San Diego Fire Hosting Career Fair to Recruit Fire Dispatchers

The San Diego Fire Department in cooperation with the city of San Diego will host a career fair this week to recruit potential fire dispatchers.

The Public Safety Dispatcher Career Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the historical Casa Del Prado at 1650 El Prado in San Diego, according to the department.

“The job of a fire dispatcher is often challenging, fast-paced, and no two days are alike. When a 9-1-1 call comes in, it could be anything from a house on fire to a minor vehicle accident,” the city said in a statement. “Our dispatchers are the vital link between the San Diego Fire-Rescue

Department and the residents and visitors in our communities who need help.”

Fire dispatchers receive extensive training in order to provide emergency medical instructions over the phone for situations like CPR or childbirth, according to the city.

Job responsibilities for a fire dispatcher include the following:

   — Answer incoming emergency and non-emergency calls;

   — Evaluate and prioritize emergency responses;

   — Provide lifesaving medical instructions;

   — Dispatch fire and medical units;

   — Keep incident records and fulfill resource requests;

   — Assist with incident management;

   — Monitor and communicate on multiple radio frequencies.

Those interested in a career as a fire dispatcher can find steps for the application process here.

-City News Service