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FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT (NON-CERTIFIED)
Description
FIRE RECRUIT STARTING SALARY- $57,012
No Experience? No Problem!
Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Do you have a passion for helping people? Do you enjoy teamwork, collaboration, and physical fitness? Or maybe it’s just time for a change in career to one of the most satisfying professions in America… FIREFIGHTER.
Cary is currently looking for inspired, committed, and dedicated individuals to join the Cary Fire Department. No firefighting experience is necessary to apply for our Firefighter Recruit position… only a strong character, positive attitude, and willingness to learn.
What to expect as a member of the Cary Fire Department:
- The most competitive pay in the area as well as a career ladder promotion program with several levels of advancement possibilities
- Comprehensive benefits package for all stages of your life
- Ownership in an organization that is committed to excellence, high-quality service delivery and putting people first
- Commitment to making all things better through experimenting in an effort to learn, fail, and grow
- Opportunity to lead from where you are and leadership development
- Collaboration and problem-solving in a team environment
What to Expect as a Firefighter Recruit
As a Firefighter Recruit, you will be enrolled in the Cary Fire Department’s in-house Fire Academy, a comprehensive program lasting approximately 30 weeks. During this time, you will participate in a rigorous academic and physical training curriculum designed to prepare you for a career in public service and to earn certifications across multiple disciplines.
Recruits are required to attend and successfully complete all Cary Fire Academy classes and training sessions, including those necessary to obtain North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. Adherence to all departmental standards, policies, and performance expectations is mandatory throughout the academy.
During the academy, you will:
- Participate in intense physical training and learn physically demanding skills each day
- Engage in challenging academic programs required to pass state exams
- Receive multiple certifications (ex. EMT, Firefighter, Haz-mat)
- Develop basic firefighter skills like pulling hose-lines, raising ladders, tying knots, rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, salvage, and water supply
- Demonstrate your firefighter knowledge about fire behavior, firefighting tactics, fire prevention, incident command, building construction and emergency medicine
Upon completion of the academy and the Firefighter Recruit’s State Exam you will be assigned to rotating shifts at one of 9 fire stations that provide fire suppression, emergency medical treatment, technical urban rescue, fire prevention, fire investigation, and public education services to the 60+ square-miles that are the Cary town limits.
TENTATIVE HIRING PROCESS TIMELINE: (subject to change)
February 24 – March 10 (midnight) Application Window Open
March 11 – March 16 Phone Interviews
March 17 – March 18 In Person Physical Agility Testing
March 19 – March 25 Virtual Interviews
March 26 – April 1 In Person Final Interviews/Decisions
April 2 Contingent Job Offers
April 6 – April 23 Medical Exams/ Stress Testing
Background Investigation
Fingerprint Check
April 24 Final Job Offers
May 11 Anticipated Academy Start Date
NOTE- **Where timeline is labeled "In Person," candidates MUST be on site. CPAT certification is not accepted, you must be present and pass the Cary FD PAT to be considered for a position.**
Typical Tasks
Typical Tasks of a Firefighter In The Academy:
- Completes classroom training by listening and taking notes at lectures; studying in groups; watching presentations and videos; and passing written exams.
- Completes physical training by running routine exercise drills and practicing skills with ladders, hoses, and other related rescue equipment.
- Fulfills firefighter skills training by loading, unloading, and cleaning hoses; climbing ladders; using extrication and other tools; and completing rescue drills.
- Fulfills EMS skills training by attending classroom and practical training, demonstrating mastery by receiving required NC EMT certification.
- Performs other job-related tasks as required
Typical Tasks of a Firefighter Upon Academy Graduation:
Responds to alarms and participates in the suppression of fires, including rescue, forcible entry, ventilation, salvage, and overhaul work and first response emergency situations;- Responds to basic life support calls as an EMT;
- Administers defibrillation as needed;
- Provides other emergency medical procedures consistent with Wake County protocols;
- Provides assistance to other emergency medical personnel;
- Performs basic rescue functions in vehicle extrication, collapsed structures, trench, confined spaces, high level, and swift water;
- Works with the Police Department in performing missing person searches;
- Responds to hazardous materials calls including weapons of mass destruction, radiological emergencies, and drug labs;
- Assists in maintaining fire apparatus and equipment, cleans fire station and grounds; checks readiness of equipment;
- May also have responsibility for checking and maintaining specialty rescue equipment;
- Plans work assignments and procedures;
- Prepares risk assessments for multi-family, residential, commercial, and public buildings;
- Participates in continuing training and instruction program by individual study of technical material and attendance at scheduled drills and practices;
- Gives educational talks and demonstrations to groups of children and adults;
- Gives firehouse tours to visitors and assists with educational programs throughout the year;
- Participates in mandatory physical fitness training;
- Assists in residential fire safety checks;
- Performs other job-related tasks as required
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of basic firefighting principles, techniques and procedures; Knowledge of the practices of life support skills as an EMT; Knowledge of town layout including street names; Knowledge of the operation of fire equipment; Knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and of necessary safety precautions; Ability to develop proficiency in emergency medical techniques and procedures; Ability to learn fire prevention and pre-planning strategies and techniques; Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; Ability to quickly and effectively communicate with co-workers and citizens; Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with fellow employees and the public; Ability to keep simple records and prepare reports; Ability to use computers in automated information processing; Possession of mechanical aptitude.
All applicants who advance past the initial phone interview must participate in an in-person Physical Agility Test (PAT) as part of the hiring process. A practice PAT will be scheduled for those interested, and you will be notified of the dates via email once your application has been reviewed.
Participation in the PAT is required for all candidates who move forward in the recruitment process. Please be aware that you must be available to attend the PAT on-site and at the designated time.
**Note that CPAT certification is not accepted. All candidates must complete the Cary FD PAT to be considered for the position.**
Firefighters must have the agility and physical strength to do prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to walk and move about without assistance, lift, and carry heavy objects, climb, stoop, pull, push, reach, and perform all other physical activities normally encountered in fire suppression work like maintain position on items (e.g., charged hoses) up to 90 pounds, push objects up to 25 pounds, pull objects from 25 to 50 pounds, and lift or pull victims. Firefighters must be able to smell, talk, hear and see, and effectively and efficiently communicate with citizens and co-workers. There is no age MAXIMUM.
Minimum and Preferred Qualifications
A high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years of age (at time of employment) is required- A valid driver's license with a good driving record is required (must obtain a NC driver's license before hire date and a NC Class "B" license within 1 year of hire)
- Must attend and successfully pass all Cary Fire Academy classes during the academy and perform at a standard level
- Experience in public safety is preferred
- You must include a valid email address on your application and check it regularly to ensure that a spam blocker does not prevent you from receiving important information. All communication with candidates will be through the email address provided on your application.
- You must indicate type of offense(s) AND date(s) you were convicted (if applicable) if answering YES to question about felony convictions.
- You must fill out your application according to the directions on the application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- You must complete a medical exam in accordance with NFPA 1582 (if job is offered), drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks prior to employment.
Please direct any questions regarding this recruitment to Seth Parker, Talent and Culture Consultant, via email at Seth.Parker@carync.gov
Cary FD Recruitment Website
Cary FD Facebook Site
Cary Benefits Information
Certification Reciprocity Information
TENTATIVE HIRING PROCESS TIMELINE: (subject to change)
February 24 – March 10 (midnight) Application Window Open
March 11 – March 16 Phone Interviews
March 17 – March 18 In Person Physical Agility Testing
March 19 – March 25 Virtual Interviews
March 26 – April 1 In Person Final Interviews/Decisions
April 2 Contingent Job Offers
April 6 – April 23 Medical Exams/ Stress Testing
Background Investigation
Fingerprint Check
April 24 Final Job Offers
May 11 Anticipated Academy Start Date
NOTE- **Where timeline is labeled "In Person," candidates MUST be on site. CPAT certification is not accepted, you must be present and pass the Cary FD PAT to be considered for a position.**
Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.
Regular Full-Time Employees
Cary is pleased to provide excellent, competitive, and comprehensive benefits to serve the needs of our employees and their families.
Because Cary believes that employees are one of our most important resources, significant dollars (averaging about 40% of annual salary per employee) are spent each year on employee benefits.
All regular full-time employees of Cary are eligible, and benefits coverage for new employees and family members is effective upon an employee's hire date.
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