IAFF 1479 / Merced City Firefighter's Association

fire calls

public assist

training

mutual aid

hazmat

investigation

airport ops

home

Daily chores

Every firefighter takes his turn scrubbing toilets, mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, on a daily basis. Every engineer takes his turn checking out the apparatus (fire engines) every day, going over each piece of equipment to insure it is ready to roll for next call. Not only the engines but also the equipment on board must be inspected keeping us at local 1479 ready to respond. While the firefighters and engineers are busy keeping the floors shiny and the rigs ready, the captains are planning the day, reviewing the previous shifts calls, and coordinating the days training and public service duties amongst our stations to insure at no point does the city go uncovered.

Beyond the daily chores are the weekly chores, the in depth house keeping (oven cleaning), clearing out and washing down the apparatus bay floors, and lawn maintenance are scheduled weekly so every shift gets their turn.

The above chores are typically completed by noon time, so after lunch we focus on either training or public service duties. Public service duties include business fire inspections, (looking for items that may cause a fire hazard to you the customer), We also have target inspections during the holidays, inspecting Christmas decorations, fireworks booths, downtown street fairs, and any other scheduled assembly. Training runs the gamut, including EMS drills, pulling hose and flowing water, confined space rescue, RIC, vertical ventilation, extrication, wildland drills, driver practice course, plus when somewhere in the nation a firefighter is killed, we come together to learn from others, and practice how not to fall victim.

Suppertime rolls around with most companies cooking together. After supper is study time, time to finish daily chores, equipment repair, and general station handyman work.

Of course mixed into the above we run calls, whenever the tone goes off, whatever project we are on, whether it be cleaning, eating, training, or at 3am sleeping,  whatever it is we respond.