Firefighter

GENERAL PURPOSE

Protects life and property by performing duties in firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the supervision of Battalion Chief, Fire Lieutenant, and/or other Fire Officers.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May assist to coordinate, instruct, or supervise the work of volunteer firefighters, new recruits, or other part-time department personnel, as assigned.

Starting Full-Time Pay Rates:

Entry-Level Firefighter: $39,828.80 annually (based on 2,920 hours per year), plus holiday pay.

Experienced / Current Certified Firefighter: $39,828.80 to $49,873.00 annually (based on 2,920 hours per year), plus holiday pay, depending on experience and training.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs firefighting activities including driving fire apparatus, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose, and performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks.
• Performs emergency aid activities including administering first aid and providing other assistance as required.
• Participates in fire drills, attends classes in firefighting, emergency, medical, hazardous materials, and related subjects.
• Receives and relays fire calls and alarms. Operates radio and other communication equipment.
• Participates in the inspection of buildings, hydrants, and other structures testing hydrants in fire prevention programs.
• Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities. Performs minor repairs to departmental equipment.
• Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment; cleans and washes walls and floors; cares for grounds around station; makes minor repairs; washes, hangs, and dries hose; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and test apparatus and equipment.
• Assists in developing plans for special assignments such as emergency preparedness, hazardous communications, training programs, firefighting, hazardous materials, and emergency aid activities.
• Presents programs to the community on safety, medical, and fire prevention topics.
• Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• Assists in department activities as assigned.
• Assists in supervising volunteer firefighters as required.
• Assists in training new employees as assigned.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Entry Level:

Education and Experience

(A) High school diploma or GED equivalent;

(B) No specific work experience level required.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

(A) Working knowledge of driver safety; working knowledge of first aid;

(B) Ability to learn the operation of fire suppression and other emergency equipment; Ability to learn to apply standard firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention techniques; Ability to perform strenuous or peak physical effort during emergency, training, or station maintenance activities for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme heights, intense heat, cold, or smoke; Ability to act effectively in emergency and stressful situations; Ability to follow verbal and written instructions; Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the general public; Ability to meet the special requirements listed below.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Entry Level: (A) Must be 19 years or older at the time of employment; (B) Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid State driver’s license without record of suspension or revocation in any State; (C) No felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories; (D) U.S. citizen; (E) Must be able to read and write the English language; (F) Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits; (G) Must meet all Civil Service requirements as applicable.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Entry Level: Formal applications; written examination; physical agility test; oral interview; medical examination; drug test; background verification and check; final selection.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Emergency medical aid unit, fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses and other standard firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently asked to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The noise level at emergency operation may be loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application; review of education and experience; physical agility test; written examination by Civil Service Commission; interview by appointing authority.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar; related or logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.