CAL-JAC
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased focus on medical PPE, both in the field and in training.
Training Essential Workers in the Age of COVID-19
Whether it’s a natural disaster or a pandemic, firefighters don’t have a “stay at home” option.
As essential frontline workers, firefighters must respond to every potential threat, including the invisible threat of COVID-19. That means they not only have to stay at their posts, but they are required to continue mandated training on the job. For the thousands of firefighter apprentices in California, this reality has altered the way they receive their training and their precautions on the job.
Since fire agencies are creations of local government, specific training practices vary from agency to agency. Among agencies with larger pools of apprentices — CAL FIRE, Los Angeles County Fire Dept. and Sacramento City Fire — there were many common practices and a few differences.
Distance Learning
In the classroom: CAL FIRE implemented a hybrid model for its fire control academy, guided by an online training course, with supervision from their home fire station. Testing was conducted during a week at the training center. Sacramento City implemented distance learning at the outset of the crisis, but chose to accelerate the graduation of its academy class. LA County Fire continued classroom training but concentrated its academy into eight weeks, sequestered recruits, dramatically reduced class sizes and implemented strict standards.
Manipulative training: Hands-on training is a requirement of state and federal standards. CAL FIRE conducted most of its manipulative training and testing at the training center, with strict PPE and smaller groups. Sacramento City cancelled its manipulative training when the quarantine was implemented and has since implemented decentralized training.
Graduation: Graduating from a training academy is an important moment for firefighters. Ceremonies were conducted without families present and with physical distancing implemented. In most cases, agencies were able to live-stream their graduations.
CAL FIRE cadets participate in a "socially distanced" graduation ceremony.
On the Job
Firefighters in California are also medical responders, putting them at high risk of exposure. For apprentices on the job, full PPE was mandated on all calls along with daily health monitoring and physical distancing. Because online training is already a well-established component of firefighter training, these courses were able to continue.
Cal-JAC’s Response
The COVID-19 pandemic has also forced substantial changes in operations and procedures for California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee, in particular its recruitment and testing functions.
Cal-JAC’s Firefighter Candidate Testing Centers (FCTC) is an essential element of pre-employment testing for firefighter candidates. The statewide quarantine forced closure of the testing centers, pausing both written and physical ability testing — critical prerequisites for any firefighter recruit or apprentice. “It was a hardship for our candidates to have FCTC close, especially since many departments were still hiring,” said Yvonne de la Peña, Cal-JAC Executive Director.
Cal-JAC kept engaged with FCTC’s thousands of firefighter candidates through robust social media programs including video of stay-at-home test practices and career encouragement. In June, FCTC reopened its physical ability testing to candidates, with reduced capacity, distancing requirements and rigorous sanitation of test equipment.