Sarina Velasquez
Torrance,CA
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
FF1 Helitack (HECM trainee)
USDA Forest Service
05.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Sequoia NF, Kernville CA
- Serve as a qualified FF1 AND HECM Trainee on a Bell 205A1++ initial attack helicopter
- Load helicopter personnel and cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc
- And complete manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work sites
- Certified in the use of long line external loads and the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment
- Gather and consider information on weather data, topography, fuel types and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents
- Ensure welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment
- Serves as an experienced firefighter on a hand crew performing fire suppression and fuel duties under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels and terrain
- Aviation communication including base, mobile, and handheld FM and VHF radios as well as helicopter marshalling techniques to safely guide and assist pilot with landing and departure
- Assisted Aircraft Base Radio Operator in coordinating aircraft departures from base, maintaining communications, ensure timeliness of route as required, aviation forms, reports, mission request logs, radio logs, aircraft timekeeping forms, general message
- Experience with Bambi bucket, remote hook, and long line set up
- Experience constructing internal and external cargo loads and inspecting and maintaining cargo nets, swivels, and lead lines
- Manifesting, weighing cargo, and packaging it in accordance with interagency guidelines and hazardous materials regulations
- Provide leadership roles in classroom training and in the field
- Facilitate and instruct others in belt weather and tool usage and maintenance
- Observe and record weather observation for use in spot weather forecast
- Educate public with information about weather and forest rules
- Proficient in all mobile GPS devices such as Avenza, All Trails, Google maps, and Topo Maps
- Proficient in the safe and effective operation of support vehicles including crew haul, helitack truck, and utility vehicles in support of operations
- Construct fire line using hand tools such as axes, shovel, Pulaski, McLeods, chains saws, and safely cleaned, reconditioned, and stored specialized fire tools equipment
- Provide safety briefings on helicopter to all personnel before boarding
- Load helicopter cargo and completed manifest of crews and equipment
- Responsible for care and maintenance of other power equipment including leaf blowers and weed eaters
- Participate in crew training and physical fitness program
- Experience with prescribed fire operations in a variety of fuel types and conditions including ignition operations and patterns, holding, and monitoring to ensure burn objective
- Maintain station equipment and supply caches including inventorying, distributing, and tracking
- Thorough knowledge of agency and interagency qualifications, position task book requirements, and certification standards and procedures as outlined by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)
- Clear understanding of reporting procedures and requirements
- Competence in standard first aid practices, with the ability to provide basic medical assistance and perform triage when needed
- Familiarity with the structure and roles of cooperative interagency fire organizations such as DOI, USDA, NWCG, NICC, GACC, and state and local governments, ensuring seamless coordination of wildland fire operations across multiple jurisdictions
- Sequoia NF, Kernville CA
Produce Associate
Whole Foods Market
10.2020 - 04.2021
- Filled customer orders by obtaining items from shelves, freezers, coolers, bins, tables or containers
- Cleaned shelves, bins, cases, tables and coolers
- Utilized persuasive selling techniques to encourage customer purchases
- Bagged purchases for customers
- Rotated product according to company methods and procedures to ensure freshness
Forestry Aid, Type 2 IA Hand crew
USDA Forest Service
06.2020 - 10.2020
- Company Overview: UmaƟlla NF, Walla Walla RD, Washington / Oregon
- Served as a crew member on a 10-person hand crew to suppress fires of various complexities in a variety of fuel types and terrain
- Knowledge of fuels management and fire suppression techniques and practices such as fire line construction, use of pumps and engines, hose lays, working around aircraft, safety rules, and fire and fuels terminology
- Ensured safety and welfare of myself and crew members in all work environments, identified and mitigated hazards, briefed personnel, administered tailgate safety, and job hazard analyses
- Operated crew vehicle and maintain proper maintenance to ensure proper usage
- Fuels treatment projects, burn pile construction, pile burning, roading clearing, identification of tree species, identification of tree health and spacing
- Control line construction, fire line and fire area rehab, unit layout and flagging, and facility maintenance
- Directed and lead crew members on hikes and on assignments for the day
- Fulfilled tasks during incidents fires such as pump and engine operations, incidents size up, fire line construction, hose lays, water application, equipment inspections and maintenance, hand tool use and maintenance, fire weather observation, weather interpretation, land navigation, map reading, compass usage, GPS usage, radio usage, radio programming, and radio cloning
- Collaborated and coordinated with various interagency partners during mutual aid wildfire and all hazard incidents
- Provide leadership roles
- Facilitated and instructed in belt weather and tool usage and maintenance
- Interacted with public with information and about weather and forest rules
- Proficient in all mobile GPS devices such as Avenza, All Trails, Google maps, and Topo Maps
- Proficient in Word, Windows, IOS, Outlook, Internet Explorer etc., Excel, Power Point, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Light house
- Recreational trail work including repairing and maintaining trail, placing signs, and various hand tools such as a Pulaski, McLeod, shovel, drip torch, fusee, hoe, chainsaw, rakes, lawn mower, and weed whacker
- Apply paint to surfaces including canvas, walls, floors, doors, and cabinets; working on ladder equipment
- Performed house construction to multiple houses using power tools and hand tools
- Programming and cloning of a two-way hand-held and mobile radios
- Maintained situational awareness and used risk management to ensure the safety of the crew
- Performed in all aspects of fire operation during wildland and prescribed fire operations such as line construction, line preparation, firing, holding, monitoring, structure protection, and mop-up
- Observed and recorded weather observation for use in spot weather forecast
- UmaƟlla NF, Walla Walla RD, Washington / Oregon
Summer Camp Counselor
Peninsula Bay Cities Day Camp & Swim School
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Assisted with transporting and escorting program participants to, from and within program activity locations and on external trips
- Promoted fun, safe and inclusive environment by monitoring activity of campers to identify and address behavioral issues
- Coordinated and led group activities for 24 campers
- Organized and lead activities such as water/land sports and indoor for groups of up to 24 campers
General Manager/ Shift Lead
Smitten Ice Cream
11.2015 - 01.2019
- Maintained staffing by recruiting, selecting, and training employees, communicating job expectations, monitoring, and appraising job results
- Created a safe and secure work environment for employees
- Accomplished financial objectives by forecasting requirements for the shop; maintain weekly scheduling
- Provided quality service by enforcing customer service standards, analyzing and resolving customer issues and increased customer loyalty
Pool Locker Room Attendant
City of Torrance
08.2016 - 01.2018
- Performed routine tasks for the orderly and safe operation of the pool locker room
- General housekeeping of pool locker rooms, shower rooms and restrooms
Server
Brookdale South Bay Senior Living
11.2013 - 07.2016
- Provided quick, efficient, and pleasant delivery of food to residents and guests, ensuring all quality standards of food and service are being met
- Ensured quality customer service, safety and proper handling of dishes, glassware, and utensils
Education
Fire Technology -
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA06-2025
Emergency Medical Technician - Emergency Medical Responder
West Coast EMT
Torrance, CA02.2024
BLS Provider CPR/AED -
American Heart Association
Torrance, CA05-2023
Wildland Fire Academy - Basic Wildland Fire Orientation, Basic Wildland Fire Fighter Training, Firefighter Type 1, Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, Portable Pumps and Water Use, Basic Air Operations, Wildland Fire Chainsaw, Basic Land Navigation, Firing Operations, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, Confined Space Awareness, CPR/AED & First Aid
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA04.2020
High School Diploma -
Narbonne High School
Harbor City, CA05-2011
Skills
- Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Adobe Photoshop
- Problem solver
- Speech Recognition
- Trustworthy
- Self Driven
- Self Motivated
- Honest
- Multi-tasked
- Dependable
- Supervision and training
- Performance improvements
- Calm under pressure
- Leadership and team building
- Strategies and goals
- Complex problem solving
- First aid certified
- Community education
- Staff development and leadership
- Customer service
- Time management
- Customer relationship management
Timeline
FF1 Helitack (HECM trainee)
USDA Forest Service
05.2021 - Current
Produce Associate
Whole Foods Market
10.2020 - 04.2021
Forestry Aid, Type 2 IA Hand crew
USDA Forest Service
06.2020 - 10.2020
Summer Camp Counselor
Peninsula Bay Cities Day Camp & Swim School
06.2019 - 08.2019
Pool Locker Room Attendant
City of Torrance
08.2016 - 01.2018
General Manager/ Shift Lead
Smitten Ice Cream
11.2015 - 01.2019
Server
Brookdale South Bay Senior Living
11.2013 - 07.2016
Emergency Medical Technician - Emergency Medical Responder
West Coast EMT
Wildland Fire Academy - Basic Wildland Fire Orientation, Basic Wildland Fire Fighter Training, Firefighter Type 1, Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, Portable Pumps and Water Use, Basic Air Operations, Wildland Fire Chainsaw, Basic Land Navigation, Firing Operations, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, Confined Space Awareness, CPR/AED & First Aid
Rio Hondo College
Fire Technology -
Rio Hondo College
BLS Provider CPR/AED -
American Heart Association
High School Diploma -
Narbonne High School
Similar Profiles
Hillary WoodsHillary Woods
Administrative Officer at USDA Forest Service, Tongass National ForestAdministrative Officer at USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest
Sharlin EricksonSharlin Erickson
Forestry Technician (Harvest Inspector) GS-06-01 at USDA Forest Service – Kaibab National Forest – Williams Ranger DistrictForestry Technician (Harvest Inspector) GS-06-01 at USDA Forest Service – Kaibab National Forest – Williams Ranger District
John MaguraJohn Magura
Timber Contracting Officer at USDA Forest Service, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National ForestTimber Contracting Officer at USDA Forest Service, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Michelle FullerMichelle Fuller
Archaeological Technician at USDA Forest Service-Modoc National ForestArchaeological Technician at USDA Forest Service-Modoc National Forest
Alexander YoonAlexander Yoon
Pet Sitter at Family Friends & OthersPet Sitter at Family Friends & Others