RESERVE FIREFIGHTER

Position Description

Class Summary

The Orange County Fire Authority’s Reserve Program is a community-based program. This program gives members of the community the opportunity to augment full-time career Firefighters with the delivery of emergency fire and rescue services and public relations and education to the community.

Reserve Firefighters volunteer their time to the community solely based on civic and humanitarian reasons. Reserve Firefighters receive a nominal stipend and limited benefits for their voluntary participation in this program.

How to Become a Reserve Firefighter

  1. Verify that you live within 15 minutes from a Reserve Fire Station or 45 minutes from a Reserve Fire Crew Station.

  2. After verifying that you live within the response area, visit the station of interest during its weekly drill night. Introduce yourself to the Senior Reserve Officer and other Reserve Firefighters to learn more about the program to see whether you have the desire and ability to commit your time as a volunteer.

  3. After attending at least five (5) drill nights, you will be eligible to submit an online application for Reserve Firefighter during the recruitment application window.

  4. Be sure to submit a Job Interest Card and visit www.ocfa.org for information on upcoming recruitment application windows for Reserve Firefighter.

Essential Functions

(These duties are intended to be representative sample of the duties performed by the class)

  • Level 1 Reserve Firefighters are assigned to an Engine Company and receive training to respond to: structure fires, wildland fires, traffic collisions, incident support, and medical aide emergencies. They may also operate a patrol and/or water tender. (Fire Stations 11, 14, and 16).

  • Level 2 Reserve Firefighters are assigned to patrols and receive training to respond to: wildland fires, traffic collisions, incident support, and medical aid emergencies. They may also operate a water tender and/or air utility unit. (Fire Stations 7, 18, 26, 30, and 32).

  • Reserve Fire Crew are assigned to Fire Station 18 (Trabuco Canyon) or Fire Station 41 (Fullerton Airport) and receive training in wildland firefighting and special equipment operations.

Reserve Firefighters must be able to commit to attending mandatory training meetings and weekly station drill nights at their respective stations. Reserve Firefighters must also commit to responding to a minimum of 30% of all pages for response and complete all mandatory training.

To view the complete Classification Specification please visit www.ocfa.org.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: (position requirements at application)

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at time of application submittal

  • Must live within 15 minutes of a Reserve Fire Station or within 45 minutes of a Reserve Fire Crew Station

  • Must be in good health and pass OCFA’s physical requirements

Licenses & Certifications: (position requirements at application)

  • Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License.  This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program, which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbent's Driver License record and status

  • Must obtain an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license in the State of California within 18 months of Academy graduation

Reserve Firefighter Academy

Volunteers who attend the Reserve Firefighter Academy learn about firefighting and emergency medical technician skills and are expected to graduate from the Academy. The Academy curriculum may include, but is not limited to, the following areas: Hazardous Materials, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Confined Space, Vehicle Extrication, Wildland, Patient Assessment, Building Construction, S-130, S-190, L-180 and much more. The aforementioned areas may be taught in a lecture and/or manipulative skills setting.

Reserve Academy training is held at the Regional Fire Operations Training Center (RFOTC) and may be held on weeknights and on weekends. Post Academy training occurs at the fire stations. Reserve Academy Commitment is as follows:

  • Level 1 - 232 hours over 4.5 months

  • Level 2 - 175 hours over 3.5 months

  • Fire Crew - 32 hours over 4 weeks (in addition to Level 2 training)