Who Does This? Physically and mentally fit people over the age of 18 with a clean driving record. This is a high-stress job. Must thrive or cope well in crisis situations.

What Is It? Structural Firefighter is more than just a title: besides fire suppression, it includes rescue, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials incident operations, fire prevention, and more. Most structural firefighters also have emergency medical certifications. Wildland firefighting starts at the basic level and goes up to advanced levels.

Where Do I Get Trained? Schools are available in Sierra Vista and Tucson. On-the-job training is available at the station and at local training sites.

When is Training? Training is ongoing--start anytime. Structural fire college classes usually run once per year. These classes run one or two days per week so they can be balanced with family and career. Firefighter I and II takes about nine months to complete. Basic wildland is a 40-hour class. Advanced wildland levels require hundreds of classroom hours and years of fireline experience.

Why Do People Do This? Most do it to help others. For some it is also the adrenaline rush and the sense of adventure. SEFD can be a pathway to getting onto a big city fire department, wildland hotshot, or smokejumper crew.

Who Does This? Physically and mentally fit people over the age of 18 with a clean driving record. This is a high-stress job. Must thrive or cope well in crisis situations.

What Is It? EMTs can work at the basic or advanced level. EMT-Basics check vital signs and stabilize patients. For example, they splint, bandage, and apply oxygen. EMT-Paramedics perform more advanced life support functions like administering drugs and reading heart rhythms. In short, EMTs keep the patient stable until the patient gets to the emergency room at the hospital.

Where Do I Get Trained? Colleges are available in Sierra Vista and Tucson. EMT-Basic training can also be provided at the station by certified instructors.

When Is Training? College classes usually run once per year. College classes are one or two days per week so they can be balanced with family and career. EMT-B takes about four months. EMT-P takes about 11 months.

Why Do People Do This? Most do it to help others. For some it is also the adrenaline rush and the sense of adventure. SEFD can be a pathway to getting onto a big city fire department, commercial ambulance service, or a stepping stone to a career in medicine.

How Do I Start? Stop by and fill out an application. Start training. Go to school. Gain experience. Develop yourself into an EMT-B then EMT-P. Stay here and contribute to the community or stay for three or four years and apply to a big city fire department, a commercial service, or work on more college towards a medical career.

Who Does This? Physically and mentally fit people over the age of 18 with a clean driving record. This is a high-stress job. Must thrive or cope well in crisis situations. Our dispatchers range in age from 20s to 80s.

What Is It? Dispatchers are a communications focal point and help incident commanders obtain needed resources on a fire, medical call, or motor vehicle accident scene. For example, dispatchers request helicopters for rapid air transport, or additional wildland fire trucks.

Where Do I Get Trained? On-the-job training is available at the station. After training, you will be a dispatch assistant for six months to one year, and then you can test to be come a dispatcher.

When Is Training? Training is ongoing. Start anytime.

Why Do People Do This? Most do it to help others and the community. Some really want to contribute to the fire department but do not relish the thought of going into a burning building! SEFD can be a pathway to getting onto a big city dispatch center.

How Do I Start? Stop by and fill out an application. Start training. Gain experience. Develop yourself into an professional dispatcher. Stay here and contribute to the community, or stay for three or four years and apply for a big city dispatch center.

Who Does This? Physically and mentally fit people over the age of 14. This can be a high-stress job. You must cope well in crisis situations. Ages range from teenagers to those in their 70s.

What Is It? Support technicians come in two general types: operational and administrative. Operations support includes things like engine driver/operator, traffic control, fire scene support, and medical first responder. Administrative support includes many behind-the-scenes duties like mapping, photography, and historian--too many to list! These tasks are key to our success.

Where Do I Get Trained? On-the-job training is available at the station and at local training sites.

When Is Training? Training is ongoing--start anytime.

Why Do People Do This? Most do it to support the emergency services mission and our vision. Some really want to contribute to the fire department but do not relish the thought of going into a burning building! Many of our support volunteers are retired from a first or second career, but do not want to stop working. Some want to help, but cannot commit to the schooling required for fire or medical certifications.

How Do I Start? Stop by and fill out an application. Start training. Gain Experience.