Thanks to rehabilitation opportunities and career training, Jason Barr has earned the chance to prove himself with CAL FIRE.
At the Ventura Training Center in 2019, Barr was part of the second cohort in the Firefighter Training and Reentry Program. He graduated in July.
His training and hard work paid off when in May 2022, he accepted a forest technician post with CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo unit.
Within six months, he took an important step in his career, completing the Firefighter Academy. Then, in February this year, Barr completed a seven-week Company Officer Academy as part of his promotion to Fire Apparatus Engineer (FAE).
Giving back to the Ventura Training Center
While on assignment, Barr speaks to fire crews from Ventura Training Center (VTC) whenever they cross paths. He tells them the program changed his life for the better. He does the same with incarcerated firefighter crews he meets on the fire line.
He also visits VTC on weekends, making himself available to program participants if they have questions.
CAL FIRE Captain Tyler Davis supervised and mentored Barr while assigned to the Ventura fire crews.
“Seeing someone who was part of my fire crew who I helped mentor and provide guidance, to be now himself mentoring the participants at VTC, is a very fulfilling experience. It is a testament to the program’s rehabilitative opportunities. It not only changes the participants’ lives, but the lives of their loved ones. He is now giving back to a program he received so much from,” said Davis.
