Firefighter Duties at Fires

Search and Rescue: The first priority at a fire scene is to search for and rescue any potential victims in the involved structure.

Fire Suppression: After confirming that human life is not endangered, firefighters work to extinguish the fire while stopping its spread.

Salvage Operations: Firefighters attempt to minimize damage to personal property from fire, water and smoke by using tarps and removing valuable items if possible.

Ventilation: To reduce smoke and heat so that fire may be located and extinguished more quickly, firefighters may ventilate the structure by cutting holes in the roof or breaking windows.

Mutual Aid: In addition to incidents within the City limits, the GJFD has "mutual aid" agreements with other volunteer fire departments in surrounding communities to help each other on major incidents.

Firefighter Duties at Other Incidents

Medical Call: GJFD provides ALS response on medical calls, assessing, stabilizing, and treating patients.

Alarm Activation: Units are dispatched to locations where a fire or water flow alarm is set off.

Carbon Monoxide: A unit is dispatched when a CO detector activates.

Wire Down/Arcing: A GJFD unit will secure an area where damaged wires could create a hazard until an energy repair crew arrives. If necessary, firefighters may request that power be cut.

Motor Vehicle Accident/Rescue Alarm: GJFD extricates victims in accidents that result in vehicle entrapment.

Water Rescue: The GJFD responds to incidents where a victim is in danger in a water environment, i.e.; river, canal, or lake.

Technical Rescue: The Technical Rescue Team will respond to incidents requiring high-angle or confined-space rescues.

Spill: The GJFD will respond to contain small fuel spills that result from accidents or at gas stations.

Hazardous Materials Response: The GJFD helps monitor and/or mitigate situations that involve hazardous materials such as chemical spills.

Odor Investigation: A unit will respond to a citizen concerned about an unusual or potentially dangerous odor and attempt to pinpoint its cause.

Firefighter Duties at Other Times

Fire and Life Safety Presentations: Firefighters visit all elementary schools within our Fire District that are part of the Mesa County School District (as well as other area schools upon request), and make a fire safety presentation directed at various grade levels.

Day Care Visits: Upon request, firefighters visit day care centers and explain the basics of fire safety to children.

Station Tours: Firefighters at stations welcome visitors, which sometimes include informal guests and other times are scheduled visits by community organizations.

Special Appearances: Firefighters and apparatus often fill requests by communities or organizations to make appearances at special events such as parades, festivals, etc.

Inspections: Grand Junction firefighters conduct more than 1,500 business inspections annually of existing structures.

Pre-Fire Plans: Firefighters often familiarize themselves with structures located in their territories to identify hazards and risks so they are better prepared for an emergency response.

Physical Training: Firefighters are given one hour per shift to do physical training.

Daily Training: Firefighters routinely do shift training covering a variety of topics such as territory familiarization, maps, or fire protection features in buildings.

Skills Improvement Training: Advanced training in a particular discipline that often involves multiple companies(i.e.; structure response).

Specialty Training Requirements: Specialty units such as The Technical Rescue Team, Haz-Mat Team, and Swift Water Rescue Team have additional training requirements.

Professional Development: Firefighters at various ranks participate in professional development training to help prepare them for the next level of service.

Outside Training Opportunities: Many firefighters seek training opportunities outside of the GJFD, often presented by professional fire service organizations. Examples include the National Fire Academy, incident command seminars, etc.

Certifications: Firefighters periodically must renew medical certifications and any specialty certifications as required by Colorado State law.

Apparatus Maintenance: Routine maintenance and restocking of apparatus in stations.

Upkeep of the Fire Station: Firefighters are responsible for general cleaning and routine maintenance of the station building.