In the past PLPs didnt get cashed out, if you carried 3 PLP days you could get direct deposit immediately. Annual leave has its benefits, if you get injured off duty and are on annual leave you only have to burn 20 hours per week for full salary with IDL.
Pretty sure you should know what the salary for the job you are applying for is. If not, do you even have a clue what the job entails? You gonna be the one who balks at cleaning toilets, or taps out on the first hose lay (that won’t be on flat ground for sure)? Know how to turn on a mower? Paint a wall? COOK?
Just wait till yer first staffing pattern or out of county assignment covering a station for 2-3 weeks. How about instead of using the easy button (this) you look at the application you put in or do a little work and use this thing called the internet. Here is a starter (like 0.0046 seconds on Google):
https://www.fire.ca.gov/careers/
- 1083 FIRE FIGHTER I
- $3,273.00 - $4,137.00
- $14.26 - $18.03 HR
And straight off the seasonal hiring page the new and improved ranks. (I admit, this verbiage is new to me. I remember ranks were based on interview/resume scores)
All applications received will be reviewed and applicants will be placed in the appropriate category as follows:
- Category 0: The applicant has returnee rights to a CAL FIRE Unit.
- Category 1: The applicant is considered “fully trained” and has provided an acceptable document showing completion of ALL of the required trainings listed above AND either: Public Safety First Aid, EMT, or Paramedic.
- Category 2: The applicant is considered “partially trained” and has provided an acceptable document showing completion of at least one of the required trainings listed above, or one EMS qualification listed above, or one of the desirable trainings listed above.
- Category 3: The applicant has not provided acceptable documentation for any of the required trainings or desirable trainings listed above.
Good luck, you’ll need it.
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Hey man, maybe considering the CAL Fire retention issues you should take a little time out of your day to mentor someone who’s interested in working for the agency. I’m sure that having someone talk down to them for asking a question is really making them want to come work for the bear over other agencies who are more than happy to help people apply.
Also, are the salary numbers really accurate? Last I checked the job postings still don’t include EDWIC pay sooooo his questions seem fairly valid.
Just my thoughts.
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The salary range is accurate according to the CAL HR website, ( FIRE FIGHTER I $3,273.00 - $4,137.00) but they don’t include the Extended duty or overtime . I spent 15 seasons with the bear before moving up the branch , best 15 seasons ever. Fast pace but the bonds are the best. Whenever I see a new seasonal come in I see the future for the department.
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Yeah, I really wanna work days on end with a slap-dick who doesn’t wanna read the application, know what they are applying for (maybe get some experience first? Volunteer, explorer program, Feds?) or have to baby-sit in the middle of a fire fight. I guess cooking, lawn care/maintenance and general housekeeping is a lost art now with the current hires. Again, show some competence and do the digging. Can’t even figure out salary for a state job that has everything in duty statement and app? Good luck even trying to get anywhere with local gov. Rather have someone who knows the deal get a job than a tourist. The days of breathing and having a pulse gets you a job are long gone, way too many people in line who have their eyes on the prize. I know CDF is just a stepping stone, but do work while here.
Admittedly, the EDWC can be confusing (19 hrs of planned OT built into your 72 (that’s 3 days) shift, X four (4) weeks = planned OT check you get when your personnel department gets around to cutting it). Salary come on the first of the month, unless you’re with a credit union (like G1, Schools) who deposits salary a couple days before.
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I’m sorry that leadership is so exhausting. It’s not for everyone.
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I’d prefer to have a company officer that doesn’t refer to his subordinates as slap dicks when they are asking questions. Or a company officer who prefers to teach and educate his firemen on their job opposed to worrying about trivial things such as lawn care. We are firemen not gardeners. That’s the problem with your old forestry mind set. Let’s do nothing to improve our employees just treat them as the seasonal help. When we should as supervisors be preparing them for the next level. But you know what raking the sand north to south in the AM and east to west in the PM is better than competency.
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Agreed. Most people don’t quit jobs they quit bosses. As a member of this organization I am so fed up with the terrible leadership that I see out of many of the company officers. The idea of ownership is completely lost on them. They all talk and act like when they were new their captains didn’t have to teach them anything.
“There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.”
To anyone who is thinking of working for CAL Fire please understand. The mentality that was shown here by another member is a dying mentality. Darii, please don’t let this deter you from seeking employment with us. I have no doubt that your six seasons with the Feds have served you well and would bring valuable experience to CAL Fire.
We all need to be the change we want to see.
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I am with the other two, blacks attitude towards the inexperienced is old and needs to go. I have no problem bringing new guys off the street up to speed. It isnt that hard, and if they truely arent cut out for the job you can take the appropriate action at that point. Nobody is awesome their forst season, and they arent raised the same anymore, its is going to take time to get the young ones up to speed.
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How soon we forget that we all started at this point of asking questions and feeling our way through to begin our firefighting careers. I was always taught to not forget where you came from. Today’s recruits are not the same and most of them need a little more hand holding. It’s the age of the non-motivated in our young people coming up. But, if you take the time to mentor them I bet their are many hidden gems to be found and you get to train them in your own mindset. Don’t forget where you came from!
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How many new candidates know or can understand a PLP day or any other out of the box names for state pay? I get doing research first as that is certainty a problem with the younger generation but so is lack of leadership and educating the new guys. We were all there at one time. Take time to mentor.
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Mod Note: Let’s try to keep the discussion on a positive tone, please. It’s far too early in the year to be getting too cheeky. We were all eager as hell waiting for our 1st CF call too.
Carry on, everybody!
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I can see both sides of this coin. However, I error on the side of the “Newbee” in this case with the exception of not doing 100% of their homework before asking questions that are easily answered from the Cal-Hr website and the KSA’s and Duty Statement. But the way Matt black handled it was completely unprofessional in 2021. The response SHOULD have been more encouraging & informational. Especially when dealing with someone that has FED experience and a general baseline knowledge of wildland firefighting. Taking the time to explain it would’ve been great. But taking the extra effort to do it in such a condescending way shows someone who is bitter, intelligent, and close to retirement. In other words LACKS LEADERSHIP. Today’s generation (Gen Z, Millennial whatever) come to this job with completely different skills, background, experience, and expectations. A person with Darii fed experience was born in the 90’s, doesnt know the history of CDF/Calfire, the 96hr work week, “The Nickle” and probably minimal experience with “Gardening Equipment”. This person is an opportunity, a virtual blank canvas to teach, train, and mentor. The amount of effort Matt Black put into such a Negative response is nothing short of a #@*& move(fill in the blank) Like it or not, WE ALL work for the Government. The Governor of California just authorized the hiring of 1,400 additional personal. If we don’t Teach, Train, THE BASICS, (starting with treating people the right way) 2021 will be longer than 2020. Finally, something that took me a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time to learn, but I finally did is this “Don’t come to me with problems, come to me with solutions”
Happy Easter and everyone have a SAFE 2021 fireseason
#WORSTFIRESEASONEVER
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No need to be rude brother. Instead of flaunting your “superior” knowledge, take the time to mentor and teach. These are the folks that take over the job when we retire. Let’s leave it in good hands eh?
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Preach brother! 
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The 96 hour shift 19 hrs paid and hoping for the nickel at a slow house was how I started in 02. I had old school captains that mentored us and taught the history of the department and all the major work ( tool sharpening and lawn work ) was a shared experience from FF II to FF I with the occasional FAE jumping in. But anyhow hope every single one of them a safe season .
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Well, I don’t typically respond to many of the topics on this board, I am typically looking for local fire info. While up late writing reports and looking for fire info I was scanning through this page and found this topic I know I am a little late to the game but here I go. I will say, I really appreciate the responses that were given to this young individual who really is not just asking for info, but sparking conversation amongst his peers. This job/career is about gaining knowledge through questions, education, training and ultimately time on the job. That’s how most of us have learned in this job. I remember the days of applying for jobs all over the state and out of state just to get that badge, I would have done anything at the time. I asked questions in person or on the phone because I did not have access to a computer because I was broke, and the internet was not really a thing yet. I asked some really stupid questions I am sure, but I never came across a guy who ripped me for asking a question. That all happened in the fire academy. Matteblack, I assume you work for Cal Fire, I assume that because of your knowledge of the process and pay and how you described some of the duties you do at work. Would it be fair for me to say I know you work for Cal Fire because you are an A** H***? No, it would not because that is an opinion not a fact! For you to call this individual a slap- Dick, your words not mine, is an opinion not a fact. I have worked with individuals like you throughout my career, they stick around way too long and are a true cancer to organization, good thing I have enough experience to realize that Cal Fire is a great department and they just happen to hire a few rotten apples. Also, to ask if an individual can start a mower is so ridiculous, what if he grew up in the City and had no lawn or vegetation at his house, or a father that did not have those skills to teach him, and why does that matter at ALL? Did you start your career with all the knowledge and experience, I don’t think so. If he is a fed guy I am sure he knows about wildland fire. I have had probationary fire fighters in my department that had never started a chainsaw or washed laundry before, but that does not make them a slap-dick. It makes them moldable and fresh to learn and be open to new ideas and training. Some of the greenest fireman I have seen and worked with over the last 25 years have become some of the best and most respected firemen in our County. Hopefully this youngster received a position with Cal Fire and did not turn away from fear of working with you. Your job is to mentor people and show them why they should work for your organization not deter them to not apply or leave for a better environment or pay. We are better than that, and if we are not, move on! My City boarders Cal Fire and I work with them daily on incidents, I think its a great department with some really great people. They teach me things and I teach them things, that’s what we do in this job, teach and learn every day till we walk out the bay doors for the last time. Darii, if you would like some advice on getting hired in a municipal department, message me, I would be happy to steer you in the right direction. Be safe everyone! Additionaly, anyone who has mowed the lawn at a fire station uses a pull cord or a recoil start on the mower we don’t “turn it on.”
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Don’t forget 2.7% at 57, Post 2013 I believe. Big difference from the past. You can still retire at 50 though, just at 2.0, steps every year up 0.1 after age 50 to max. Largest Fire department in the state and questionably the Nation, who probably spends the most on Occupational Cancer research, asking you to work longer for less. But in Fairness I was told that CHP are in the same bracket as well. Golden days are long gone I guess
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It is sad when overhead treat people like this. Old forestry is gone and if I’m not mistaken matteblack has only been around since 2013 with Calfire in HUU if I remember correctly…funny how small this community is. So acting like a salty FAE when you only have a handful of years as an actual supervisor is pretty sad. We can still have the aggressive old forestry attitude of getting after it on fires, in training, and pt but raking the sand and moving rocks…those days are long gone. I hope the best for you young lad in finding the answers to your question and hope you can turn away from supervisors that treat you with disrespect. You’re still a human and probably a grown ass man. Some guys just forget how to play nice in the sand box when they had overhead that treated them poorly…as is the case here I know for a fact.
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Geez, 2013, I have rescued more people out of structure fires than you have been on the job. One day you will see what the folks are talking about on this thread Matteblack. Be humble, brother, respect is earned if your an ass hole to new guys that just spreads the cancer throughout your organization. Show respect to all individuals coming up, you are their supervisor! Show them why YOU have the best job in the world! Bring them in, show them, teach them, and be someone for them to look up to and say” that guy is awesome, he showed me the way! “ . Matt, your better than that! The ass hole that treated you crappy is truly that, an ass hole! Change starts with you. I was ripped hard on probation and guess what, I decided to treat everyone I came in contact with, with the utmost respect. These are the guys who will carry you out in the S**t! Treat them like crap, they may walk away!
Be safe brothers! It’s been a rough season and we need you all to get home!
Cheers.
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