Reserve applications online

Volunteer applications online

Contact: Cal HendrieCAL FIRE -

2249 Jamacha Rd.
El Cajon Ca. 92019
(619) 590-3112 Office
chendrie@fire.ca.gov

Duty Requirements:

18 years of age, Valid Calif. Driver License,

Background check, must live in a community served by the Fire District

Must attend at least 2 training drills a month

Communities within Fire District: Jamul, Dulzura/ Barrett, Deerhorn Valley, Harbison Canyon,

Dehesa, Potrero, Tecate, Lake Morena, Descanso, Jacumba

The Job: It is important that you have a complete picture of what a Fire Fighter's job involves, including the less desirable aspects. The information presented below will help you make a realistic comparison of the job duties to your personal skills, abilities and interest.

Firefighting is physically demanding work. The tools and equipment used on the job are heavy the Fire Fighter must be capable of repeatedly handing and operating them over prolonged periods of time.

Fire spreads rapidly so firefighters must work quickly. This urgency places a considerable burden on a Fire Fighter's endurance.

Fire Fighting is always conducted while wearing heavy protective clothing and a self contained breathing apparatus (total weight is approximately 50 pounds)

Protective clothing greatly prevents the body's ability to cool itself. Physical fitness (principally cardio respiratory fitness in this case) greatly influences how well and how safely a Fire Fighter can cope with the potentially dangerous heat stress.

Fire Fighters are sometimes exposed to extremely hot and toxic environments. This greatly increases the physical and mental stress associated with performing otherwise routine firefighting tasks. The weight of the protective gear itself can increase the difficulty of "routine" tasks by about 33%, which again underscores the importance of strength and stamina.

Fire Fighters must operate and maintain a wide variety of tools and equipment. In order to properly and safely operate these tools and equipment, a knowledge of the underlying mechanical principles is essential (e.g., parts of machines, names and purposes of tools, gear / lever action, parallel forces, weight distribution, etc.).

The majority of incidents to which you will respond to as a Volunteer Fire Fighter will include the treatment of medical aid victims, involving minor medical to severe trauma and potential exposure to communicable diseases. As a volunteer Firefighter, you will be trained to a minimum level of Medical First Responder. You can later enroll in classes to become an EMT and enhance your job training. As a Medical First Responder or EMT, you will have to recertify your medical skills, as well as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) / Defibrillation every two years.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, you can download the application and the employment eligibility and bring it to the Fire District offices or mail it to the following address: