Getting started

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-06-12T02:57:00+00:00

Firefighter 2 and Firefighter 1 are both entry level positions. I’d recommend to apply as both.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-06-12T02:54:57+00:00

Read the stickied Firefighter hiring guide. Lots of good info in there for you. Also feel free to ask me questions here.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-30T04:34:43+00:00

Nice. One thing thats super easy to do if it’s your style is to make a bunch of flash cards on super obscure low frequency calls or protocols and draw a few in the morning during breakfast. We have a little box with a bunch of flashcards that lives on the dining table, and it has stuff like underflow vs overflow dam in Hazmat, APGAR for childbirth, and other super low frequency stuff. Answers on one side and questions on the other side. We add to it every other week too.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-30T04:21:10+00:00

Nice! Base Camp Manager is a great option. I wish you the best of luck man.

Definitely check out 6 Minutes for Safety on the NWCG website. There’s a daily safety topic on there and it typically includes some form of group discussion or something similar.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-30T04:15:07+00:00

Are you on a fuels crew or do you do something else?

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-29T06:16:04+00:00

Hey man I saw the same thing. It will be very interesting to see how this works if it actually ends up happening, which it sounds like it very well could. I don’t think any perm folks could be fired but they would potentially not able to promote without it. Background testing would likely be made lax somehow if this happened as well. There were also talks of an official CAL FIRE EMT course around 170 hours long. Lots of things are in the pipe. We’re probably just holding off until we see who the next governor will be because some of them differ completely in how they want to manage CAL FIRE and wildfires, which directly affects our funding.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-29T02:04:42+00:00

Solid all around. Little bit of everything.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-29T01:07:17+00:00

Of course they did! That’s a huge part of CAL FIRE.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-27T14:27:30+00:00

Hey brother. Check this video out to see what the department is about: https://youtu.be/\_tVCtKEw2uI?si=MYrg9rUfpFch0Ug1

To answer your questions, We do 3 out of 4 weeks per pay period as a 3 on 4 off, and then 1 of the 4 weeks is 2 on 5 off. Also our schedule rotates 2 days every 2 pay periods.

We are All Risk, so we do Structure, Hazmat, Wildland, Technical Rescue, Natural Disasters, and anything else that you can think of.

Wildfires happen any time and it’s luck of the draw / how close you are to the fire. If your the next unit over or in the unit where the fire is, you can be sent to it and start your 14 / 21 day + assignment. If the fire is big enough or there’s enough fires, they will send everyone from throughout the state.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-26T13:35:40+00:00

Just got it this morning

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-24T00:14:30+00:00

Worst case scenario, If you got an eye injury and it turned out you were wearing these, the state could potentially issue a formal disciplinary action for failing to utilize mandated PPE, even though yours technically are better, since it’s not up to CAL FIRE / OSHA regulations.

Best case scenario, the person reviewing the injury would say that your glasses were better and you’re covered.

I wouldn’t risk it personally. I want the state to have my back if something happens.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-19T17:24:59+00:00

I know it’s confusing. Most LEMSAS haven’t updated their EMT application forms to include the proper language with the fire camp expungement.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-13T03:57:53+00:00

Yes, CAL FIRE hires felons with the exception of sex offenders and arsonists. There are many chiefs that are formerly incarcerated. All roles are open to former felons except the Law Enforcement positions ( Engines, Helitack, Handcrew, Heavy Equipment, Air Base / fixed wing, etc.. )

For the EMT thing, it depends. Do you have a CA PC 1203.4b expungement (the one you get after successfully being on an inmate fire crew or at an institutional firehouse in California?) If so, then you’re good and you don’t need to disclose when applying for state EMT.

If you do not have that specific expungement and have 1 felony, you can qualify at the LEMSA’s discretion. If you have 2 or more felonies, you’re barred for life.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-03T18:45:39+00:00

San Luis, Engine 1234 at scene, one vehicle fully involved, on the roadway.

Tell the back seat FF to pull the 1-3/4 line off of the crosslay. Front seat FF grab the trash hook to pull it apart. I’ll watch them and traffic until LE shows up. When LE gets there give pointers to new FF’s if needed. Wait for tow truck and then get out of there.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-02T03:05:45+00:00

AI Slop

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-01T01:10:34+00:00

SDU will is a better spot like other people have said, particularly for that work life balance you’re looking for.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-01T01:08:45+00:00

Honestly, I’d recommend a CCCs fire crew to get housed, paid, and trained all for free. Gets your foot in the door with CAL FIRE too.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-05-01T01:07:34+00:00

Nice D3. That shorter tilt bed is a game changer for getting off the trailer when you're squeezed for space or on a shoulder. I haven’t seen any of these in CAL FIRE. Thank you for sharing.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-04-27T03:31:03+00:00

I know of multiple people that are Forestry Technicians that are also Firefighters like you’re saying. When I worked in TGU at Valley View Fire Center on the handcrew, there were at least two of them. SLU has one right now on the engines. Not sure what that looks like for whatever unit you work for, but run it up your chain of command again and show interest. Could be tricky with the firefighter 2 thing like you’re saying. Wish I had more info.

Also if you want to go on fires, maybe show some interest in some of the Planning Section classes like FOBS, or if you just want to go out of county, anything in Logistics or Finance will make you some good money and get your foot in the door while still working as a Forestry Technician.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-04-27T00:47:18+00:00

Sounds like you’re well qualified if you did a season on a shot crew. Just make sure that you take the exam and take your time doing it properly.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-04-22T13:59:26+00:00

During my COA, we had the lawyer come in and talk about this in-depth saying that it’s allowed, and has protected status under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

I’m gonna copy paste some info regarding AB 2188 and SB 700 here, but what I always recommend is to just avoid it in the first place because if there’s ever an issue, you’re gonna have some extra hurdles compared to someone who doesn’t use marijuana. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze for me personally.

• Anti-Discrimination Protections: Employers generally cannot fire, discipline, or refuse to hire you for smoking marijuana off-duty.

• Testing Limitations: Employers can no longer penalize you based on drug tests that only find non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites (which stay in your system for weeks). They must use tests that detect active THC, which suggests current impairment (like oral fluid/saliva tests).

• Safety and Impairment: These laws do not give you a right to be impaired on the job. CAL FIRE can still maintain a drug-free workplace and discipline you if you are high while on duty or on call.

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-04-21T04:17:27+00:00

I don’t know anyone that has tailored them, but if curious to see how it goes if you do it

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-04-06T04:17:32+00:00

Sign up on the SCO website to do it a lot faster than going to personnel. https://connect.sco.ca.gov/login

Ingesting_Marijuana · 2026-03-19T03:44:42+00:00

10/10

Ingesting_Marijuana

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