Expect Increased Hiring Of Firefighter-Paramedics In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Board of Supervisors Tuesday directed the Executive Office to collaborate with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department in enhancing the process of swelling the ranks of firefighter-paramedics countywide to ensure adequate service to the public.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board gave its support to Board Chairman Kevin Jeffries and Supervisor Karen Spiegel's proposal for "on-boarding" improvements to the fire department's paramedic program.

Jeffries, a former firefighter, and Spiegel found the current deficit in the paramedic ranks concerning, especially in light of a program initiated by the county Housing & Workforce Solutions Agency to partner with the fire department in a paramedic recruitment and training program, through which graduates are able to procure National Registry Paramedic Certificates.

Jeffries and Spiegel noted that the county specifically allocated funds for 305 firefighter-paramedic positions in the fire department, yet 123 of the budgeted spots remain vacant.

"Fire engines without paramedics can only provide basic life support, an unacceptable degradation of our first response system," the supervisors wrote in documents posted to the board's agenda. "More must be done to solve this challenge. While we have had notable success in increasing our overall department staffing in recent years ... the firefighter-paramedic position remains a difficult one to fill."

The county has contracted with the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection — Cal Fire — since the 1940s.

Jeffries and Spiegel pointed out that the first class of 19 graduates from the new paramedic certification program finished training in October, but "none of those students have been hired by Cal Fire as of now."

"Some have been hired by our ambulance service provider (American Medical Response)," the supervisors wrote. "This is due, primarily, to the additional minimum qualifications of Cal Fire, including previous fire-fighting experience, which exceed those of other agencies."

The directive to the Executive Office calls for staff "to work with Cal Fire to streamline the on-boarding of firefighter-paramedics (and) evaluate options to boost staffing in this area."

The EO is required to return with a report containing recommendations on potential changes to the hiring program in 60 days.