Job TitleMajor Duties and Responsibilities Duty 1. Conduct Salvage and Overhaul - Identify strategies to protect property. Use salvage covers or smoke fans, locate smoldering fires, and assess damaged structures for safety. Remove property to protect from damage, remove excess water, and perform cleanup as necessary. Cover holes with the proper materials to protect property from weather and elements. Deploy salvage covers or smoke fans to protect equipment and property. Identify potential danger areas, such as holes in the floor, or areas that are structurally weak. Lift, carry, push, or pile property to protect it from further damage. Locate and extinguish hidden fires and smoldering embers, prior to placing fan in service. Place sprinkler, standpipe, and alarm systems back into service. Recognize and identify types of building collapse. Remove excess water and debris after a fire. Tear down or shore up weak or damaged structures such as floors, ceilings, roofs, etc. Duty 2. Identify and Contain Hazardous Materials – Safely identify and contain hazardous materials including chemicals, explosives, and biological and radioactive substances. Contain hazardous materials according to relevant policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify methods of neutralizing or containing hazardous materials. Identify safety zone surrounding hazard area. Identify types of hazardous materials involved in incidents. Isolate hazard area from further contamination. Operate from safe distances. Recognize visual physical/chemical indications of hazardous materials. Remove hazardous fluid leaks from vehicles at motor vehicle collisions. Take appropriate actions to prevent a hazardous materials incident from occurring. Duty 3. Improve Department - Carry out a continuous effort to improve operations and work processes. Work cooperatively and jointly to provide continuous improvement and customer-driven service. Duty 4. Inspect, Inventory, and Maintain Apparatus and Equipment - Examine equipment and apparatus to ensure proper functioning and/or adequate supply on a daily basis. Make or recommend necessary minor repairs, and report loss, damage, or theft. Inventory tools and equipment before leaving fire or emergency scenes and upon return. Properly stow equipment on apparatus for storage and transport. Inspect, clean, and polish tools, equipment, and apparatus. Check and report running condition of tools, equipment, and apparatus. Perform minor repairs and maintenance of tools, equipment, and apparatus. Test and maintain communication, protection, and rescue equipment. Turn in tools and equipment in need of repairs. Report lost, stolen, or damaged tools and equipment with headquarters. Replenish supplies, such as medical supplies, oxygen tanks, chemical extinguishing agents, etc. Inspect and maintain ladders. Inspect fire extinguishers. Inform officer in charge of units of activities which must be performed before apparatus can be put back in service. Participate in annual pump and ladder test. Participate in annual hose test. Participate in quarterly testing of hose, in which water is made to flow through hose to prevent it from drying out. Make mental or written note of all equipment that is removed from apparatus. Conduct radio check in the morning. Turn on water to insure that hydrant is working properly. Insure that hydrant is visible by cutting any weeds growing around it. If hydrant is not working properly, notify the proper authorities. Note the location of new hydrants. Maintain a record of the location and type of all hydrants. Duty 5. Interact with Supervisors - Interact and work together with supervisors on a regular basis. Maintain good working relationships with supervisors. Listen and respond to verbal orders from fire officer/incident commander at an emergency scene. Offer suggestions on tactics to fire officer/incident commander. Communicate with fire officer/incident commander using the radio. Participate in analysis or critique of firefighting or other emergency activities. Contact supervisory personnel to discuss problems or obtain information. Duty 6. Interact with the Public - Interact and work with businesses and citizens in the community. Interact with victims, family members, and witnesses at emergency scenes. Refer citizens to appropriate public agencies or services. Interact and work with community agencies. Maintain a friendly, helpful attitude toward the public. Attend neighborhood and community meetings and other functions. Calm injured or upset victims at emergency scenes. Comfort distraught witnesses at emergency scenes. Provide assistance and comfort to families of victims. Duty 7. Maintain and Expand Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Study and practice to maintain and expand skills, abilities, and knowledge of up-to-date, job-related techniques through formal and informal class work, training, and on-the-job experience. Maintain current license and certification requirements. Maintain knowledge of current fire codes, new firefighting techniques, and new equipment. Maintain knowledge of department organization, procedures, protocols, regulations, etc. Maintain knowledge of emergency medical and first aid techniques. Maintain knowledge of local conditions (e.g., street closures, new construction, etc.).Participate in physical fitness evaluations. Duty 8. Perform Emergency Medical Services and First Aid - Perform triage, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, wound evaluation and treatment, and other first aid and life-saving techniques. Perform functions of a certified EMT or First Responder. Conduct primary assessment of victims (e.g., check for consciousness, breathing, injury location, etc.).Treat injuries (e.g., burns, shock, bleeding, fractures, etc.) using first aid and emergency care techniques. Administer Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).Perform the Heimlich maneuver. Assist with childbirth delivery. Administer oxygen. Carry and/or transport victims. Duty 9. Perform High-Rise Rescue and Firefighting - Safely and effectively perform rescue and/or firefighting operations involving high-rise buildings. Use forcible entry, ventilation, exposure protection, and related techniques as necessary. Combat spread of potentially toxic smoke from high-rise fires. Determine the stability of roof, floor, and other supporting structures. Locate the seat of fire and extensions (particularly vertical) in smoke-filled high-rise structures. Make forcible entries into high-rise buildings, using appropriate tools and techniques. Maneuver through involved high-rise structures wearing full turnout gear and SCBA.Perform triage and evacuation in high-rise structures. Protect exposed structures, equipment, and other firefighters from fire by applying water. Recognize possible areas of fire spread. Utilize aerial ladders, when appropriate, to gain access to the fire. Ventilate high-rise structures using appropriate tools and equipment. Duty 10. Perform Hose Operations - Perform various hose operations such as line advancement, coupling and uncoupling hoses, attaching hose appliances, determining required pressures, and repairing damaged hose. Connect to standpipe or sprinkler connection. Hook up soft suction hose or other supply hose. Advance rolled or folded sections of hose at ground level. Advance dry hose lines at ground level. Advance charged hose lines at ground level. Attach various hose appliances to hose (e.g., nozzles, wyes, siamese, foam eductors, etc.).Open and close hydrants. Couple and uncouple hoses. Open and close hose clamps. Operate charged hoselines. Operate deck gun, monitor, or other master stream appliances. Load or unload hose sections from apparatus. Replace damaged hose sections. Use hose jacket or clamp on burst or damaged hose. Test and inspect hose sections.
