Duties:
The Fire District employs full time Administrative and Firefighting staff to support the fifty volunteers. They operate out of four fire stations where two stations are set up for a Residency program for active volunteers. They have several daily shifts where volunteers and staff commit to performance of the duties. A variety of qualifications for each member determines the duties they are able to perform.
Sleeper
Each night, between two and four volunteers sleep overnight at the station. The hours for each person may vary, some come in later, some leave early. Shift notes and the time clock function (indicating who has arrived for duty) provide communication to coworkers and to the command officer so everyone knows what the current staffing level is. Sleepers cannot remove themselves from duty after the 20th of the preceding month, but are allowed to work out their own shift exchanges with other qualified personnel at anytime.
When the number of sleepers fall below two qualified personnel for an upcoming day, the display for this day is flagged so that other personnel are alerted and can respond accordingly. If a qualified person signs up for the duty, then the alert is removed.
Depending on when they came on the Fire Department, some members are required to perform two sleeper shifts per month, some are required to perform fifty two shifts per year. Duty requirements are handled individually, and tracked to ensure members are signed up for enough shifts to meet their requirements.
PM Command
There is one PM Command Officer each day. The number of available officers is about ten, they are divided in to Companies. Officers are expected to ensure their company days are filled, and are accorded a higher set of privileges to view the shift reports for members in their company.
Day Shift
Members can sign up for optional day shifts where they perform normal station maintenance in between responding to emergency calls. These shifts have no minimum requirement, as the paid staff normally works during the days and the station has the appropriate staffing levels.
ALS Shift
ALS staff consists of the paramedics on the department. One of the paramedics is responsible for the calls requiring ALS coverage after normal office hours. The ALS staff members manage their own schedules, are in close contact, and trade shifts among each other. If they arrange a shift exchange between themselves, one staff member can get online and exchange the schedules.
Unscheduled
Staff members often come to the station during non duty time to help out around the station, use the station resources, visit with on duty members. Their presence at the station contributes to station staffing at the end of year reports required by ISO. When they clock in and clock out, their presence is noted and their times are recorded and end of year reports are easy to produce.
Special Duties
Central Valley Fire Department personnel also staff a fire truck for the local speedway races during the summer months. Each Friday night, at least two Firefighters and one EMT are responsible to staff the fire truck. The days of the races are noted on the calendar and staff can quickly know which dates need additional personnel.
