Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program will establish a pathway for interested parties of the community and/or potential applicants to connect with existing line personnel. This program will especially benefit applicants who do not have any social or family ties to the fire service. The SRFD mentors will guide the interested youth in the community towards maintaining a clean background and towards a successful career in public safety.

Please contact Captain Gary Lopez at [email protected] for more information on this program.

Corinne Rickert headshotCorinne Rickert

Captain

I was raised in west Sonoma County and my parents were in the fire service. I joined the fire service since I knew I wanted to have a career that could make an impact on my community and be challenging. I started as a fire explorer and volunteer firefighter while in high school. Then I joined CalFire for 6 seasons while earning my Associates Degree in Fire Technology from the SRJC. I was an instructor with the SRJC Firefighter 1 Academy for a number of years teaching vertical ventilation and forcible entry. I have been working for the Santa Rosa Fire Department for 15 years and I am now a Captain. My husband is also a Fire Captain working for CalFire and we have a daughter. My interests are in community engagement, playing outdoors, and creating arts/crafts.

Guerrero (Gary) Lopez headshotGuerrero (Gary) Lopez

Captain

I am a first-generation immigrant. I grew up in Santa Cruz, Calif. Growing up I didn't know what I wanted to do or what I was capable of. Once I realized I wanted to help people I set my goal to become a firefighter. I attended UC Davis and was part of the Student Resident Firefighter Program. In 2013, I was fortunate enough to get hired with the Santa Rosa Fire Department. I was promoted to engineer in 2021 and Captain in 2022. I live in Santa Rosa with my wife and two daughters, and I can't think of a better place to be.

Kevin Fritz headshotKevin Fritz

Firefighter Paramedic

I started in the fire service in 2012, and spent time as an EMT, volunteer, seasonal, and full-time firefighter/paramedic. My hobbies have ranged from SCUBA diving and paragliding, to carpentry and playing guitar. I joined the fire service to be a part of a close-knit team, continuously learning and improving, to best serve our community.

Mel Taua headshotMel Taua

Firefighter Paramedic

I am a Firefighter/ Paramedic with the Santa Rosa Fire Department and I have been with the Department since 2013. Before being hired in Santa Rosa, I worked as a reserve firefighter with Loomis Fire Department and worked as an EMT with AlphaOne Ambulance. Prior to becoming a firefighter, I worked several years in tourism, sales, and commercial building construction. I grew up in Pago Pago, American Samoa and Maui, Hawaii. I play the ukulele and guitar and enjoy watching my five kids play sports and other activities. I left the corporate sales industry to become a firefighter because I wanted to be a part of a group of individuals from different backgrounds with a common purpose to make people's worst days a little better.

Michael McCartney headshotMichael McCartney

Engineer

I grew up in Walnut Creek and went to college at U.C. Davis where I studied Political science. While I was there, I worked for AMR and I was a student resident firefighter. After college, I went to Paramedic school and I was hired full-time by the U.C. Davis Fire Department. I worked there for five years before starting with the City of Santa Rosa in April of 2018. In my free time, I like to run, play golf, and spend time with my friends and family.