Firefighter

Firefighter

Candidate must be highly motivated to perform duties related to firefighting, emergency medicine, rescue, training, physical fitness, maintaining the fire station, maintaining equipment, and other related tasks.

An employee in this class participates in the mitigation of emergencies as a member of a team in responding to fire alarms and emergency calls. Primary duties may include nozzle operation, securing a water supply, rescue operations, and administering emergency medical care. The employee shall be able to follow policy and procedure, be capable of using sound judgement to make decisions, work as a part of a team, and be self-motivated while working independently. Public contact is required in the performance of the employee's duties and should be performed in a professional, tactful, respectful, and firm manor. Duties are physically demanding and are performed under the usual hazards of firefighting, and emergency response situations. The employee will be under the general supervision of a Fire Officer.

Illustrative examples of work:

• Responds to fire calls as a firefighter; performs necessary work related to fire suppression.
• Responds to calls for environmental and other disasters involving hazardous materials, such as gas leaks, fuel spills and chemical emergencies; takes proper steps to mitigate hazardous situations.
• Responds to emergency calls as an emergency medical technician, performs necessary rescue work; administers necessary emergency medical care.
• Responds to non-emergency calls, such as requests to assist other emergency medical care providers in moving patients into transportation vehicles and assisting disabled persons in their homes when other assistance is inadequate.
• Participates in a continuous training program to improve competence in all areas related to firefighting functions and meet Federal, State and Local standards.
• Assists in inspection and maintenance of assigned apparatus and equipment and performs station maintenance.
• Actively participates in public fire and life safety education activities, hydrant maintenance, professional development reviews, and any other assigned duties.
• Utilizes specialized hand and power tools in rescuing victims of fire, disaster and other emergencies.
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation as necessary.
• Maintains appropriate level of physical fitness for duty.
• Participates in as a member of a company in pre-fire planning.
• Utilizes computerized data entry equipment and various word processing, spreadsheet, file maintenance and/or database programs to enter, store and/or retrieve information.

Additional job functions:

• May be required to respond on an off-duty basis in event of major fire, rescue, hazardous-materials or other emergency.
• May assist with traffic control duties as required.
• Participates in City-wide special events as required.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• General knowledge of learned procedures, practices, routines to deal effectively with routine work.
• Working knowledge of firefighting procedures, techniques and apparatus.
• Working knowledge of hazardous materials and mitigation of situations involving hazardous materials.
• Working knowledge of emergency medical procedures and techniques.
• Working knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and victims of accidents.
• Working knowledge of City geography, the location of roads and streets, and fire hydrants within the City.
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly to emergency situations.
• Ability to safely drive emergency vehicles in stressful situations.
• Ability to lift substantial weight.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to deal tactfully, courteously and firmly with the general public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Skill in the operation and maintenance of the various types of equipment used by the Fire Department.

Experience and training:

• North Carolina Certified Firefighter (Firefighter II)
• North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician
• North Carolina Hazardous Materials Level I Responder
• North Carolina TIMS
• High school diploma or GED
• Valid driver's license
• Clean criminal background
• Must be 18 years old

Other requirements:

• Successfully complete an annual physical per National Fire Protection Association 1582 standards.
• Subject to random drug testing.
• Shift work of 24/48 on duty/off duty.
• Subject to shift change to fit departmental needs.
• Will be required to work mandatory hire-backs.