Public Safety Reports

personnel, a Battalion Chief in charge of training, an EMS Captain, and a Fire Training Captain.

Other members of the organization may assist in providing certain aspects of the training

depending on their particular skill set and desire to take on additional duties. The training

guidelines and the overall structure of training activities are specified in a very structured process

utilized throughout the CAL FIRE system. All employees enter the system as a state certified Fire

Fighter-I. This training utilizes a defined a curriculum that is managed for all CAL FIRE Units.

Employees must complete a 16-week training academy in which they follow the IFSTA

(International Fire Service Training Association) firefighter training curriculum. Upon completion of

the fire training academy, employees are placed on a one-year probationary period and

assigned to a unit in which their training and skills are assessed and monitored. Upon completion

of the training probationary period, all CAL FIRE employees enter a three-year

Joint

Apprenticeship Program

that requires 144 hours of annual training through a defined curriculum.

This program is administered jointly by the unit training staff and the employee’s supervisor. CAL

FIRE employees are also expected to utilize an

Individual Development Plan

that specifies

individual goals and achievement levels that are utilized in employee evaluations and in

consideration for promotion and grade advancements.

The Training Division distributes a monthly training calendar that specifies the block of training to

be carried out by each of the crews under the supervision of their officer. These include fire

training and multi-company drills, wildland training, EMS training, and other specialty training

drills or new equipment training and familiarization. CAL FIRE also utilizes online resources to

supplement its training activities (Target-Solutions). The unit has access to training simulators for

command training and driver operator training. In addition, employees are offered multiple

opportunities to attend training offerings throughout the state for enhanced skills and

proficiencies that can be included as part of the individual development plan.

The CAL FIRE training program is well organized and is monitored on the basis of employee

outcomes and individual personnel development. The process is tied to the organizational

needs, is closely aligned with the various job descriptions, and is utilized in grade advancement

and promotion. The training requirements include regular skill assessments, personal fitness, and

an annual medical health evaluation. The training and development process utilized by CAL

FIRE is one of the most organized and comprehensive training program CPSM has evaluated in

its review of numerous fire departments. We recognized CAL FIRE’s training program as a

Best

Practice

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/COOP/HAZARD MITIGATION

Emergency management in the City of Morgan Hill is coordinated by the city’s Office of

Emergency Services (OES), which operates the under Police Administration. The city has

appointed a staff member who serves as its Emergency Services Coordinator. This individual is

charged with the oversite of the city’s Emergency Operations Plan and maintaining the

readiness of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The city’s EOP is a very comprehensive

and well-written document that is kept up to date and exercised regularly. The City Manager is

designated as the Director of Emergency Services and is empowered to make a variety of

decisions that will guide the city during significant emergency events. The City Manager works

closely with the city’s Disaster Council, which is made up of the Mayor, Council Members, and

other key city officials (Police Chief, Public Works Director, Fire Chef, Emergency Services

Coordinator, and others as needed). The Disaster Council works in an advisory capacity in

guiding the City Manager in decision making during a disaster.