John Maretti started as a Firefighter with the City of Chico Fire Department in 1984 and served on their Technical Rescue Team and well as the Butte Interagency Rescue Group (BIRG) for the majority of his career. A recently-retired full-time Firefighter, John is a Technical Rescue Specialist, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Helicopter Crew Chief, Emergency Medical Technician, and Swiftwater Technician. He has extensive training in Rope, Water, Large Animal, and Aviation Technical Rescue.
When animal rescue was in its infancy, John became an American Humane Association (AHA) National Responder, and since 1999 has responded to numerous national and international disasters including Hurricane Katrina, Nepal Earthquake, Mt. Agung Volcano, and numerous California Fires. In 2002, John founded the North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG) in Northern California which Butte County has adopted as their recognized County Animal Response Team (CART). Currently they have over 100 highly trained active volunteers capable of sheltering and evacuating animals during disasters. They also have a highly trained Technical Rescue Team. Because of the team’s professionalism and high skill-set, they have been embraced by local emergency services. As part of the Emergency Response Network (ERN) with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), John has travelled to India, Philippines, Indonesia, and multiple national locations to assist training locals in disaster preparedness and technical rescue techniques.
During his career he has trained extensively, including at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the Center for Domestic Preparedness Academy/US Department of Homeland Security in Anniston, Alabama. He is currently serving on the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAEP) Best Practices Working Group as a Subject Matter Expert for Animal Search and Rescue. When John isn’t teaching classes or helping animals, he is working on finishing his log home, paddling his kayak, or trail running. In the past, he enjoyed riding his horses, flying airplanes, running ultra-marathons and vintage auto-racing. His wife and he are happily raising a German Shepherd and a cat.
Technical Rescue Qualifications
- CSFM Confined Space Rescue Operations
- CSFM Trench Rescue Operations
- CSFM Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations (LARRO)
- CSFM Rescue Systems I & II
- CMC Rope Rescue Technician I, II, & III
- Emergency Building and Shoring
- Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART) Member
- Dive Rescue Specialist (Dive Rescue International)
- Public Safety Diver I, II, & III
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Rescue Diver
- CSFM River and Flood Rescue
- Slackwater Rescue Course (IFAW)
- Management of Moving Water and Flood Operations
- Swiftwater & Floodwater Rescue 1: Operations
- Swiftwater & Floodwater Rescue 2: Technician
- Personal Water Craft (PWC) Rescue Boat/Jet-Ski Rescue Technician
- Personal Water Craft Rescue Operations: Train the Trainer
- Helicopter Training/Safety
- Helo-Aquatic Air-Rescue Technician
- Helicopter Rescue Crew Chief
- Fixed Wing Private Pilot
- ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800
- ICS Division-Group Supervisor
- ICS Strike Team/Task Force Leader
- Large Animal Rescue – Operational
- On-Road LAR and Off-Road LAR
- Technical Rope Rescue for AES I
- Technical Animal Rescue Upgrade (Rescue 3 International)
- First Responder Guidelines to Equine Emergencies
- Loose Livestock, Injured Wildlife & Emergency Animal Euthanasia
- Agricultural Emergency Response Training
- Hazardous Material Specialist
- Emergency Medical Technician
- California State Fire Marshal Instructor 1A, 1B
