The Porterville Fire Department is a tax-supported department with an authorized manpower level of full-time, paid firefighters as authorized each year by the City Council.  Additionally, the department is authorized to employ reserve firefighters to augment the full-time paid staff. 

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Must possess a valid California Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle.
3. Must have completed 12th grade or possess a G.E.D.
4. Must adhere to the Porterville Fire Department residency requirement.
5. Must be able to pass a live scan (fingerprint check).
6. Must be of good health and be able to pass the annual Porterville Fire Department physical agility test.
7. Must adhere to the no-smoking policy.

 REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

Responds from home or on apparatus to provide fire suppression, emergency medical service, rescue, hazardous material response and other emergency and public services.  Participates in regular training drills, assists in fire station and equipment maintenance, assists with scheduled public relations activities, and performs other duties as assigned.

 STATION TIME REQUIREMENTS

Reserves are required to perform 12 hours of station time per month.  The reserve firefighter will call the on-duty captain at Station 1 prior to station time to receive further direction. 

1. Upon arrival to the assigned station, the reserve firefighter will be in full uniform, adhering to the Porterville Fire Department uniform and grooming standards. 
2. Upon direction from the on-duty officer, the reserve firefighter will place his or her assigned safety gear on or next to the assigned apparatus in a ready state to respond to emergency incidents.
3. A reserve firefighter station time form (blue) will be filled out by the on-duty officer; the reserve firefighter signs it prior to leaving.  All emergency incidents that the reserve firefighter responds to will be documented on the form and forwarded to the department secretary.  (Note: if a reserve firefighter is unable to meet the required station time for the month he/she will call the reserve coordinator and follow up with a written explanation.    

UNIFORM

              Reserve firefighters will be responsible for adhering to the operations manual 10.1.1 regarding station uniforms, protective gear, and personal equipment.  All issued equipment will be returned immediately upon separation from the department. 

The following list contains station uniforms and equipment that will be issued once accepted into the reserve firefighter program.

1. One uniform shirt.
2. One pair of uniform pants
3. One department “T” shirt
4. One pair of station boots
5. One flashlight
6. Department pager
7. One turnout bag
8. One complete set of turnouts with structure gloves
9. One complete set of wildland gear with wildland gloves
10. One nomex hood
11. One SCBA mask (Note: if a reserve firefighter fails to pass the department fit test, he or she will be issued the correct SCBA mask.  All other reserve firefighters will use the mask provided with the air packs kept on the apparatus.)

TRAINING

1. Initial training requirement for a new reserve firefighter is to complete a 32-hour in-house academy.  Upon completion of the academy the reserve firefighter shall be cleared by the fire chief to respond to emergency incidents.
2. Reserve firefighters are required to attend monthly training meetings twice per month, totaling 4 hours per month.  Training meetings are usually scheduled on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  Some exceptions can apply.
3. In addition to the above-required training there will be two mandatory 8-hour training days scheduled within each calendar year. 
4. Makeup training will be at the discretion of the reserve coordinator, while absenteeism shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Fire Chief.

(Note: if a reserve firefighter is unable to meet the required station time for the month he/she will call the reserve coordinator and follow up with a written explanation.)    

COMPENSATION

              Each reserve firefighter is an employee of the City of Porterville for Workers Compensation Insurance purposes and is covered while enroute to and from drills or authorized emergency responses.  All reserve firefighters will be compensated for their time spent at training drills, special work details, and all emergency responses.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

1. Reserve firefighters will obey all traffic laws while enroute to emergency incidents.
2. The reserve firefighter is expected to respond to the location indicated whenever called upon, and report to the Incident Commander upon arrival at the scene.
3. The reserve firefighter will be responsible for advising the Incident Commander of his departure from the scene and signing the emergency response time form (gold) prior to leaving.