Recruit - Firefighter/AEMT

Firefighter

A successful candidate will play an active role in the City of College Park's existing operational success. The purpose of the position is to protect lives and property through fire suppression activities, fire prevention, and safety activities, and education. Successful performance results in increased public safety and decreased property loss.

Independent judgment is required to identify, select and apply the most appropriate of available guidelines and procedures as well as interpret precedents. This position is responsible for performing firefighting work in combating, extinguishing, and preventing fires; provides emergency medical care to the sick and injured; maintains equipment and apparatus. This position is primarily responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a variety of fire apparatus.

• Responds to fire alarms and other emergency calls such as medical emergencies, traumatic emergencies, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Extinguishes controls fire and protects property from smoke damage.
• Places equipment, lays and connects hose, operates high-capacity pumps and directs water streams; raises and climbs ladders; uses safety belts, lines, and hooks.
• Participates in training drills; attends school and departmental classes on fire fighting, hydraulics, first aid, fire equipment, and apparatus construction and operation.
• Services and operates all department equipment and apparatus; perform necessary maintenance, testing, and care of fire hoses, trucks, ladders, and auxiliary equipment and apparatus.
• Provides operating and procedural information to the public and school groups; performs incident activity data entry in computers.
• Responds to hazardous materials incidents; provides necessary support activities; performs related work as required.
• Attends required training programs; reads necessary manuals, books, etc.; practices skills and techniques; completes required proficiency tests; participates in regular classes on firefighting emergency medical techniques, rescue, equipment maintenance, and related subjects.
• Responds as part of the team when an incident occurs; operates assigned equipment at fire scenes, involving laying and connecting hoses; holding nozzles and detecting fire streams; raising and climbing ladders; using chemical extinguishers, lines, and other equipment.
• Provides emergency medical assistance at incidents.
• Creates an opening for gaining access to patients in peculiar situations and positions.
• Administers basic life support care, including bleeding control, automatic external defibrillation, intravenous therapy, oxygen therapy, and CPR.
• Performs pre-fire planning of assigned establishments.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that logically relate to the position.

Work Environment: Most Firefighter work is performed in various indoor settings including living quarters and office areas. Varying work schedules are required. Hazardous tasks performed under emergency conditions may require strenuous exertion under such handicaps as limited visibility, exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals or gases, extremes in temperature, cramped surroundings and contact with death, emotional stress, trauma, contagious disease, and terminal illnesses. Firefighters are also exposed to extreme heat, contaminated environments, emotionally upset people, noise, physical hazards from traffic, fire and falling objects, and atmospheric conditions such as smoke, fumes, odors, and gases. May be required to wear protective equipment such as a hard hat, face and ear protection, breathing apparatus, fire protective leather gloves, boots, fire retardant clothing, and to utilize body substances isolation including latex gloves, eye protection, pocket valve resuscitation masks, and bag valve masks.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of City Fire Codes and related ordinances.
• Knowledge of modern firefighting principles, practices, and methods.
• Knowledge of firefighting equipment including personal protective equipment;
• Knowledge of hazard identification and correction including escape route planning.
• Knowledge of behavior and mechanics of various types of fire.
• Knowledge of principles of hydraulics applied to fire suppression.
• Knowledge of the Incident Management System.
• Knowledge of the street system and physical layout of the City.
• Knowledge of emergency care methods, techniques, and equipment.
• Skill in operating heavy emergency equipment.
• Skill in the use of tools, equipment, and apparatus to fight fires, rescue, or provide emergency medical care.
• Skill in performing various manual labor assignments as needed.
• Ability to perform general equipment/tool maintenance duties.
• Ability to interpret instructions and efficiently carry them out with general supervision.
• Ability to perform tasks involving heavy manual labor.
• Effective analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), organizational, and time management skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse constituents.
• Attention to detail and adaptability to a changing environment is extremely important as well as dependability.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, initiative, resourcefulness, and personal accountability.
• Moderate physical activity. Requires handling objects of average-weight up to one hundred (100) pounds, standing and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day, climb ladders, bending, crouching, or stooping, and use tools and equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, and distinguish between shades of color.
• Note: In compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), those functions of the job which are identified as essential are required to be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Requests to facilitate the performance of essential functions will be given careful consideration.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Associate's degree or two (2) years of college coursework preferred.
• Must obtain or maintain Georgia State EMT Certification within 24 months of hire along with NPQ FF II.
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License issued by the State of Georgia.
• Must be 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Experience in communicating with diverse communities, and in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, as well as knowledge and understanding of the organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
• Extensive hours and weekends will be required at times.
• Pre-Employment screening is required: criminal background check and drug testing.