Several weekends of hard work paid off for a group of prospective firefighters Sunday, as 27 people graduated from the Cal Fire, the state's fire department, seasonal firefighting training program.
The training was based at Cal Fire's Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Station 62, located at Castle Airport.The graduates, most of whom live in the region, completed about 150 hours of training on weekends and Wednesdays. Classes started Jan. 2, according to Capt. Robert De La Rosa, a Cal Fire training officer.
Rosa said those who complete the program are awarded four certificates and the training is generally centered around fighting wildland fires.
The training is useful for those interested in pursuing an entry-level position as a seasonal firefighter, working in one of the department's mountain stations.
Rosa said the training is rigorous and competitive. The sessions included a variety of field exercises, fire simulations and drills, including working with inmate crews and carrying a hose up a 1,500 foot mountainside. Rosa said three students were unable to continue the training due to injuries.
Stevinson resident Johnny Jones, 18, said he's interested in pursuing a career as a firefighter -- and achieving an entry-level position as a seasonal firefighter would be a step in the right direction. "I decided to jump on it," said Jones, who already serves as a volunteer firefighter in Stevinson.
For more information about Cal Fire training, visit www.fire.ca.gov.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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