RIVERSIDE – Five hundred high school seniors from 9 school districts in Riverside County will be learning about career and training opportunities available to them after graduation at the Student Fire Careers Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the Ben Clark Regional Training Center (16791 Davis Avenue, Riverside).
The event will include:
- Learning about entry-level open positions available to high school graduates
- Donning actual turnout gear to feel the weight of a firefighter’s world-class equipment
- Climbing an aerial ladder of a towering fire truck
- Observing burn props and firefighting techniques in action
- Meeting fire chiefs and industry experts
- Seminars for teachers, counselors, and administrators on how to guide students toward careers in public safety
- Connections to training programs available at Moreno Valley College and UC Riverside
“In a matter of months, thousands of students graduating in the class of 2024 will be looking for employment and professional opportunities and may not be aware of the breadth of fire and public safety career opportunities,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “A wide variety of positions are available right now for high school graduates to serve in their local community and start a rewarding and fulfilling career pathway they may not have previously considered.”
“We currently have open positions within our department,” stated Bill Weiser, Fire Chief for Riverside County Fire Department. “Recognizing this, we are dedicated to addressing the vacancies. With the backing of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside County Workforce Solutions, Moreno Valley College, and the United States Forest Service, we are collaboratively working to raise awareness to high school students. Our goal is to showcase the diverse career opportunities available in the Fire Service, ranging from roles such as a firefighter, dispatcher, and heavy equipment mechanic, to positions like an accountant or IT technician. The potential to ignite interest in our youth that are preparing to join the workforce is limitless.”
“The San Bernardino National Forest has positions for its Fire and Aviation Management Program, including entry level wildland firefighters,” said Gus Bahena, public affairs specialist with the forest. “These positions provide federal employment with benefits and are a great entry into the vocation of fire. Candidates hired will not only have an opportunity to be part of a profession with a storied and dignified tradition, but they will provide a service to communities that are within or in proximity to a natural resource that is 800,000 acres in size. Fire suppression saves lives and homes, but other work that fire personnel perform, such as fuels reductions and prescribed fires, provides defensible space to residential areas and improves forest health, including wildlife habitat. We are honored to be part of this event and look forward to meeting the young individuals who will one day fill the ranks of our agency.”
The event is a partnership between the Riverside County Office of Education, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service. Support for the event also includes lunch provided by Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jefferies.