EMT Firefighter

Firefighter/EMT Position

Employer: DeSoto Board of County Commissioners (FL)

Salary: $15.00 - $22.50 Hourly

Location: DeSoto County, FL

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202500028

Department: Public Safety

Opening Date: 07/29/2025

Description

Professional firefighting/EMT duties of a varied nature under the direction of the superior officer.

Essential Job Functions

• Lays, connects and places hose line in operation. Raises and climbs ladders. Enters building and other fire involved areas. Uses extinguisher, bars, hooks, lines and axes and other hand equipment. Ventilates burning buildings and structures. Throws salvage covers and removes debris.
• Makes regular inspections of apparatus and equipment and notifies supervisor of defects. Conducts routine maintenance and apparatus check-out as required.
• Drives and operates all rescue equipment as directed.
• Makes visual and physical inspections of buildings to locate fire hazards.
• Rescues and removes individuals from danger. Administers emergency medical treatment to sick, injured or afflicted persons.
• Makes periodic inspections of buildings to locate fire hazards.
• Performs physical cleaning and maintenance tasks on department buildings and equipment using rooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, etc. Performs hydrant maintenance.
• Attends training and drill sessions in such subjects as firefighting and inspection methods, equipment operations and emergency medical treatment.

Minimum Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the street locations, geography and types of construction in the County.
• Knowledge of Emergency Medical procedures, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of the various types of fire hazards of the County.
• Knowledge and skill in the use of emergency medical treatment practices.
• Ability to learn and perform many and varied firefighting techniques and procedures. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions. Ability to work at heights.
• Ability to drive fire apparatus over the road safely under emergency conditions. Skill in the use and maintenance of firefighting equipment.

Essential Physical Skills: Meet physical requirements as indicated for State certification. Must endure sustained acts of physical exhaustion and endure periods of duty under unfavorable and life-threatening situations. Heavy (45 pounds and over) lifting and carrying. Reaching, pulling, pushing, balancing, smelling, throwing. Climbing (including ladders) Ability to communicate orally. Walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, bending, stooping, jumping, running. Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction) Acceptable hearing (with or without hearing aid). Driving heavy vehicles and equipment

Education and Experience

High school graduation or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma. Completion of minimum standards as required by the State of Florida. Successful completion of all medical and fitness requirements.

(A comparable amount of training, education or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications required.) LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS: Florida Certification as a Firefighter as authorized by F.S. 633. Florida and certification as an EMT. Must possess a valid Class "D" Commercial Florida Driver's License with an "E" endorsement. Current CPR Certification.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Hazardous conditions: flames, fire, chemicals, smoke, heat, gases, moving vehicles, falling structures and debris, electricity, poor ventilation, poor lighting and related hazardous. Stressful situations and heights.

THIS IS A DISASTER ESSENTIAL POSITION.

DeSoto County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County to administer its employment practices without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or disability. This policy applies to all employment practices and personnel actions including, but not limited to, recruitment, screening, selection, hiring, training and development, determinations of pay and benefits, evaluation, scheduling, job assignments, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, discipline and dismissal. The County complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws mandating equal employment opportunity practices and prohibiting impermissible discrimination. The County will not tolerate any discrimination based upon an individual ' s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or disability.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are intended only as illustrations of the various duties to be performed, and are not all inclusive. The omission of other specific duties does not exclude those duties from being performed by the Firefighter/Provisional Paramedic if the tasks are similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. This position description does not constitute an employment contract between the County and the Firefighter/Provisional Paramedic and is subject to change at the discretion of the Fire Chief THIS IS A DISASTER ESSENTIAL POSITION. DeSoto County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County to administer its employment practices without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or disability. This policy applies to all employment practices and personnel actions including, but not limited to, recruitment, screening, selection, hiring, training and development, determinations of pay and benefits, evaluation, scheduling, job assignments, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, discipline and dismissal. The County complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws mandating equal employment opportunity practices and prohibiting impermissible discrimination. The County will not tolerate any discrimination based upon an individual ' s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or disability.

HIRING PROCESS FOR FIREFIGHTER/EMT DeSoto County Fire Rescue is currently accepting applications for Firefighter/EMT. This is a provisional status. You must become a Firefighter/Paramedic within three years from the date of hire. Applicants must possess a valid Certificate of Compliance for Firefighter in the State of Florida, a valid EMT Certification for the State of Florida, and Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator completion certificate plus a valid Florida State Drivers License. If hired, you will also be required to take and pass a physical examination, a urinalysis and blood test and submit to a background check. This Department is a drug free work place.

• Applicants will have to take a written exam consisting of Fire & EMS questions from Essentials of Fire Fighting 5th ed. and Brady; Prehospital Emergency Care 10th ed.
• Applicants must take and pass a firefighter oriented skills assessment relating to minimal fire ground operations such as a hydrant hook-up, placing a ground ladder, working with ropes and knots, minimal Haz-Mat scenarios, general fire ground knowledge and EMS based scenarios.
• Applicants must complete and pass an EMT skills assessment (NREMT Skills Sheets)
• Upon successfully completing these portions of the evaluation, you will participate in an oral review board which is comprised of members from DeSoto County Fire Rescue.

1. The candidate must pass the written examination with a minimum of 70% correct in order to advance to Step 2.
2. The candidate must pass the practical exam by completing each task presented with a passing score of 70% in order to advance to Step 3. The practical exam will include fire related tasks such as, but not limited to, knots, hoisting, hose work, forcible entry & hazmat, and EMS based scenarios.
3. The candidate must complete an oral assessment where the candidate will be asked a series of questions by a panel and will be graded upon how well you respond.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLING YOUR DOCUMENTS The application packet must be completed and uploaded prior to the candidate being eligible for the application employment process to begin. Along with the application-required paperwork, the candidate must also provide one (1) copy of each of the following documents:

1. Photocopy of your High School Diploma or GED certification.
2. Photocopy of DD-214 or other military record, if any.
3. Photocopy of your State Minimum Standards Fire Certificate.
4. Photocopy of your State EMS Certificate and CPR.
5. Photocopy of 16 hour EVOC or CEVO, if available.
6. Certified copy of the last three years of your motor vehicle/driving record.
7. At