The Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program is authorized by the Rohnert Park Municipal Code section 2.16.060. Redesigned and implemented in January of 1998 the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program provides for an enhancement of the fire protection and emergency response capabilities of the paid staff. It is not intended to supplant or replace the paid staff program, but to allow citizens the opportunity to assist in increasing and supporting the protection of their community.

Mission Statement

The Rohnert Park Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program (Auxiliary) is developed to augment the fire protection provided by the paid staff of the Department of Public Safety by providing a cadre of well trained and equipped members of the community to enhance the capabilities of fire protection in Rohnert Park.

Secondary Services

Secondary objectives of the Auxiliary include public education regarding fire safety, first aid, emergency preparedness disaster response, assisting other City and local government agencies and providing emergency support to local residents.

Methodology

To complete these goals and objectives, the Rohnert Park Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program is organized as a volunteer force of firefighters under the direction of the Public Safety Commander - Fire Services Division. The rank structure within the Auxiliary provides the ranks of Firefighter and Engineer. To accomplish these goals, a Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter contingent of up to 30 active members are recruited, trained, assigned, and supplied tone/voice pagers for emergency notification purposes. Members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Fire force work directly with paid staff members in the fire stations and on apparatus assignments.

Job Descriptions

Engineer

Engineers are expected to develop an extensive knowledge of the operation of all pieces of fire apparatus and equipment on them, and to pass that knowledge on to ALL other members of the department in a training environment. Each Engineer shall:

• Perform all duties required of a firefighter.
• Perform a daily check of their assigned apparatus for readiness and serviceability when reporting for duty.
• Perform a weekly check of assigned apparatus for readiness and serviceability when reporting working an appropriate shift.
• Record the results of the weekly check-out on the provided forms.
• Report (or make) any necessary repairs, servicing, equipment deficiency or needed cleaning to the Fire Services Sergeant or Shift Supervisor.
• Perform normal cleaning and maintenance of the apparatus and its associated equipment as needed.
• Maintain a valid Class B Driver's License.
• Provide training to individual members, at mutual convenience, on the operation of the apparatus and its equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Shift Supervisor or supervising Public Safety Officer.

Firefighter

Each member of the Department shall fulfill all duties as a firefighter including:

• Regular attendance and participation at scheduled training sessions. Each member is responsible for the education provided at all training sessions, however, the Department and City realize that 100% attendance is virtually impossible. For the purpose of defining "regular attendance," it is believed that 75% is the minimum acceptable level. Information missed by the member at a regular training session must be made up by the member at the convenience of the Training Coordinator.
• Perform a minimum of three Auxiliary shifts as assigned/scheduled by the Fire Service Sergeant. Auxiliary shifts shall consist of approximately 12 hours, scheduled for evenings or weekend daytime periods.
• Respond to emergency call-outs when available.
• Submittal to a periodic physical provided by the City-retained physician at City expense and compliance with recommendations made as result. Other duties as assigned by Staff level officers of the Department.

Firefighter Trainee

Each Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Trainee shall attend a department approved Recruit Fire Academy or Firefighter One Academy.

• Attend 90% of training sessions.
• Submittal to a periodic physical provided by the City-retained physician at City expense and compliance with recommendations made as result.
• Possess a current valid Class C drivers license and acquire and maintain a Class B driver's license with tank and air brake endorsements within the first two years of participation.
• Compliance with the provisions of this manual.
• Other duties as assigned by Staff level officers of the Department. Firefighter Trainees may not participate as primary participant in the Auxiliary shift program. Firefighter Trainees may only participate in the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program after approval of the Training Coordinator. Firefighter Trainees may respond to emergency call-outs up to the level of their certification.

Selection Process

Applicants for the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate.
• Applicants for the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall be subject to oral board examination, physical agility testing and background investigation.

Assignments

Members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Fire force work directly with paid staff members in the fire stations and on apparatus assignments and respond to emergency calls as required. On rare emergency occasions, members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program may be assigned independently of Public Safety Officers; to provide emergency extended coverage. Members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall not be used to provide or achieve minimum staffing levels or for minimum staffing for planned standby at events or activities. No members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall be assigned to fill a position or assignment normally assigned to a full time employee.

Conduct and Relationship with the City

Participants in the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program are to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner and can expect good leadership and fair supervision from the City. Volunteering in the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program is based upon mutual consent. Both the Volunteer and the City have the right to terminate that relationship at will, with or without cause.

Compensation/Stipend

Each member of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program, upon completion of the Trainee program, shall receive a monthly stipend of $150.00 to offset costs associated with participation in this program. These "costs" are defined as: child care, transportation, meals, telephone/communications, personal non-reimbursed clothing, supplies and toiletries.

Each member shall receive this stipend quarterly (March, June, September, December) upon successfully meeting the criteria of participation contained in this document. In no way shall this stipend be construed as payment or compensation for work, either shift based or hourly. No conference of employee status be made by payment or receipt of this stipend. All participants in this program are deemed to be volunteers and may be removed from the program at any time.

CSFA Membership

The City shall pay the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter's annual membership dues in the CSFA.

Provision of Equipment and Supplies

The City shall provide the participants in the VAFP with all safety equipment and uniforms as indicated in the Procedures portion of this manual. No uniform or equipment allowance will be provided.

Long Term Disability Program/Workers' Compensation

Members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall be provided coverage under the City of Rohnert Park Workers' Compensation Program and a secondary Long Term Disability Program.

Chain-of-Command and Succession - Department

For administrative purposes, the Chain-of-Command and succession in the Department (beyond that defined in the City Emergency Plan) is as follows: Director or Public Safety, Public Safety Commander - Police Services, Public Safety

Commander - Fire Services, Lieutenant on call.

For day to day operational considerations, members of the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall be at the direction of the senior Public Safety Officer overseeing the station they are assigned to. The Fire Services Sergeant or Shift Supervisor will supervise each station as part of his/her daily assignment.

Communications and authority within Fire Services Division should be through the Fire Services Sergeant, Fire Services Lieutenant, then to the Public Safety Commander - Fire Services Division

Management and Organizational Philosophy - Department

In an emergency service agency, on-scene management is of paramilitary fashion. This authoritarian-style of management is necessary for immediate reaction to life-threatening situations. Participants in the Volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter Program shall adhere to this paramilitary organizational structure by being subordinate to the assigned Public Safety Officer supervising the Apparatus, or the Supervisor or his/her designate.

With respect to non-emergency management, it is the philosophy of this Department to involve those most affected by a decision in the making of that decision. This participative style of management encourages the various talents and expertise of the members to be best utilized to solve problems and provide input to the Department.