UPDATED TRAINING / HIRING PROCESS AS A RESULT OF COVID-19

Wednesday April 8, 2020

To our active GFP Personnel and interested applicants (new hires):

Please read this entire message, as there is information for all applicants regardless of experience or previous employment with GFP.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, we will be unable to host our usual entry-level and refresher training classes until further notice. In order to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, our normal hiring and orientation process is also being changed, as GFP Enterprises, LLC still expects to carry out mission critical wildland fire activities. GFP will take every precaution necessary to prevent your exposure to COVID-19 by following established OSHA and CDC safety and health risk management practices.

Please follow the steps below based on your current training/experience level.

  • Firefighters trained and pack-tested in 2019. If you successfully passed the RT-130 or S-130/S-190 (Entry Level) AND the Work Capacity Fitness Test in 2019, this is you.
  • Experienced Firefighter who DID NOT complete the RT-130 in 2019. If you are a returning firefighter, but were not REDCARDED in 2019, this is you.
  • No Previous Training. If 2020 will be your first year, this is you

Whenever you are in doubt about what you need to do in order to be ready for the 2020 fire season (training or application process):

Contact our training specialist Michael Fleek via email at [email protected] or our personnel manager Mike Denning at [email protected].

Firefighters trained and pack-tested in 2019 (meaning you were issued a Redcard in 2019)

  1. No RT-130 or Work Capacity Fitness Test is required. Your incident qualifications (IQC) will be extended to 12/31/2020.
    • We still expect you to be fit for duty.
    • We still expect you to Self-review.
  2. If you have not already completed your 2020 Employment Application and are here to register for a RT-130 session, please log into your account and update your employee profile.
    • If you are a transfer (previous experience/training through another employer), create a new user account
  3. Send an email to Mike Fleek with the following information:
    • In the email subject line indicate “Returning Firefighter”
    • Full Name
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • If you are transferring to GFP, let us know your current ICS position and what company or Agency you are transferring from
  4. Once your Step #3 email is received by Mike Fleek.
    • You will be emailed a DocuSign envelope containing the following. Please complete the DocuSign as quickly as possible, even if you do not plan on working until later in the year.  Timely completion of your hiring paperwork will help us make informed decisions regarding personnel, recruiting and crew makeups.
      • 2020 Employment Application
      • 2020 ODF RT-130 and WCFT Waiver
      • I-9
      • W-4
    • Once the DocuSign envelope has been completed you will receive the self-review RT-130 course materials which will include a FireFit
    • Your WH-153 wage agreement will be sent via DocuSign.
    • MSPA drivers will be contacted with further instructions regarding 2020 needs.

Experienced Firefighter who DID NOT complete the RT-130 in 2019

  1. Required Training: Firefighters who trained and worked (were Redcarded) before 2019 (but not in 2019) must take RT-130 Annual Refresher and the Work Capacity Fitness Test.
  2. Delivery of Training: We are looking at options for providing a virtual RT-130 and will be conducting Work Capacity Fitness Tests based on current safety standards, e.g. minimum groups, bringing your own pack, etc.
  3. Log into your account and update your employee profile.
    • If you are a transfer, create a new user account
  4. Send an email to Mike Fleek [email protected] with the following information:
    • In the email subject line indicate “Returning Firefighter-Requiring RT-130”
    • Full Name
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • If you are transferring to GFP, let us know:
      • Current ICS position
      • Company or Agency transferring from
      • Last fire season worked
  1. Once your Step #4 email is received by Mike Fleek.
    • You will be contacted with further instructions regarding your training optionsd and ultimately placed on a class roster.
      • If training is virtual:
        • A DocuSign envelope containing our hiring paperwork will be emailed to you
      • If training is live, the employment application and orientation will be completed in the classroom.

No Previous Training.  Entry Level Firefighters 

  1. Create a new user account
  2. Send an email to Mike Fleek [email protected] with the following information:
    • In the email subject line indicate “ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTER”
    • Full Name
    • Home Address (City & State)
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
  3. Once your Step #2 email is received by Mike Fleek, an email will be sent to you with detailed instructions regarding your required training. We are here to guide you through the training process.
  4. Required Training: You must complete the following Basic Firefighting Training
    • S-130/190 training
    • L-180
    • IS-700
    • ICS-100
    • Fire Shelter Training
    • Work Capacity Fitness Test (pack-test)
  5. Delivery of Training: Training shall be completed online through the National Fire Academy Online system.
  6. Once you have completed all online training components
    • Email our training specialist Michael Fleek at let him know that you have completed all the required training. He will follow-up with further instructions.
    • GFP will then:
      • Email you an application/orientation packet via DocuSign.
      • Schedule you for a required field-day which includes:
        • Hands-on field training
        • Fire Shelter Training
        • Completing the Work Capacity Fitness Test
        • Providing us your I-9 documentation
        • Having your photograph taken for your Incident Qualification Card.

Please complete this training as soon as possible to help ensure that we get firefighters ready for the season in a timely fashion.  Again, no applications will be accepted for entry-level personnel until the required online self-study courses have been completed. Once completed, you may contact our training specialist Michael Fleek at [email protected] for further instructions.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this unprecedented event. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Please Stay healthy!

UPDATED TRAINING / HIRING PROCESS AS A RESULT OF COVID-19