The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is currently accepting applications for a new job opening from qualified individuals for the position of Fire Safety Inspector I. The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill a new position. Under the direct supervision of the Fire Prevention Captain, with a 40-hour staff assignment to Fire Prevention, the Fire Safety Inspector I will perform a variety of tasks relating to Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction including:
Conduct Defensible Space Inspections in accordance with Chapter 8.09 of the El Dorado County Codes and Ordinances;
Mark fire hazard trees in accordance with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA);
Conduct Vacation Home Rental (VHR) inspections for compliance with Chapter 5.56 Vacation Home Rental Ordinance;
Conduct general business and other fire and life safety inspections
Organize and conduct public education, community outreach, and fire prevention activities;
Participate in Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) Fire Prevention Information Team (PIT);
Assist the Public Information Officer (PIO) as needed with social media and website postings;
Develop and prepare reports regarding activity for the inspection program, and shall perform database entry and support database management to ensure quality of record keeping;
Maintain knowledge and competency of current trends in the field;
Performs additional collateral duties as assigned;
Minimum Requirements
High School diploma or equivalent;
California Class C Driver License or equivalent;
Current CPR certification to the Health Care Provider level (required 120 days after employment).
California State Fire Marshal Courses (required 6 months after employment):
Fire Inspector 1A; Duties and Administration
Fire Inspector 1B; Fire and Life Safety
Fire Inspector 1C; Field Inspection
Fire Inspector 1D; Field Inspection – California Specific
Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness
California State Fire Marshal Certification and Course for Home Ignition Zone and Defensible Space Inspector or equivalent training and experience (required 120 days after employment).
Preferred and Desired Qualifications
Associates Degree in Forestry or Fire Science or a related field and/or a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts Degree in any field;
OSFM Fire Inspector I Certification or equivalent
International Code Council Fire Inspector I certification or equivalent Statutes and Regulations
TRPA Training – Pre-TRPA process, Hazardous tree identification, marking and removal permit process
NWCG Wildland Firefighter and Incident Command System ▪ S-110, 130, 190 ▪ Introduction to ICS (I-100)
Examination and Selection Process
The examination process shall include the following:
Application Review
Oral Interview
Chiefs Interview
The tentative test dates are the week of June 10, 2023. Applicants who are offered employment are subject to a Live Scan, background investigation, and a drug/alcohol screening and physical assessment. Employment is contingent upon passing the Live Scan, background investigation, and the drug/alcohol screening.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should complete the District application available on our website https://lakevalleyfire.org/documents/. Submit the completed application, attach a letter of interest, resume, and copies of required and applicable certifications. All required material must be submitted in person or by mail prior to 5 PM, June 17, 2023.
Compensation and Benefits
Where applicable, salaries and benefits are per current Wages and Benefits Policy Manual: Effective 11/12/20.
Medical Insurance premiums are not paid for by the District although personnel may choose and can purchase their own health care coverage tax deferred through the District.
Additional Benefits:
Public Employees Retirement System – retirement benefits based on PEPRA miscellaneous employee 2% at 62
District pays 100% of the employer portion and employee pays 100% of the employee portion – No cost share
Vacation accrual (4.4 hours per bi-weekly pay period)
Holidays (13 holidays annually)
Sick leave (4.4 hours per bi-weekly pay period)
Compensatory Time Off (CTO) (maximum accrual – 240 hours)
Vision Care Plan ($300 per year per employee and family members)
Additional Information
Schedule: This position requires a minimum of 40 hours per week.
Probation: This position has no probationary period, the employee is classified as at will.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA – In recognition of National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 6, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is encouraging people and organizations everywhere to come together to take action, raise awareness, and reduce wildfire risks. The TFFT is stressing the importance of wildfire preparedness throughout the year to continue protecting communities and Lake Tahoe’s environment from the increasing risk of wildfire. Lake Tahoe has seen firsthand how important it is to be vigilant, be prepared for evacuation, and work together to create defensible space and thin overstocked forests.
“After decades of fire suppression, the Tahoe Basin’s forests are overstocked and highly vulnerable to insects, disease and catastrophic wildfire,” said TFFT Incident Commander and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Division Chief Isaac Powning. “We rely on firefighters, land managers, and the public to all work together to protect our communities and ecosystem from damaging wildfires.”
In 2022, TFFT partners reduced fuels on more than 2,500 acres and completed a record 7,962 inspections to help property owners create defensible space around homes and businesses.
Along with TFFT’s work, the community has a critical role in wildfire preparedness. Next Saturday, May 13, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue will host the 6th annual Wildfire Safety Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Tahoe Middle School, 2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The Wildfire Safety Expo is a fun, free, community event to provide information on how to be fire-safe during this upcoming wildfire season.
And on May 23, North Shore fire agencies will host a community wildfire preparedness workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Lake Tahoe Event Center, 8313 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, Calif. The event will educate, inspire, and build fire-adapted communities and Firewise neighborhoods in the North Tahoe Region. Sign up here to attend or visit tinyurl.com/wildfireworkshop.
The TFFT is also urgently requesting public feedback on the Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) survey. These plans help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and increase the resilience of communities to natural disasters. To complete the quick survey, visit arcg.is/8zKGr0.
“This survey is an opportunity for fire districts to hear from community members about concerns and priorities related to wildfire risk reduction. Community input will help guide the update of community wildfire protection plans and ensure that they reflect the needs and values of communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin,” said Cheyanne Neuffer, the CWPP Program Coordinator at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District also manages the Fire Adapted Communities Program and has assisted neighborhoods throughout the region to become certified in the program. Contact the district for more information.
Forest health is one of the focus areas of the Environmental Improvement Program, a collaborative partnership of over 80 public and private organizations committed to achieving the environmental goals of the region. Since the EIP’s inception in 1997, TFFT partners have treated more than 92,000 acres of forest to reduce hazardous fuels. The full list of projects is available at eip.laketahoeinfo.org.
“These fuel treatments have proven themselves invaluable. During the Caldor Fire we saw flames 150 feet tall in untreated areas that shrunk to 15 feet tall when they reached a treated area in Christmas Valley,” said Captain Martin Goldberg of Lake Valley Fire. “This meant that our firefighters could engage the fire and protect the nearby homes. If that area hadn’t been treated, we may have seen a very different outcome.”
This year, TFFT partners plan to exceed the 2,500 acres treated in 2022, especially near power lines and neighborhoods. On the East Shore, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team will be treating about 450 acres near Marlette Lake, which will complement the work by NV Energy to create resilient corridors along NV Energy’s electrical lines on all lands. Liberty Energy will be doing similar resilience corridor work throughout their service area on the South Shore. Crews will be working to reduce hazardous fuels in Van Sickle Bi-State Park this summer, and South Tahoe Public Utility District will be conducting projects to protect water infrastructure in case of wildfire. The North Tahoe Fire Protection District will reduce hazardous fuels on at least 300 acres within North Tahoe and Meeks Bay Fire Protection Districts.
Protecting Lake Tahoe communities from damaging wildfire and restoring ecosystem resilience requires agencies and communities to work together. Maintaining defensible space and landscaping with native plants complements larger forest health projects and helps create a safer and more resilient Lake Tahoe Basin. By working together, Lake Tahoe’s communities and environment will be better protected throughout the year.
Photo NLTFPD Chipping3.jpg Caption: Many fire districts at Lake Tahoe offer free services such as curbside chipping and defensible space inspections that improve safety for firefighters and the community.
Photo Credit: North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
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About the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, CAL FIRE, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, University of California and Nevada Cooperative Extensions, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and engaging the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is a local government agency created and operated pursuant to California State Law; by the Fire Protection Law of 1987 – Health and Safety Code, Section 13801 through 13999. It provides 24-hour emergency fire, rescue, emergency medical services and other safety activities. A 5-member elected Board of Directors sets the District’s policies.
Lake Valley Fire Protection District serves the residents of El Dorado County in the Lake Tahoe Basin area. Our jurisdiction extends north to include Emerald Bay on Hwy 89, west to Twin Bridges on Hwy 50, south to the intersection of Hwy 88 and Hwy 89 in Alpine County, and east to the Nevada State line not including the City of South Lake Tahoe.
Job Description: This is a full time position working as a firefighter. This is a position represented by the current Memorandum of Understanding with the Lake Valley Professional Firefighters Association. The official job description is available on our website.
This job has a probationary period of twelve (12) months from the “date of hire.” During the probationary period, the employee must receive satisfactory evaluations and complete the “California State Firefighter 1 Certification” process. A probationary employee is an “at will” employee and may be terminated without cause.
The Firefighter engages directly in fire suppression, fire prevention education, rescue, hazardous materials, and advanced emergency medical services. Employees within this class are required to maintain a valid State of California Emergency Medical Technician License with El Dorado County Accreditation.
Wage and Benefits:
Salary Range: The current base salary step range is $5,534.32 to $6,494.70 per month.
Benefit Package: The benefit package is detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Lake Valley Professional Firefighters Association. Benefits include vacation time, sick leave, compensatory time, retirement, and educational and insurance incentives.
Minimum Qualifications: All proof of minimum qualifications must be turned in with application by the application closing date.
*Minimum 18 years of age
*Current California Class C driver’s license or equivalent
*High School Diploma or equivalent
*Current CPR certification to the Health Care Provider level
*CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) completed after June 1st, 2022
*Current California or National Registry EMT
*California State Firefighter I or Certificate of Completion from an accredited fire academy
Proof of these documents must be provided with application
Desired Qualifications:
Local/El Dorado County Experience
CTESOA experience
Enrolment in an Accredited Paramedic Program
Application Process:
Applications are available at the Fire Station #7 Business Office located at 2211 Keetak St., South Lake Tahoe or online at http://www.lakevalleyfire.org.Completed applications with resume, cover letter and proof of the above listedqualifications are due by May 12th 2023 @1700 hrs. No applications will be accepted after the closing date.Applications and proof of the above listed qualifications must be delivered to the on-duty Battalion Chief or mailed to Battalion Chief Malone, at Station #7 Business Office, 2211 Keetak Street, South LakeTahoe, California, 96150. All applicants meeting the “minimum qualifications” listed above will be notified by e-mail or telephone and given further details to participate in the testing process.
Testing Process: (Test Dates: TBD- Qualified applicants will be notified via email of test dates and times.)
Firefighter Written Examination and Skill Assessment
The written exam will be a timed, multiple-choice test from IFSTA Firefighter Essentials,6th ed. (Emphasis on chapters 5, 8, 12-17)
Applicants must pass the written exam with a minimum score of 70% to advance ● Firefighter skills will be based on California State Fire Training Firefighter 1A skill sheets
EMT Written Exam and Skills Assessment
The written exam will be a timed, multiple-choice test based on current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians standards National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (nremt.org) ● Applicants must pass the written exam with a minimum score of 70% to advance ● EMT skills/scenarios testing based on National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians psychomotor certification standards ● Applicants must pass all of the Pass/Fail skills/scenarios testing stations to advance
Oral Interview
The oral interview will be a series of questions relating to the knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant to perform the duties of a Firefighter/EMT.
Applicants must pass the oral interview with an overall average score of 70% to advance
Note: Applicants must successfully pass ALL sections of the exam process to be placed on the “Eligibility List.”
Hiring Process:
Lake Valley Fire District is committed to providing the highest-level of service to all customers we serve. We achieve this by staffing Advanced Life Support (ALS) fire engines and ambulances with El Dorado County Accredited Paramedics 24/7. Therefore, it is expected anyone hired under the Firefighter/ EMT job classification be enrolled in an accredited paramedic program within two (2) years of his or her “hire date.”
After testing has been completed, applicants will receive written notice of eligibility/ineligibility from the fire district. Eligible candidates will be placed on an “Eligibility List”. The eligibility list will be valid for two years from the date the list is established. When the fire district needs to fill a Firefighter position, the Fire Chief may select candidates from the eligibility list and conduct a Fire Chief’s Interview.
Following the formal offer of employment by the Fire Chief, the applicant must pass a drug test, comprehensive medical exam, psychological exam, and criminal background check. After successfully completing this final screening process, the Fire Chief will notify the applicant of their “date of hire.” Probationary Firefighters will receive training and orientation for the position prior to assignment. Job related training will continue throughout the probationary period and beyond.
Respect, Integrity, Dedication, Positive Attitude and Teamwork
2211 Keetak St., So. Lake Tahoe, CA. 96150 ∙ (530) 577-3737 ∙ Fax (530) 577-3739 ∙ www.lakevalleyfire.org
Lake Valley Fire is seeking candidates to fill an open position for Administrative Assistant. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 21st at 5:00pm. Full job announcement and job description can be found below. The application can be found on our website under Documents. For questions please contact Kayla Galvan at [email protected]
