Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

The primary purpose of the position is performing work to control and extinguish fires, rescue persons endangered by fire, and reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards. It also covers fire service positions that follow protocols in providing basic life support; performs emergency medical procedures that are non-invasive; performs fire protection inspector duties, including inspecting and testing fire protection equipment, training personnel in fire protection and prevention, operate fire communications equipment, and advice on improvements to structures for better fire prevention.

Major duties:

• Effectively controlling and extinguishing fires, operates various nozzles and hose lines, makes connections to, and operates fire hydrants, performs forcible entries, ventilates structures, carries, raises, and lowers ground ladders, performs, or assists in rescue operations, uses a variety of hand tools, hydraulic tools, portable fire extinguishers, and performs salvage and overhaul.
• Combats fires in residences, medical and psychological facilities, multiple story office buildings, industrial shops, warehouses, fuel storage areas, public assembly areas, and wildland areas.
• Responds to all emergency calls on Tomah VA Medical Center Grounds as well as requests for Mutual Aid by surrounding communities to extinguish fire when requested and approved by management.
• Operate pumps, foam generators, and other specialized firefighting equipment, determining proper pressures for the type of nozzle or equipment, size of hose, and distance to be covered.
• Provides medical care as a Basic Life Support/Emergency Medical Technician-(EMT) following TVAMC protocols and directives as outlined in MCP MS-03 in providing basic life support.
• Will employ a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods, and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport.
• Independently performs fire inspection duties in areas where hazards are expected to be encountered. Incumbent inspects medical and psychological facilities, multiple story buildings, administrative buildings, public assemblies, industrial shops, warehouses and residential quarters for fire safety violations and other conditions contributing to more extensive fire hazards.
• Performs pre-incident planning by familiarizing themselves with the various buildings interiors and to locate any possible hazards as well as established fire protection systems. Conducts inspections on built-in fire protection features such as, but not limited to fire barriers, smoke barriers and fire doors.
• Conducts regularly scheduled and unscheduled inspections of all safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire doors, exits, stairways, indicator posts, standpipe systems, self-contained breathing masks, as well as special inspections to ensure equipment is always operational.
• Conducts general work planning daily, particularly in the areas of training and fire inspections. Reviews schedule to meet unexpected changes and duty assignments.
• Responsible for review, assessment, and recommendations concerning Fire Department records of fire prevention inspections, air packs, extinguishers vehicle, hose, fire equipment, daily workloads, safety meeting and pre-fire planning.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Work Schedule: Full time, 72 hours per week, 144 hours per pay period.

Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (Basic Life Support) / PD24184A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized