Most people don't realize volunteer fire departments still exist out here. Cal OES, career agency consolidation, liability concerns, funding structures — all of it has pushed volunteer departments to the edge of extinction in this part of the state. We're one of the few still standing.
I run Southern California Wildfire Response (SCWR), stationed in the Santa Monica Mountains. We're an all-volunteer, zero-paid-staff recognized fire department — nobody on this team draws a paycheck, including me. We operate Type 6 wildland engines, run a 25 person hand crew and work along side, with the same expectations and trainings as career agencies like LAFD, LACoFD & Cal Fire.
I joined because I believe the work matters more than the paycheck attached to it. Happy to talk about any of it — the ops side, the politics, the funding, why people sign up for this with no pay.
PROOF: https://socalwildfire.org/reddit-ama/
Ask me anything.
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