Owl Van Engineering is teaming up with the Marin County Fire Department to help raise money for the new F.I.R.E Foundry program by raffling off a 2021 Kenevo E-Mountain Bike! Click to learn more about the program.
One free entry per person and the proceeds from additional paid entries support the program. http://ow.ly/ZsAt50H3QN0
Deadline to enter is December 31, 2021.
Fire Innovation, Recruitment, & Education Program
Marin County Fire Department will be piloting an innovative new wildfire fuel reduction program called F.I.R.E Foundry (Fire Innovation, Recruitment, & Education). This program is the result of nine months of collaboration between Marin fire agencies, CCNB, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), the Marin County Office of Equity, the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, and College of Marin.
The team will be recruited from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in fire-related careers and those from underfunded and underserved communities.
“The hope is to leverage the rapidly growing demand for wildfire prevention work to provide a livable wage earn-while-learning pathway to a sustainable wage career.”
The target is to have the first cohort in place by the end of January 2022.
Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber and program partners presented the proposal October 12 to the Marin County Board of Supervisors and received enthusiastic support. The group is now authorized to enter into agreement with Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) starting in 2022 to provide a 12-person crew and one full-time supervisor to conduct fire fuels reduction work.
“We believe recruits will be able to find and sustain full-time employment in the fire services or in a related field through this pilot program, which we believe is unique,” Weber said. “We are calling this an ‘earn and learn’ approach. Recruits will earn a wage and be supported with wrap-around services and mentorship to ensure their retention. The fire service has a long history of mentoring and coaching newer members. This program capitalizes on this, ensuring a workplace and culture that emphasizes equity and inclusion.”
Those interested in the F.I.R.E Foundry program may email info@firefoundry.org.
