Emergency Inside - Station 17 (CA)
San Mateo County Fire - CAL FIRE
 |
| The exterior of Station 17 with E17 and U17 |
The following is a summary of personal knowledge, experience, and responses to interview questions regarding Station 17. This article goes into extensive detail due to my experience at 17
Introductory Information
San Mateo County Fire (SMCO) website: https://www.cfsfire.org/
SMCO is a member of CAL FIRE, California's fire department. CAL FIRE contains over 8,000 permanent and seasonal employees; each area of CAL FIRE differs in culture and specific practices. Visit https://www.fire.ca.gov/ for more information on CAL FIRE
SMCO is an all-risk fire department (meaning the department can respond to any incident, from medical calls to rope rescue to vehicle accidents). 17, due to the location being directly over the intersection of highways 280 and 92, is specialized toward vehicle accident response. E17 and T17 carry more extrication equipment compared to the average fire engine/truck (see interviews with other departments here to compare)
All 17 apparatuses are ALS certified (advanced life support). This means that each apparatus is equipped with ALS medical equipment and has at least one Paramedic onboard
17 houses most of the important apparatuses of SMCO, and serves as a primary HQ for the Batallion Chief. Most training is hosted at 17 for SMCO members
History and Culture of 17
The history of station 17 is rich and large; existence has been traced all the way back to the 1920s (possibly earlier), and County Fire was originally known as the "County Forest Service". It wasn't until 1962 that SMCO started to contract with CAL FIRE, then known as the California Division of Forestry (CDF), that County Fire adopted its current name. In 1970, the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit was established.
17 was notorious (and still is) for its crowded staffing, especially during the summer due to wildland fire incidents. The crowded conditions led to the creation of their mascot, THE ZOO, implying that 17 was just as crowded and insane as a zoo.
Most recently, a crocodile, officially named Kroc the Crocodile, has become the used mascot for 17. Kroc is identified by his flag, which has "THE ZOO" written on it (Fun fact: Kroc is missing a finger on his right hand due to an accident with the 24' ladder...)
 |
| The newly designed Kroc the crocodile |
The Zoo mascot also reflects the culture of 17 which is known to be fiercely fun and tiring (I speak from personal experience). Training is a daily routine, and subjects vary depending on the season. PT, physical training, is another important aspect of life at 17; grueling workouts are to be expected every morning.
Apparatuses
 |
| E17 (Type 1 Engine) |
 |
| T17 (Aerial Ladder Truck) |
 |
| Dozer 1741 (Type 2 Dozer) with transport |
 |
| E1771 (Type 3 Engine) |
Post 955
 |
| 955 explorers in front of E17, resting after working on a VMP |
Post 955 website: https://www.cfsfire.org/community-outreach/fire-explorer-post/
A primary program of 17 is Explorer Post 955. The program focuses on educating young adults, ages 14-21, about the fire and emergency medical services. Explorers train, go on ride-a-longs and assist at various volunteer events.
Many 955 explorers have gone on to become successful full-time firefighters at agencies such as CAL FIRE and Redwood City Fire. Many alumni of the past have returned to 17 to provide support through education and donations.
Note: As a current member of this post, I cannot emphasize enough how very grateful I am for all of the resources and time provided by 17, all of SMCO, and alumni for 955. Without their support, it would not be possible.
Seasonal Firefighters
Temporary and permanent employees make up CAL FIRE's staffing. The temporary staff are known as the "seasonals" or as a "firefighter I". Seasonals are brought onto staffing during fire season, which is typically between the months of June and November.
Minimum qualifications include the age of 18+ and a valid driver's license. A seasonal position is typical for those with little experience in the fire service. Seasonal experience provides exceptional employment benefits, as most seasonals are later taken up as full-time employees not only at CAL FIRE, but also at city and federal agencies.
Comments
Post a Comment