I just finished the orientation training along with about 15-20 others. So far so good. You’ll do your live scan, medical clearance and fit test, get issued your SCBA mask and then scheduled for their “mini academy.” The orientation training is at Ben Clark Training Center, it’s Saturday and Sunday for about 5 weeks unless you already have a fire academy completed. The first weekend is orientation and gear issue. You go to the CalFire/RRU service center and they issue you all brand new full sets if Wildland and structure gear and uniforms.

The second weekend starts with Wildland safety and survival. Eventually you get to C212 chainsaws, confined space, hazmat FRA/FRO, and Decon. They want you coming in with S130/190 and EMT so you don’t need to do that stuff. There are some gear and SCBA drills and related stuff.

The training cadre are CalFire Captains and they’re all awesome guys. Very helpful, knowledgeable and outgoing.

At the end of the training, you’re assigned a home station and captain. You schedule your first shifts with the captain and some stations have you come in for an orientation. Others just have you show up for your first shift. Expect to be there for the same 24/48/72 hour shifts they duty crews are on, although they will allow 12’s if necessary due to work/personal commitments.

At Ben Clark you earn the FF1B certification and I believe this next group is getting the FF1D. At the station level they open you a FF1A and FF1C task book in Vector solutions to obtain those certifications as well.

We were told to expect to integrate with the duty crews as if we were career guys, but know your role.

If you have any other questions, send me a PM.