CAL FIRE, in partnership with the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CAL-JAC), is proud to announce the launch of the first statewide CAL FIRE Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Academy. This historic program marks a major step forward in strengthening and expanding emergency medical services for California’s communities. The academy will be held from September 14 through October 23, 2026, at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside.
A total of 25 CAL FIRE employees will participate in the inaugural academy from across the state with a mix of Fire Fighters, Fire Apparatus Engineers, and Fire Captains, demonstrating a broad representation of classifications and experience levels.
The new academy represents CAL FIRE’s first comprehensive statewide effort to deliver standardized EMT training to personnel of all ranks. By opening the opportunity broadly across the Department, CAL FIRE is increasing access to EMS education, expanding its cadre of trained medical instructors, and investing in the future of emergency care statewide.
“This academy illustrates our commitment to the future of EMS and to the communities we proudly serve,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “Launching CAL FIRE’s first statewide EMT Academy is a significant milestone in strengthening our emergency medical response. As the demands on our Department continue to grow, investing in the skills and training of our personnel is essential to ensuring we deliver the highest level of care to the public.”
CAL FIRE operates one of the largest Emergency Medical Services programs in the state, with over 5,000 certified EMT’s and over 1,000 licensed paramedics. These highly trained responders deliver critical pre?hospital care every day, supporting over 315,700 medical incidents in 2026 so far. This comprehensive EMS capability is a core element of CAL FIRE’s all?hazards mission, ensuring lifesaving medical response is integrated into every facet of the Department’s work to protect Californians.
CAL FIRE and CAL-JAC have worked together for more than 40 years to provide high-quality, standardized training for firefighters and other personnel. Now, CAL FIRE is expanding this collaboration to strengthen EMS training across the Department.
CAL FIRE instructors will lead the academy with support and guidance from CAL-JAC, an EMS training provider accredited by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). Upon completion, graduates will earn national certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and then pursue state EMT certification, allowing them to provide emergency medical care anywhere in California.
The academy aligns with the goals of CAL FIRE’s 2024 Strategic Plan and the 2026 (CAL FIRE) EMS Programmatic Strategic Plan, which identify expanded EMS training, increased certification opportunities, and improved medical service delivery as core priorities. The CAL-JAC is co-sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters and the CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal and supports firefighter training and career development through apprenticeship programs that combine classroom education with hands-on experience. The academy was also made possible with the support of CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881.
Learn more about CAL FIRE’s all-hazard response HERE.