Recruitment FAQ

Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team

Recruitment Frequently Asked Questions

* How many calls does the department get and what kind of incidents are they?

We receive an average of 400 to 500 calls per year. The majority of calls are for motor vehicle accidents, followed by medical aids, then fires, and then power lines down. Of course we receive a greater variety of calls than this: bicyclist down in the Soquel Demonstration Forest, baby locked in car, overturned and leaking gasoline tanker truck, house on person, car in tree—you get the idea—wild and crazy things happen out there. Remember that a call to 911 is a call for us unless it is strictly a law-enforcement matter.

* Will I get to go on exciting calls every week?

Even though we average about a call and a half a day, they come in fits and spurts. You can go on as many or as few of these calls as you want. Some team members go on only a few calls a year (the big structure fire, the medical aid just down the road). Others have become addicted. They go on every call that they possibly make.

Calls are a great break from the ordinary and the routine. Some calls are cancelled because the fire was a false alarm or because there were no injuries at the vehicle accident. Even cancelled calls are fun for many of us. It is hard to explain, but even a cancelled call gets your adrenaline pumping, gives you an opportunity to chat with your fellow team members, and sometimes rewards you with a beautiful view of the Monterey Bay at night with the Milky Way stretching above.

Each of us accumulates memorable calls too: The first time that you land an air ambulance. The time you rappelled down a steep ravine to extricate the driver from a car. . The little girl whose eyes lit up when you gave her the teddy bear that we keep in the pediatric medical bag. The time you actually went into a burning house with that hoseline and put the fire out. The patient who was in cardiac arrest when you arrived, but good CPR and our defibrillator mean that you are quietly reminded of that call every once in a while when you see him at the Summit Store.

* What satisfaction do you get from being a member of the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team?

We genuinely make a (positive) difference in peoples’ lives. Learning new skills, personal growth, and appreciation for life are perhaps the most lasting rewards for being on the team. There is great satisfaction in knowing that you have the skills and training to help someone in an emergency. There is greater satisfaction in doing it.

* How are calls dispatched?

We are each given a small radio pager that beeps to alert us to an incident. This is followed by a voice message from the dispatcher telling us the nature and location of the incident.

* Am I required to respond every time the pager goes off?

No. You are a Volunteer. We cover for each other and other local agencies respond as well. If you are unable to respond because you are taking care of children, painting the house, pouring concrete, sick with the flu, preparing for a house full of guests or any other reason that is personally important you may choose not to respond. Remember, you are a Volunteer.

* Where is your fire engine?

We have 4 fire engines and one rescue located at 3 stations. Our main station (Station 36) is on Old Summit Road and it houses Engine 3621 and Rescue 3661. We keep Engine 3622 and Watertender 3651 (a great big fire engine) at Burrell Fire Station on Highland Way. We use Engine 3622 in the summer and CDF uses it in the winter. Burrell Fire Station also houses Engine 1768, which is owned by the State. Finally there is Station 48 which houses Engine 3641 (a fast, light, all-wheel drive fire engine) on Old San Jose Road.

* I don’t live near any of your stations, is that OK?

We need a good mix of team members, some who live near a station so they can pick up a engine or rescue, and some who live in the more remote areas so they can get to calls in those remote areas quickly.

* I work in the Valley, do you still want me?

Yes! A lot of calls happen on nights and weekends.

* I’m home during the day and want to be on the department but have children, can I still join the department?

You bet! If your children go to school, then you might be able to respond during the day when the people who work in the valley are away. If you children don’t go to school, or after school, you might make arrangements to drop the kids off with a trusted neighbor. This has worked well in the past for Moms and Dads on the Team. Remember, you are a volunteer—respond when you are able.

* What is the training commitment ?

Initial:

Safety Orientation—8 hours on a weekend

Fire Academy—40 hours on 3 weekends

Confined Space Awareness—8 hours on a weekend

Emergency Medical Services First Responder— 48 hours on 3 weekends

Hazardous Materials First Responder Operation — 16 hours on a weekend

Ongoing:

Regular training: Monthly, 9 days after the first Tuesday (7– 10 pm), 18 days after the first Tuesday (8am – 1pm). 75% attendance is required the first year and 50% thereafter (waived if attending other training such as the Fire Academy).

Recertification:

First responder medical or EMT rectification (2 yr. Intervals) — 24 hrs., schedule varies

Other re-certifications are performed during regularly scheduled training

Optional:

EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course so you can drive with lights and siren)—16 hour on a weekend

Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator (so you can drive a fire engine—not needed for the Rescue and Attack)

Class B Driver’s license (not required for the Rescue and Attack)

Pump Operations Course—16 hours on a weekend

Preventative Maintenance Course—8 hours on a weekend

Defibrillation (“attach electrode pads, assessing, push button to shock, CLEAR!”)—6 hours on a weekend

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)—120 hours plus, schedule varies

More Optional training: Low and High Angle Rescue (rope rescue), vehicle extrication, structure firefighting (with real fire) wildland firefighting (with real fire), incident command system, company officer training, and just about anything else you could think of.

* What is my long term commitment to the department if I decide to join?

We don’t have a minimum commitment, you are free to leave at any time. Since we will be investing a lot of time and effort in your training, we would like to see you stay around awhile. Also, we grow fond of our fellow team members and are saddened if one has to move away. After many years, some team members retire from active response but remain involved in other ways.

Much of your first year on the team is spent learning the ‘basics’ and observing incidents. In the second year you will take a more active role in incidents and in the department as well. In the third year you will have the confidence to perform a major role at incidents and in the department.

* What about vacations and outside commitments ?

Many of us have jobs, children, regularly scheduled commitments, and take 3-6 weeks vacation each year. That is the reason we only require 50% attendence at trainings after the first year. Training schedules are flexible to allow us to maintain our certifications - most classes are offered at least twice a year at different times, usually on weekends, to accommodate Volunteers.

* Do I have to be 6 feet tall, run a six minute mile and able to lift 200 lbs. ?

NO! If all of our members had to live up to this stereotype, we’d have no team at all. Our team members come in all shapes and sizes from petite to large, from 18 to well…well let’s just say we don’t have an upper age limit. The only requirement is that you be of good health mentally and physically. You will receive a free physical upon joining. If you are over 40, you will receive a very complete physical examination including an exercise ECG.

* What if I don’t like fire, or can’t stand the sight of blood?

You can choose to respond to only medical aids, or to vehicle accidents, or to fires. But you must be trained in all three. Why? Because you might be responding in an engine to a medical aid and be diverted to a fire. Also, we have found that even though many team members initially have a preference for one type of call, once they have the training, they can’t wait to respond to any type of call. With the proper training and when the adrenaline is pumping, fire and blood (while remaining hazards) just become obstacles on the way of your major goal—saving the house or saving the life.

* What other characteristics would you like to see in potential department members?

A desire to help others, enthusiasm, and a good sense of humor.

* What’s the difference (at an incident) between Volunteer and Paid firefighter personnel?

There is NO DIFFERENCE. We are trained and subject to the same standards. We are professionals in every sense of the word and work very closely with paid personnel. In many cases, Volunteers run the incidents and other agencies support us.

* Do I get paid?

Not really, the Santa Cruz County provides a small boot allowance and a stipend of about $200 per year for attending trainings.

* Is any insurance coverage provided?

Yes. While on duty, including trainings, you are technically an employee of Santa Cruz County Fire through CDF, and are covered by their liability and workman’s comp insurance, as well as disability, accidental death, and some life insurance.

* Where do your engines, rescue, and equipment come from and who pays?

Santa Cruz County Fire pays for most of our vehicles and a basic complement of equipment and protective clothing. We are also supported by members of our community through our annual barbecue fundraiser and private donations. The money raised in the community allow us to significantly extend our capabilities. For example, this year we are replacing our 20 year old all-wheel drive fast attack fire engine with a brand new unit.

* What other agencies respond to incidents with us?

CDF (California Department of Forestry), AMR (American Medical Response—paramedics), Santa Clara County Fire Department, Central Fire District (Soquel), Boulder Creek Fire District, Zyante Fire District, California State Parks, Life-flight/Calstar (Air Ambulance), Santa Cruz County Sheriff, Santa Clara County Sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol.

* What is the relationship between Santa Cruz County, CDF (California Department of Forestry) the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team?

Santa Cruz County Fire contracts CDF to provide fire protection and emergency services. We are employees of CDF as part of this contract. CDF provides much of our training. They dispatch us and provide some logistical support.

At a local level, we work very closely with the paid people at CDF Burrell Fire Station on Highland Way. We train together and respond together on almost every call. We support them and they support us. They are great people.

* What is so exciting about being a member of the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team?

Driving big red fire engines with lights and sirens

Turning a sedan in to a convertible in less than two minutes

Landing Lifeflight and Calstar helicopters

Setting out a flare pattern in the pouring rain to re-direct traffic

Holding the microphone in your hand and saying “Rescue 3661 responding.”

Putting out a fire with a 1 ³/₄ inch hose flowing 100 gallons of water per minute at 125 PSI

Rappelling down a steep slope to rescue the driver of a vehicle that went over-the-side

Rendering medical aid to an injured biker, motorist, climber, hiker, or neighbor

Putting out vehicle fires, trailer fires, chimney fires, structure fires, and fighting wildland fires

Helping your neighbor with diabetes or a heart problem

* What is it really like to be member of the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team?

We are a close-knit team of highly committed people, each very different yet sharing a common goal. We trust and respect each other and enjoy training together—it’s hard , but fun. Safety is paramount and we train to be aware of both danger and opportunity. The Team is an important part of each of our lives, We are an integral part of the mountain community and develop lasting relationships with other members of our community and with members of other local agencies and fire departments. There is a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond our immediate department to the other agencies we work with. Interesting fact: Volunteer firefighters (nationally) outnumber paid by a ratio of 3:1.

* Why is the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team Important to our Community?

There are lots of reasons, some of which are discussed below:

In both patient care and firefighting, response time makes a big difference. Emergency medicine calls it the “Golden Hour”. By having enough members available to respond we can ensure that our community has that Golden Hour in the event of an emergency. Only two or three paid firefighters from CDF Burrell are available to for primary response. Sometimes the Burrell firefighters are out of our area or already committed on another call—that leaves us alone to provide the primary coverage. In the event of major incidents such as the Loma Prieta earthquake, the Lexington Fire, or even a rainy day, many calls can occur at the same time. Our team has 20 active volunteers, 4 Fire Engines, and a Rescue ready to respond in a crisis.

We are at the end of a fairly long pipeline to emergency services. In the more densely populated urban and suburban areas of Santa Clara valley response time can be as little as 3-5 minutes. A maximum response time of 10 minutes for full fire suppression and/or ALS (advanced life support - paramedics) is typical. Here in the mountains, it can take a Fire Engine or Rescue 3 to 20 minutes to get on scene depending on location. Since our team members are widely dispersed, and most are EMTs equipped with Basic Life Support Medical and Trauma Equipment, we often have a team member on scene rendering aid well before the CDF Engine or one of our team’s Engines or Rescue can arrive. Our rapid response often astounds people.

We are backed up by mutual aid fire departments, AMR (the paramedics), and air ambulance. But these resources take time. For example, our first team members usually arrive to medical aids 15 to 25 minutes before AMR. Immediate response is important to both the patient’s outcome and their family’s piece of mind.

Further, in the event of an earthquake (such as the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989) or other large scale disaster, we cannot expect any help from outside our own community—all we have is ourselves. Join the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire and Rescue Team and help us be prepared.

Call Alex Leman (353-3159), Jaci Viskochil (353-4078), or Guy Denues (353-2267) , John Haak (353-4613) or Mike Coryell (353-4094) if you are interested in becoming part of the Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue Team.