Firefighter/EMT

Job Description

The main duties of this position are Firefighting. A firefighter participates on fire suppression activities including firefighting rescue EMS ventilation forcible entry salvage and overhaul and inspection. He/she will also be responsible for performing fire prevention education training fire code inspections determining fire cause and origin assisting with emergency management duties.

Job Responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification; only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional; position-specific duties; or other duties as assigned.

Firefighter Duties:

• Directs fire streams and extinguishes fires in a variety of situations including residential occupancies; commercial buildings; vehicle fires and grass fires.
• Rescues victims from occupancies filled with heat; smoke and toxic gases by entering occupancy and physically removing victims.
• Frees victims trapped in automobile accidents; truck accidents; airplane crashes; etc. using a variety of extrication tools.
• Advances fire hose lines up stairways; ladders to extinguish fires in upper levels.
• Forcefully opens all types of doors and windows to gain entrance to areas involved by fire; using numerous manual and mechanical entry tools.
• Advances fire hose lines up stairways; ladders to extinguish fires in upper levels.
• Removes fire hose lines from fire apparatus and assists fire apparatus operator in Fire Department pumper connections.
• Removes fire debris after fire is extinguished to locate hidden fires and prevent rekindling.
• Operates and drives Fire Department equipment.

  Emergency Medical Duties:

• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation on victims of smoke inhalation; heart attacks; drowning and electrical shock.
• Examines victims at accidents to determine extent of injuries and determines which victims will be priority treatment.
• Performs resuscitation with appropriate equipment.
• Preforms treatment necessary to stop and control bleeding; immobilize and prepare patient for transport.

  Non-Emergency Duties:

• Assists in cleaning and maintaining apparatus quarters; building; equipment; grounds and other related work as assigned and/or required.
• Preplans fires in occupancies to record information pertaining to location of fire hydrants; exposure hazards; life hazards; etc.
• Preplans fires in occupancies to record information pertaining to location of fire hydrants; exposure hazards; life hazards; etc.
• Provides fire prevention and public fire safety education programs as necessary.
• Demonstrates firefighting tools; equipment and emergency medical equipment in quarters to groups visiting stations when assigned.
• Gathers information for fire department grant proposals.
• Performs fire investigations and inspections; as assigned and/or required.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in emergency medical care and firefighting.
• Must be able to respond to emergency calls within thirty (30) minutes.

  Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid Texas driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Must have a valid Class “B” Texas driver’s license.

  Preferred

• Texas Fire Commission on Fire Protection structural firefighter certification is preferred for this position; if hired without; must obtain this certification within one year of hire date.
• Certified EMT in the State of Texas is preferred for this position; if hired without; must obtain this certification within one year of hire date.

Required Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of fire investigation and inspections.
• Comprehensive knowledge of firefighting techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of fire and EMS boundaries and emergency rescue procedures.
• Computer skills including data entry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of life saving techniques.
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written.
• Maintaining accurate records; filing systems and usage of statistical analysis.
• Working knowledge of state and federal guidelines on Emergency Management.

  Required Abilities:

• Ability to read; comprehend and follow safety policies; procedures; and practices.
• Ability to organize; prioritize and complete job duties with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and/or in a team environment.
• Ability to cooperate professionally with staff and the public.
• Ability to think quickly; maintain self-control and adapt to stressful situations.
• Ability to define problems and effectively problem-solve.
• Ability to read; comprehend; retain and apply City and State policies and legislation; including City ordinances; policy and procedure manuals; written instructions; general correspondence; MSDS sheets; safety manuals; traffic signs; warning labels; etc.
• Ability to take control of a situation; dictating activities in a responsible manner in an emergency and /or when necessary.

  Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively with employees; officials and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Fire Department Officers.

  Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to perform basic math skills (addition; subtraction; multiplication; and division).

  Physical and Work Environment

  The physical environment and the work environment described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

  Physical Demands:

• Work may include physical activities such as balancing; stooping; kneeling; crouching; standing; walking; pushing; pulling; lifting; grasping; feeling; talking; hearing/listening; seeing/observing; bending/twisting and performing repetitive motions.
• Job may be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Emergency scenes may require lifting persons and objects in excess of 100 lbs.
• Emergency scenes require work at excessive heights by using ladders or lifting devices.
• May be exposed to potentially dangerous tools and equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close; distant and peripheral vision; depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

  Work Environment:

• Inside and outside environment during all kinds of weather events.
• Repetitive activities (performance of same physically demanding activity).
• Dirty environment (situations in which workers or their clothing can become dirty; greasy; etc.).
• May work in ditches; trenches or confined spaces.
• May come in contact with hazardous material or gases.