Firefighter/Medic (Firefighter/Paramedic)

Firefighter/Paramedic

$10,000 Sign-on BONUS*

Fairfax County is home to diverse communities covering urban, suburban, and rural areas. With a population of over 1.1 million residents, the county boasts a nationally recognized school system, safe neighborhoods, extensive parklands, and bustling town centers. This urban county has a history of engagement and outstanding fire and rescue service delivery.

About the Department

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) received a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) in 2014 and was accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) in 2018. FCFRD is a premier all-hazards fire and rescue department providing basic and advanced life support (BLS and ALS) emergency medical services (EMS), fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue, life safety education, fire prevention, and arson investigation services. Approximately 2,000 uniformed, professional, and volunteer staff work across 39 strategically placed fire and rescue stations and administrative offices.

Duties Include:

• Conducts patient assessment (e.g., evaluates the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems)
• Provides basic and advanced emergency medical care to stabilize the condition of the critically ill or injured prior to transport to a medical facility
• Confers with the supervising physician or hospital via radio or telephone, providing the patient's medical history and condition
• Administers medication via intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraosseous, or sublingual routes
• Administers advanced emergency medical procedures (e.g., inserting airways, interpreting, and treating cardiac arrhythmias, performing defibrillation, electronic pacing)
• Participates in multi-disciplinary cutting-edge training to prepare for tasks such as tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) and Field-Available Component Transfusion Response (FACT*R)
• Responds to emergency calls to protect life and property
• Combats, extinguishes, and prevents fires
• Participates in rescue extrication operations and provides emergency medical care to the sick and injured
• Drives emergency apparatus, including, but not limited to transport units, engines, trucks, rescue squads, and tankers
• Performs related work as required under direct supervision
• Participate in Community Risk Reduction and Community Outreach activities
• Work as part of a team and embody the department's Core Values

Note: Following the successful completion of the recruit school, incumbents will serve a 12-month probationary period. During their probationary period, they shall complete an ALS internship to become FCFRD-authorized ALS providers. The FCFRD also provides continuing education to personnel with paramedic certification during and following the probationary period. Following successful completion of ALS internship, paramedics are eligible for ALS incentive pay ($6,948) and additional ALS riding pay of $2-3/hour depending on apparatus assigned.

* Effective 7/1/2023, this position includes a signing bonus for fully qualified new county employees in the amount of $10,000.

Fire Suppression

• Responds to fire alarms and a variety of emergency calls
• Connects hose to hydrant, and pulls and deploys pre-connected hose lines
• Wearing self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing, enters burning buildings with hose lines
• Operates a nozzle and places a stream of water on a fire
• Mounts and operates master stream appliances from an aerial ladder or elevating platform
• Ventilates burning buildings by opening windows/skylights or by opening holes in roofs/floors
• Positions ventilation fans to safely inject fresh air and exhaust heat, smoke, and gases
• Performs salvage operations (e.g., removes fire debris and water, locates hidden fires, and operates shut-off valves for gas, electricity, oil and water)
• Operates chemical and hand extinguishers
• Raises, lowers, and climbs ladders
• Uses radio and computer-aided dispatch equipment
• Drives motorized apparatus in emergency and non-emergency conditions
• Operates fire pumps at proper pressures and flows
• Searches for victims in burning, smoke-filled buildings or other hazardous environments
• Removes persons from danger
• Performs heavy rescue operations
• Administers first aid to injured persons
• Takes vital signs and stabilizes patient
• Collects pertinent information for patient assessment, including the patient's medical history
• Conducts assessment for treatment of a patient with trauma-induced injuries
• Performs water rescues from land and boats
• Assists in the search and recovery of drowned victims
• Operates emergency lighting appliances
• Operates self-contained breathing apparatus in hazardous environments and confined spaces
• Identifies and protects flammable or hazardous materials at fire scene
• Restores apparatus and equipment to service after use
• Refills self-contained breathing cylinders
• Maintains specialized fire equipment and protective gear
• Studies area geography, street names and locations, target hazards, pre-plans, water supply, and other firefighting resources
• Studies building construction to identify structural weaknesses and fire behavior
• Instructs citizens in fire prevention and life safety techniques
• Examines building plans for pre-fire planning purposes
• Pre-plans for fires in residential areas to provide information regarding hydrant locations, exposures, types of occupancy, and areas of high life or monetary loss risk
• Pre-plans for fires in industrial and commercial buildings to provide information regarding location of hydrants and standpipes, building layout, hazardous material storage, occupancy patterns, and structural information
• Participates in the inspection of businesses and public places for fire and life safety hazards
• Inspects wiring and heating systems, basements, and attics of residences, and recommends ways to eliminate fire hazards
• Inspects storage of hazardous and flammable materials and refers unsafe practices to the Fire Prevention Division
• Inspects heating, cooling, ventilating, and electrical systems in commercial buildings and refers unsafe practices to the Fire Prevention Division
• Inspects exits at public assemblies to ensure they are clearly marked, operate properly, and are clear of obstructions
• Prepares inspection reports
• Recognizes and preserves evidence on the causes of fires
• Performs public relations duties (e.g., teaching school children about fire safety)

Advanced Life Support

• Serves as the ALS provider on an Engine, Advanced Life Support Unit (ALSU), Paramedic Training Unit (PTU) or other apparatus as assigned
• May serve as crew leader (Lead) on a Basic Life Support Unit (BLSU) or Advanced Life Support Unit (ALSU) in providing patient care
• Provides advanced emergency medical care to stabilize the condition of the critically ill or injured prior to transport to a medical facility
• Conducts patient assessment (e.g., evaluates the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems)
• Confers with the supervising physician or hospital via radio or telephone, providing the patient's medical history and condition
• Performs differential diagnosis, initiates treatment, and determines subsequent treatment based on patient reactions, responses, and condition
• Administers medication intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, endotracheally, interosseously, or sublingually
• Administers advanced emergency medical procedures (e.g., creating airways, interpreting, and treating cardiac arrhythmias, performing defibrillation, electronic pacing, cardioversion, and/or electro-cartographic monitoring)
• Treats general medical emergencies (e.g., drug overdoses, seizures, diabetic reactions) and trauma-induced wounds
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation