Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic

Thank you for your interest in the position of Firefighter/Paramedic with our department. We look forward to the opportunity to consider you as an applicant. Firefighter/Paramedics work a 24-day work period based on a 48/96 work schedule which begins with the start of the A shift 48/96 schedule. The 56-hour (average) workweek schedule consists of two consecutive 24-hour work shifts (48 consecutive duty hours) followed by four consecutive calendar days off (96 consecutive hours off duty). Salary rates for Firefighter/Paramedics on the 24 shift schedule are as follows: Hourly: $26.35 – 32.03; Monthly: $6,395.07 - $7,773.24; Annually: $76,740.84 – $93,278.88 This is a continuous recruitment. We are currently recruiting to fill vacancies and to establish an eligible list that will also be used to fill future vacancies.

To be considered during our next interview/assessment process, applicants are encouraged to submit their application and all required documents, by JULY 12th at 11:59 p.m. The apply by date associated with our recruitment process has been included for planning purposes. Additional details regarding the recruitment process will be sent via email to qualified applicants as applications are received, screened, and processed.

Tulare Fire Department is comprised of two divisions: Administration and Fire Suppression. Administration Division: Tulare City Fire Department is responsible for enforcing local, state and federal fire safety laws. The Prevention Bureau within the admin division, achieves this by conducting annual fire & life safety inspections of all existing buildings that are open to the public. The prevention bureau performs plan reviews for safety compliance of all new commercial, industrial and multi-residential structures. Plan review consists of checking plans for fire safety features such as: fire sprinkler, and fire alarm plans. The prevention bureau is also very involved with the storage and sale of safe & sane fireworks, as well as large public gatherings most notably the World Ag Expo.

Fire Suppression Division: The Fire Suppression Division consists of forty-one (40) uniformed personnel. The primary responsibility of the fire suppression and first responder units are to respond to fire, emergency medical, rescue, and life safety emergencies within Tulare. Emergency Services are delivered through four (4) in-service fire companies from three (3) strategically located fire stations within the city. Three of the fire companies are staffed with three personnel (captain, engineer, and firefighter/paramedic) and one patrol unit is staffed with two personnel (captain and engineer/paramedic). A division chief is on duty each day to perform as an incident commander, supervise fire suppression activities, and provide personnel supervision.

The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 67,834 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The City provides a full-range of service to our citizens. The organization, staffed with 368 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community. The primary goals of the Fire Department are to reduce casualties and the loss of life, improve patient outcomes, reduce property loss and damage, affect successful extrications of trapped victims, and protect the environment from the effects of a hazardous materials release. In calendar year 2021, the Fire Department responded to 594 fire calls, 4,648 medical calls and 2,732 calls for various other reasons for a total of 7,974 calls for service. The Fire Department is also responsible for enforcing local fire ordinances, state and federal laws, apprehending arsonists and assisting in their prosecution.

Under general supervision, responds to fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, rescues and other emergency and non-emergency situations; participates in all other suppression, prevention, inspection, education, and related activities to protect life and property; performs fire station and apparatus maintenance; serves in specialized departmental roles as assigned; provides information and assistance to the public; and performs other duties as required.

Receives general supervision from a Fire Captain or assigned supervisor. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

This is the working-level class in the fire service series that performs all normal fire suppression, basic medical emergency, hazardous materials, and other emergency response activities. The nature of the work performed requires an employee in this class to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all others contacted in the course of work and requires the ability to perform heavy physical work at potential risk to health and safety. This class is distinguished from Fire Engineer in that the latter drives and operates all fire equipment and apparatus. It is further distinguished from Fire Captain in that the latter is the first supervisory level in this sworn class series.

If we determine that you meet the minimum requirements for the position and that you have attached all of the required items, you may be invited to take a written exam which is the first phase of our recruitment process. Applicants that have taken the FCTC Written Exam will not be required to take another written exam. Applicants that have not taken the FCTC Written Exam will be required to take a written exam. The exam will be based on the following source material: Brady Emergency Care 10th Edition, Reading Ability, Mathematical Reasoning, Map Reading, Writing Ability, Human Relations (interpersonal skills, teamwork, commitment, honesty, emotional stability).

Responds to fire alarms, delivers all equipment, and implements fire suppression and firefighting techniques to rescue victims and protect private and public property.

Responds to emergency medical calls and administers advanced emergency medical procedures including EKG interpretation, intravenous access, drug therapy, endotracheal intubation, pediatric emergencies, cardioversion and defibrillation, needle thoracostomy, patient assessment techniques, and safe patient transport.

Assumes a designated position on an assigned apparatus and follows command structure instructions for fire suppression or related emergency services.

Serves within a command structure, requiring adherence to officers' orders in life threatening situations.

Responds to structural residential, commercial, industrial, chemical, petroleum, vehicle, aircraft, and wildland fires, and performs search and rescue operations to remove persons from burning structures, and fire suppression techniques as appropriate; lays, connects, charges and uses supply lines and various water appliances to control and extinguish fires; places water curtains and performs ventilating and access maneuvers; uses foam and chemical extinguishers as required by the nature of the fire; operates fire streams as directed; raises and climbs ladders; ventilates roofs and windows.

Operates all types of portable fire extinguishers, pike poles, hand lines, smoke ejectors, salvage covers, forcible entry tools, aerial ladder equipment, emergency medical equipment, and other firefighting and medical equipment as required.

Performs salvage duties at fire scenes by placing salvage covers, sweeping, vacuuming up water, and removing debris.

Conducts daily inspections of condition and readiness of equipment including medical and first aid equipment; cleans, washes, and services fire apparatus, vehicles and equipment; inspects, tests, and maintains equipment and pump motors including nozzles, appliances, fittings, hydrants, fire extinguishers, hand and power tools, ropes, emergency lighting equipment, generators, rescue and first aid, and related equipment.

Assists in the investigation of fires; obtains and preserves evidence at a fire scene, secures fire scene and controls traffic, and participates in determining fire origin and cause; may be required to testify in court, as necessary.

Assists in inspecting building structures to ensure code compliance; explains City fire codes and fire prevention policies and procedures to the general public; identifies common, special, structural, and panic hazards and recommend pre-fire planning; issues orders to comply with codes; and prepares complete and accurate reports of inspection activities as required.

Responds to emergency rescue calls, including auto accidents and collapsed buildings requiring extrication, search and rescue, gas system leaks, confined space rescues, and rope rescues.

Performs overhaul operations to ensure the complete suppression of fire.

Responds to a variety of alarms and follows established procedures to investigate.

Maintains fire fighting and emergency equipment in a clean and operable condition, including performing daily equipment checks, and performing basic repair of damaged equipment as necessary; maintains inventories of apparatus, equipment, and supplies.

Ensures the use of appropriate firefighting safety apparel and equipment, and follows appropriate safety procedures as required.

Works closely with other emergency medical staff, public safety, and fire personnel from other agencies, depending upon response situation.

Responds to hazardous materials emergencies, including scene assessment, identifying the extent of damage and/or potential hazard to the community, implementing containment plans, and protecting fire personnel and civilians from exposure to chemicals.

Responds to man-made and natural disasters, including fires, floods, earthquakes, crash rescues and other catastrophic events, including providing medical assistance and removing persons from harmful structures or exposure to fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and harmful materials.