Firefighter Trainee

Firefighter Trainee

The City of Hayward is excited to announce its recruitment for the position of Firefighter Trainee. The Firefighter trainee is hired into a civilian position for the period of time they are assigned to the Fire Academy. Upon successful completion of the Training Academy, the Firefighter Trainee position transitions into the position of Firefighter and Trainees will be sworn in and appointed to the classification of Firefighter. Firefighter Trainee benefits are limited to those of a civilian employee. The position of Firefighter responds to emergency alarms, lays lines, and directs streams of water and other extinguishers; carries and sets up ladders, ventilates buildings, and rescues persons and animals. The Firefighter attends to victims in emergency situations using prescribed paramedic techniques; provides medical aid; administers drugs; gives injections; starts intravenous solutions; takes and monitors vital signs; takes appropriate action to preserve life as prescribed by Alameda County protocols, the Base Hospital, via direct radio or telephone contact or physician on scene. In addition, a Firefighter may be required to drive department ambulance and transport patients to emergency receiving facilities.

The Mission of the Hayward Fire Department is to protect lives and property by providing superior fire suppression and emergency medical services (EMS), supported by prevention through responsible regulatory and educational programs.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Attends a basic recruit academy designed to provide an overview of the Hayward Fire Department including knowledge of laws, firefighting procedures and physical fitness.
• Receives training to develop an awareness of the overall Fire Department functions, responsibilities of Firefighters and how they relate to field operations.

Core competencies include knowledge of basic mathematics and mechanical principles, basic life support emergency care, and patient transport procedures. Ability to successfully complete academy requirements, think and act quickly in emergencies, understand and interpret laws and regulations, follow oral and written instructions, display the use and manipulation of tools, medical equipment and instruments, and apparatus, perform the work in the expedient manner required, have good agility for performing tasks involving balance and coordination, establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and other fire service officials, observe and evaluate patient status and conditions and determine appropriate basic and advanced life support procedures, make sound independent paramedical decisions, learn and apply Alameda County Radio Format in order to transmit medical information, learn fire radio communications format, language, and dispatching techniques, prepare accurate technical reports and records, understand how and why mechanical things work, and read and understand technical material, reports, laws, codes and departmental regulations.

Minimum qualifications include any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: experience: none. Education: equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade. License: possession of a Class "C" California Driver's License. The ability to obtain and maintain California Paramedic License, valid certification from Alameda County as a paramedic by the completion date of the firefighter academy, valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification, valid Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) or International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certificate within 2 years of receipt of Alameda County Paramedic Certification or Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Professional (PEPP).

Other requirements include being at least 18 years old at the time of the initial oral interview and having vision that must be at least 20/70 uncorrected, testing each eye separately; and must be correctable to at least 20/30, testing both eyes simultaneously.

Benefits and rewards may include alternative work schedule and/or telecommuting, vacation, paid holidays, generous employer contribution for health, dental and vision coverage, CalPERS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan, life and disability insurance and paid leave, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, health and wellness reimbursement, professional development reimbursement, and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (employee paid).