FAQ

There are 77 firefighters that are employed with the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) all of which maintain membership to an organization called the Beverly Hills Firemen’s Association (BHFA). As dues paying members they receive representation by an elected Board of Directors for the purpose of advancing interests in wages, benefits and working conditions. In other words, the BHFA is the men and women that make up the department.

In Beverly Hills every single firefighter goes through a one year probationary period in which we are constantly being trained and tested. The testing portion consists of a 6 month and 10 month manipulative and written exam, as well as monthly quizzes. The rookie is also responsible for presenting a daily “drill” on either a specific tool or task. He or she researches, studies, practices and then finally presents a 10-15 minute drill in which the entire station personnel watch and then will ask follow up questions.

This can often vary from person to person. In order to be hired by Beverly Hills you must first you must attend a fire academy which is typically 12-16 weeks and you must be at least a high school graduate, however a college degree is highly valuable. Next you must obtain your Emergency Medical Technician certification to learn basic life saving techniques. This takes a semester and is a requirement since every firefighter also works as an EMT. An option that many candidates choose to make themselves more valuable is to attend paramedic school.

Not anymore. Dogs, especially Dalmatians were used many years ago when our engines were pulled by horses. These dogs had a natural calming effect on horses and so were trained to run alongside the horses and keep them in line and calm in emergency situations. We no longer have horse-drawn engines or Dalmatians; however we keep a statue of a Dalmatian at our headquarters to remind us of our rich history.