 11 fire districts serve a rural area of 45,578 people. We provide fire protection and rescue service to 1,020 square miles of rural area. Our 11 volunteer agencies respond to structure fires, wild land fires, medical emergencies, water rescue, technical rope rescue, hazardous materials spills, public service assistance calls and other emergencies. The Calaveras County Fire Agencies protects an area that is 66% rural wild land, 21% residential, and 3% commercial, including Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a preserve of Giant Sequoia trees, located in the county several miles east of the town of Arnold.

Calaveras County Volunteer Firefighter Selection Criteria

Below is a list of the selection criteria each department requires in order to consider an application for volunteer firefighter. Read the criteria and make sure that you qualify, then click the Apply button to complete your application online.

Fire Department

Must Live in District

Required Certifications

Comments

Altavile/Melones

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Angels Camp

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record. Physical exam and agility test. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Central Fire

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Copperopolis

No

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Under 18 Cadet Program available. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Ebbetts Pass

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Calaveres Consolidated Fire

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

Mokelumne Hill

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean background check. Physical exam and pass a drug and alcohol test. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided. Must receive Class B license within the 1 year probation period.
 

Murphys Fire

No

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

San Andreas

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

West Point Fire

Yes

None

Must be over 18 with a clean record & in good health. Valid DL. Participate in an interview. Training provided.

 

Napa County Volunteer Firefighters

  • The NCFA helps protect over 125,000 citizens and has 9 all-volunteer fire stations. We protect thousands of tourists each year who travel to the northern California wine country. With an average of 3,049 fire and emergency service calls a year, our 9 volunteer fire companies serve mostly wild land areas and rural residential.
  • Our volunteers receive state of the art training through the fire academy right in the heart of Napa County. No experience needed!

 

Napa County Volunteer Firefighter Selection Criteria

Although local governments and departments establish different selection criteria, many departments require that volunteers:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Have a valid driver’s license
  • Be healthy and in good physical condition
  • Complete basic fire & EMS training
  • Live in close proximity to the fire district
  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Meet the minimum ongoing training requirements
  • Respond to a certain percentage of calls

Time requirements vary by department. Time commitment will depend on several factors, such as the number of calls the department receives, training requirements, shift versus on-call structure, and community activities in which the department requires volunteers to participate.

Volunteer departments prefer that volunteers have the ability to respond to calls 24 hours a day, although most departments still accept volunteers who are unable to leave work or other obligations to respond to a call.

Typically, departments pay for training and firefighting equipment. Volunteer firefighting is an unpaid position; however, some departments may provide stipends or reimburse volunteers for certain expenses.

Napa County Firefighters Association

The Napa County Firefighters Association carries the responsibility of manning 9 all-volunteer fire stations out of the 13 NCFD stations. NCFD provides over 300 hours of in-house training to meet California's required Firefighter 1 and 2, plus EMS First Responder standards. All new recruits receive an entry level physical and all required immunizations and our department encourages a daily physical fitness routine.

If you want to make a difference in your community, become a Volunteer Firefighter!