Firefighter/Paramedic - Entry Level

Firefighter/Paramedic - Entry Level

This recruitment is to fill one vacant position as well as to establish an eligibility list that can be used to fill additional vacancies that may occur during the next 12 months. In addition to a competitive salary and CalPERS Retirement, this position offers a generous benefits package and many special pays and incentives. These include:

• CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents
• Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: paid 100% by City
• Retiree Medical Trust
• Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year (value approximately $5656 - $6848 annually)
• Longevity pay: 2.5% at 5 years, 5% at 8 years, 7.5% at 11 years and 10% at 15 years
• Education Pay: up to $2400 per year
• Bilingual Pay: up to $2400 per year
• Sick Leave: earn 144 hours per year. Sick leave will be charged against the employee's accrual at the rate of an hour for an hour based on actual sick leave usage, for the first day of sick leave used per injury and illness. Each successive day will be charged at the rate 12 hours for the same injury or illness.
• Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn hours at 1.5 times actual hours worked up to 240 hours
• Vacation Time: earn up to 12 shifts (288 hours) per year
• Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: receive 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and Dental premium as cash payment (with proof of other insurance for employee and eligible dependents)
• Paid Parental Leave – up to 8 weeks of paid time for qualifying family bonding

Please refer to the Unit 7 Memorandum of Understanding and the Human Resources website for additional details.

The Petaluma Fire Department is a full-service fire and rescue agency. The Department operates from three stations strategically located around Petaluma. The Department staffs two engine companies, one truck/engine cross-staffed company, three dual-role ALS ambulances, one part-time single role BLS ambulance (Tiered Response), and a 24-hour Battalion Chief. Last year, the PFD responded to over 8000 calls for service! We are currently recruiting to fill one vacancy and establish an eligibility list for any future vacancies that may occur within the next twelve months. Petaluma Firefighters work the 48/96 schedule and rotate each set between engine and ambulance positions. Call volume is challenging and varied but still allows time for training and exposure to the many facets that makes Petaluma a place for an exciting career. As an employee of the Petaluma Fire Department, you can expect to gain expertise in EMS response, Structure and Wildland Fire Suppression, Vehicle Extrication, Rescue Systems, and more. The response area is a combination of a historic downtown, urban, suburban, and rural areas. Our community has a river, marina, small airport, historic and modern industry, a highway, high-speed rail, rural roads, and wildland interface that all represent their own challenges and critical calls for service. Petaluma firefighters often work locally with CalFire and surrounding paid and volunteer organizations in the greater Petaluma area as well as provide strike team support on large incidents with our OES Type 1, Type 3 Engine and Type 6 brush truck.

The Petaluma Fire Department has a rich history of service since 1857!

A Firefighter/Paramedic responds to fires, medical emergencies, and other emergency and non-emergency situations and takes appropriate action to protect life and property; perform various staff support assignments in addition to normal emergency response activities. Firefighter/Paramedics are assigned to both engine and ambulance shifts. General supervision is provided by the Fire Captain, and responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of support staff.

Respond to calls for medical aid, including traffic collisions and rescue situations. Provide pre-hospital care, including examining patients and monitoring vital signs; establish I.V. lines, administer medications, insert airway, defibrillate heart and take other basic and advanced first aid and life support actions; communicate with hospital and or health care professionals in person or by radio; complete required reports. Restock supplies and maintain ambulances and other emergency vehicles and equipment in proper working condition. In a fire emergency, connect supply lines, control and extinguish fires, using various size hand-lines, deck ladders and portable water monitors; connect foam eductors and apply foam and chemicals for fire suppression and control. Search buildings and rescue victims from buildings and motor vehicles sometimes using specialized power and hand tools; use various hand and power tools to obtain entry to buildings, free trapped accident victims, and provide ventilation. Participate in specialized rescue operations, including aerial, water, underground and confined space situations, including the use of rigging and shoring. Contain, control, and decontaminate hazardous material spills. Participate in clean-up, salvage, overhaul operations; clean, service, and ensure operational readiness of fire vehicles, apparatus, hoses and equipment; assist with the maintenance of stations and facilities. Participate in various staff support assignments including but not limited to: fire prevention, inspection, and maintenance of inventory records, scheduled inspection of department equipment, fire inspection, and investigation. Work with the community in a variety of educational, public relations, and service programs; may provide CPR training classes as assigned. May serve in higher level classification, on a relief basis if certified and/or licensed to do so; may direct the work of others, particularly in a medical emergency. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: Basic principles and practices of fire suppression and prevention. Basic principles and practices of emergency medical care at the basic and advanced life support levels. Safety practices and precautions pertaining to the work; basic computer report production techniques. Education and Experience Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be: Education : Equivalent to graduation from high school. Completion of an accredited firefighter academy or possession of a Firefighter I certificate is required. Experience : Ambulance experience as a Paramedic or EMT and previous firefighting experience in a volunteer or paid capacity is highly desirable.

Required Licenses/Certifications Must possess a valid California Class C driver license. Must obtain a valid California Class C driver license with a Firefighter Endorsement or higher within 36 months of hire.

Physical Requirements Must pass and maintain physical requirements as specified by the City and be able to wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

Minimum Qualifications:

Entry Level Firefighter/Paramedic

• Current accreditation as a Paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry or State of California OR currently attending an accredited California Paramedic Academy at the time of application. Certification as a Paramedic in advanced life support, either through the National Registry or State of California is required prior to a final job offer.
• CPAT required prior to conditional job offer. (This requirement is waived if the applicant is currently employed with a fire department for more than 12 months concurrently or is a current Petaluma Fire Department BLS EMT).
• CSFM Firefighter 1 certification or FF1 Academy Completion required.
  • Exception: Paramedics may apply if currently enrolled in a CSFM FF1 Academy. FF1 Academy completion is required prior to a final job offer.

California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Some applicants are required to submit proof of successful completion of a California Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) to Human Resources prior to the interview panel assessment. The CPAT card of completion must have an issuance date that is less than a year from the date of application for the proof to be valid. Go to Testing Schedules | Fctc Online for upcoming test dates. If you do not have a valid CPAT card at the time your application is submitted, you must indicate the date and location of your scheduled test on your supplemental questionnaire. Once you have received your CPAT card, please submit a PDF copy via email to View email address on click.appcast.io as soon as it is available.

Application and Selection Process: All completed application documents will be reviewed. An application submitted without complete information will not be considered. A screening committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant who has met the minimum requirements for the position. The highest-ranking applicants will be invited to continue in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the process, and the decision of the screening committee is final. Highly Qualified Applicants Applicants demonstrating the following will be rated as most highly qualified:

• Full-time paid Firefighting experience.