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. The District’s policies are set by a 5-member elected Board of Directors.
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/Paramedic. 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/ Paramedic 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-Technician License with El Dorado County Accreditation.
Wage and Benefits:
Salary Range: The current base salary step range is $6794.70-7925.34 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.
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 November 1, 2021
Current California State Paramedic License or National Registered Paramedic (California Licensed and local accreditation required within 60 days of appointment.)
*California State Firefighter I or Certificate of Completion from an accredited fire academy
Proof of these documents must be provided with a resume and application
Desired Qualifications:
Local/El Dorado County Experience
CTESOA experience
Paramedic Qualifications:
● California Paramedic License or National Registry Paramedic at time of appointment with no open or pending disciplinary actions, suspensions, revocation, etc.
● Must complete El Dorado County EMS Accreditation process within 60 days from “start date.”
Application Process:
Applications are available at the Fire Station #7 Business Office located at 2211 Keetak St., South Lake Tahoe or online at www.lakevalleyfire.org. Completed applications with resume, cover letter and proof of the above listedqualifications can be submitted via mail or delivered to the on-duty Battalion Chief at Fire Station #7 Business Office, 2211 Keetak Street, South LakeTahoe, California, 96150 between 0900-1700 Hrs. 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: This is an open- continuous recruitment. The District will conduct testing on an as needed basis. Qualified applicants will be notified of testing information. Positions will remain open until filled.
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-P 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 ● Paramedic skills/scenarios testing based on National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians ALS 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/Paramedic.
● 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:
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/ Paramedic 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/ Paramedics will receive training and orientation for the position prior to assignment. Job related training will continue throughout the probationary term 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
The regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting for Thursday March 9, 2023 is canceled due to the incoming storm and the need for the District to be focused on mission tasks in the community at this time. We will have updates if the meeting will be rescheduled.
Notice of Intent to Adopt the 2022 Fire Code Ordinance – Second Notice
Notice is hereby given of the intention of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District to adopt a Fire
Code Ordinance. The District shall hold its second public hearing at 16:00 on Thursday January
5th, 2023 at the Lake Valley Fire Protection District Station 7, 2211 Keetak St, South Lake
Tahoe, CA, regarding the adoption of the 2022 Fire Code Ordinance pursuant to Health and
Safety Code Sections 13869 and 13869.7. Copies of the code section referred to and any
secondary code sections referred to,adopted by reference, are on file with the Secretary of
the District and are open to public inspection. Adoption of the Fire Code Ordinance will adopt
the California Fire Code as currently published in Title 24, Part 9, of the California Code of
Regulations, governing fire prevention and building standards related to fire and panic safety
with some amendments. In some instances the Lake Valley Fire Protection District’s proposed
Fire Code Ordinance proposes building standards more stringent than those minimum building
standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal and contained in the California Building Standards
Code.
Notice of Intent to Adopt the 2022 Fire Code Ordinance
Notice is hereby given of the intention of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District to adopt a Fire Code Ordinance. The District shall hold its first public hearing at 17:00 on Thursday December 8th, 2022 at the Lake Valley Fire Protection District Station 7, 2211 Keetak St, South Lake Tahoe, CA, regarding the adoption of the 2022 Fire Code Ordinance pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 13869 and 13869.7. Copies of the code section referred to and any secondary code sections referred to, adopted by reference, are on file with the Secretary of the District and are open to public inspection (see link below). Adoption of the Fire Code Ordinance will adopt the California Fire Code as currently published in Title 24, Part 9, of the California Code of Regulations, governing fire prevention and building standards related to fire and panic safety with some amendments. In some instances the Lake Valley Fire Protection District’s proposed Fire Code Ordinance proposes building standards more stringent than those minimum building standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal and contained in the California Building Standards Code.
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will enforce the new insurance pricing regulation he wrote recognizing and rewarding wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses.
Commissioner Lara’s regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework created by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with state emergency preparedness agencies. The regulation is now state law and included in the California Code of Regulations.
“Protecting Californians from deadly wildfires means everyone doing their part, including insurance companies by rewarding consumers for being safer from wildfires,” states Lara in a news release. “The reality of climate change is driving my determination to help communities better prepare, help our firefighters save lives and help more Californians find insurance they can afford.”
Lara’s regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rate filings incorporating wildfire safety standards created by the Department of Insurance and to establish a process for releasing wildfire risk determinations to residents and businesses within 180 days. The news release notes that transparency is an important benefit of this regulation, requiring insurance companies to provide consumers with their property’s “wildfire risk score” and creating a right to appeal that score.
In 2019 insurance companies representing 7% of the residential market provided insurance discounts. Today that figure has grown to 40%, according to Department of Insurance data. When this new regulation is fully implemented, it is expected to be 100% of the residential and commercial market aligned with the Safer from Wildfires framework.
Lara directed the Department of Insurance to write the regulation to protect consumers and improve market competition after hearing first-hand from consumers and business owners about their frustration with insurance companies that did not consider mitigation in their rating plans. During town hall meetings in more than 38 counties and an extensive Department of Insurance investigatory wildfire hearing in 2020, consumers testified that their homes and businesses were subject to “wildfire risk scores” that many did not know existed and had no right to appeal if inaccurate.
Home hardening retrofits, along with defensible space, significantly increase a home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, according to Chief Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire deputy director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation. “Using the latest fire science and recent wildfire data, these retrofits and landscaping requirements provide a strong path to structure survivability,” he states, adding that Cal Fire is currently funding more than $3 million in local wildfire prevention projects to prepare communities for wildfire.
The new wildfire safety regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rates that recognize the benefit of safety measures such as upgraded roofs and windows, defensible space and community-wide programs such as Firewise USA and the Fire Risk Reduction Community designation developed by the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, which currently includes the counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Butte, as well as cities and local districts.
Lake Valley Fire Protection District Notice of Vacancy and Intent to Appoint Director
The community served by the Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) is hereby notified pursuant to Government Code §1780 that there is a vacancy on the Lake Valley Fire Protection District Board due to failure to elect. The appointee will represent the community served by the Lake Valley Fire Protection District as a Board Director. The position to be filled is a 4-year term beginning December, 2022 and ending December, 2026.
To apply, candidates must submit a letter of intent along with a current resume to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, attention Kayla Galvan by Friday, October 7, 2022 by 5:00 PM.
Eligibility:
Any person who is 18 years of age or older, a registered voter and resident of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding office, is eligible to be appointed a member of the Board of Directors.
Interviews:
The Board of Directors will interview prospective candidates at a public meeting on October 13, 2022, accept oral or written public input at that time, and select the appointee by a majority vote.
