County may provide background check assistance for volunteer firefighters

The revelation that a convicted arsonist had been a member of a volunteer fire department in San Diego County may result in subsequent county action to make background checks for volunteer firefighters available to the volunteer departments.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who also chairs the county’s Task Force on Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services, offered the idea during the task force’s January 25 meeting.

“It’s just something to be thinking about,” Jacob said. “It’s not intended to add another burden.”

Since the background check would be through the Sheriff’s Department, the a...