Firefighter I - Certified

DEFINITION / GENERAL PURPOSE:

Protects life and property by performing firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention duties. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives direct supervision from the Fire Captain.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform firefighting activities including; driving fire apparatus, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose, performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks. Perform emergency aid activities including; rescue, administering emergency medical aid and providing other assistance as required. Participates in fire drills, attends classes in firefighting, rescue emergency medical, hazardous materials, and related subjects. Operates radio and other communication equipment. Participates in the inspection of buildings, hydrants, and other structures in fire prevention programs. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities. Performs minor repairs to departmental equipment. Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment; cleans and washes walls and floors; cares for grounds around station; makes minor repairs; washes, hangs and dries hose; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment. Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris.

Participates in training to develop and maintain certifications, skills, and knowledge as it relates to fire prevention, suppression, rescue and EMS care and skills. Various duties as assigned in order to complete training necessary for advancement to Fire Fighter II.

Employees may not perform the duties of a higher classification without the assignment being designated in writing and approved by the Deputy Chief of Operations, the Fire Chief or City Manager. Pay for stepping up will be provided in accordance with Texas Local Government Code 141.033(b).

The employee must have the ability to work well with others and have a good/pleasant attitude.

Performs other essential duties as required to achieve successful operations of the department.

Ability to effectively communicate and work with citizens who may have complaints on services provided.

Must be able to have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, city employees, and representatives of government agencies, media, and the general public.

Must be able to follow directions.

Regular and timely attendance is an essential job function.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Serves as a member of various employee committees as assigned.

Other Duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

High school diploma or GED equivalent. No specific work experience level required.

Must possess a valid Texas Driver's Class B Driver's License without record of suspension or revocation in any State within six (6) months of employment.

Must be Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Basic Structural Firefighter.

Must be Certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services as either an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic, Intermediate or Paramedic.

Unless already Paramedic Certified or Licensed, must be enrolled in a Paramedic program within one year, obtain Paramedic Certification (within 180 days of issuance of certificate of course completion) and maintain Certification or Licensure for remainder of employment.

Certification of attendance to Courage to Be Safe and Traffic Incident Management Program training required within 6 months of employment.

Must not have any felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories.

Must be able to proficiently read and write the English language.

Must successfully pass entry-level fire examination.

Must pass a medical exam which includes a vision exam and hearing exam.

Must pass the Department's physical agility test and drug test.

Certification in NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, & 800 required within 6 months of employment and comply with future NIMS requirements.

Must meet City of Copperas Cove's response time requirements.

May be required to pass a polygraph examination and psychological test.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

Texas Commission on Fire Protection Driver Operator-Pumper Certification.

Texas Department of State Health Services Paramedic Certification or License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of City geography;

Knowledge of local and state government operations, policies, rules and laws;

Knowledge of Microsoft Suite software application including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc. Must be able to construct and modify documents including formulas in spreadsheets;

Skills to develop employees to ensure the necessary skills and abilities exist for growth;

Ability to cooperate as part of a team and to receive direction from crew leaders during stressful as well as routine situations and maintain a calm, mature composure, emotional self-control and rational cognitive/decision-making;

Ability to work in dangerous situations or hazardous environments that are personally offensive (cases of child abuse, child molestation, sexual assault, extreme trauma, or death, etc.) or which involve considerable stress, danger, personal risk, violence and hostility;

Ability to assess emergency situations calmly and to act safely, quickly, and appropriately in a variety of rescue/emergency encounters.

Ability to make standard calculations necessary for safety, training, and various rescue situations;

Ability to meet departmental physical standards;

Ability to quickly make decisions in emergency situations based upon limited facts available, often within the first few minutes of an incident;

Ability to work long hours in both emergency and routine assignments as part of an assigned crew of diverse employees;

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, other governmental agency representatives, city officials and the general public in a variety of situations.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Must have the ability to meet department's physical standards. Must be able to meet all legal requirements necessary maintain current and future certifications by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State Health Services.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Emergency medical aid unit, fire apparatus, fleet vehicles, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, safety equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer including word processing software, phone, copy/fax machine, cameras, other specialized tools and equipment as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up in excess of 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, co-peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. Possibility of severe injury or loss of life when fighting fires.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or E.M.S. activities when noise levels may be loud.

Employee will be required to work a flexible/rotating work schedule.