Firefighter Recruit Spotsylvania County is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace. Employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, possessing or using controlled substances such as marijuana. A positive drug test result, confirmed use or impairment can be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination in accordance with our personnel policies. A positive pre-employment drug test will also disqualify a candidate for hire. Under direct supervision, trains to perform emergency response work involving firefighting, emergency medical care, specialized rescue, and hazardous material response. Preparation involves training in fire suppression, emergency rescue, and/or hazardous material containment or cleanup work in response to alarms, operating associated equipment and apparatus. A Firefighter Recruit must demonstrate the ability to use fire suppression and emergency medical service skills in accordance with FREM standards. Employee is also responsible for inspecting and maintaining equipment, and performing various maintenance and custodial duties at the assigned fire station or training center. Employee is subject to the normal hazards of emergency rescue and firefighting work. Reports to the assigned FREM Recruit Academy Coordinator or Lead Instructor. Successful graduates of the FREM Recruit Academy will be promoted to Firefighter. This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work regardless of weather conditions and/or when general county offices are closed. Applicants must be available to work Sunday through Saturday as needed. Person(s) in this position will encounter sensitive information in the performance of their duties and is expected to maintain that information confidentially. Salary is commensurate with time in grade under the Public Safety Step Pay Scale. Special Duties & Responsibilities • Trains to respond to emergency calls for fire suppression, medical assistance, hazardous materials incidents, specialized rescue, or other emergency situations; may make initial determination of necessary personnel, equipment, and suppression or containment tactics until relieved by superior officer. • Trains to maintain a state of readiness/preparation for emergency response; checks/maintains stock of equipment and supplies on fire/emergency vehicles and in fire station; tests hoses/pumps on apparatus; re-loads equipment and apparatus following response to emergency calls; prepares apparatus for subsequent emergencies. • Trains to suppress, control and extinguish fires; locates water supplies to fight fires; lays out, connects, and maneuvers fire hoses; selects appropriate hose nozzles; operates nozzles and directs stream of water or chemicals onto fire; disconnects and rolls used hoses. • Within the training environment, positions, raises, and climbs ladders of various heights to access upper levels of buildings and perform rescue operations; creates openings in buildings for entrance, ventilation, or salvage; ventilates smoke and gas from buildings; enters premises for firefighting, rescue, and salvage operations; performs salvage operations such as covering furniture, sweeping/mopping water, and clearing/removing debris; assists with cleanup activities. • Trains to perform search, rescue, extrication of victims, and forcible entries; assists individuals from burning structures. • Trains to provide necessary medical care in accordance with established protocols for basic life support; administers emergency medical care requiring use of suction units, immobilization equipment, and oxygen delivery systems; performs physical lifting techniques associated with moving patients between incident site, stretcher or ambulance. • Within the training environment, identifies hazardous materials and type of container or carrier at spill scene; uses various booms and barriers to contain spills and mitigate runoff; performs fire suppression activities as necessary; assists with direction of evacuation operations as necessary. • Comprehends and makes inferences from written material, including FREM procedures manuals, Fire Service Training manuals, EMT manuals, the Emergency Response Guide (ERG), and Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping placards and labels. • Learns job-related material through on-the-job training and in classroom settings regarding firefighter techniques and methods, firefighter equipment operation, and emergency medical service care. • Trains to drive, maintain, and operate a variety of fire vehicles/apparatus or ambulances; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner. • Performs general inspection and maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, apparatus, equipment, buildings, quarters, and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting/testing equipment, testing hoses and pumps, maintaining breathing apparatus, inspecting/repairing hydrants, replacing fluids, greasing equipment, replacing parts, washing/cleaning equipment, maintaining station grounds, or cleaning station/quarters; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment for necessary maintenance work; maintains records of equipment testing/maintenance activities. • Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals. • Maintains current manuals, policies/procedures, bulletins, or map books for reference and/or review. • Creates/maintains positive public relations with the general public; participates in civic events and appears before schools/community groups; makes presentations or provides information/education to the public regarding fire safety, fire prevention, and firefighting; conducts tours of fire and EMS stations and fire and EMS units. • Communicates via telephone and/or two-way radio; communicates effectively and coherently over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications; provides information and assistance; takes and relays messages; responds to requests for service or assistance. • Communicates with management and coworkers in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships, receives technical instruction and direction and follows orders based on this information. Communicates the ability to perform fire suppression, emergency medical services, public education, and station and equipment maintenance duties. • Upon successful completion of the academy, new recruits communicate with the general public, other County employees, and FREM personnel in performing community service and public education duties which includes conducting business inspections, presenting public safety training classes, participating in school programs, answering questions, delivering emergency and nonemergency medical care, and ensuring other patient needs. • Maintains a current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures; maintains an awareness of new equipment, methods, procedures, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; participates in fire drills, physical fitness training programs, and continuing education activities on topics such as fire suppression techniques, emergency medical services, hazardous material containment, emergency rescue, equipment techniques, hydraulics, use of tools and knots, street layout, or building/hydrant location; attends shift meetings, workshops and seminars as appropriate. • Trains to respond to calls for lost individuals and participates in searches for missing persons. • Follows the department chain of command when communicating at different levels. • Performs other related duties as required. Minimum Training & Experience High School Diploma or GED; Must have and maintain a valid driver's license. Must have the ability to successfully obtain and maintain all certificates contained within the County's Fire, Rescue, & Emergency Management (FREM) Recruit Academy curriculum. Curriculum includes, but is not limited to: EMT-B, CPR, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Mayday Awareness and Operations; Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations, Emergency Vehicle Operation Course II/III (EVOC), National Fire Academy Incident Command System (NFA ICS), Vehicle Rescue Operations, Rural Water Supply, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800. Must successfully complete all components of the County's Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management (FREM) Recruit Academy. Must successfully obtain and maintain a Driver Pump Operator certification within 60 months of employment. Non-ALS certified recruit academy graduates must complete approved EMT-1 or EMT-P, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS or ITLS certifications, and successfully complete the FREM ALS precepting program within 48 months of completing the recruit academy. ALS certified recruit academy graduates must complete the FREM ALS precepting program within the designated time period and complete PHTLS or ITLS within 12 months. Upon obtaining ALS certification and ability to practice, that ability must be maintained for the duration of employment. Must meet and maintain NFPA Medical Guidelines as a condition of employment. Must comply with current Special Conditions of Employment for Public Safety Employees.
Special Requirements:
Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the County and of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management Department practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Firefighter.
Knowledge of firefighting, fire prevention, rescue/extrication operations, and hazardous material response methods, techniques, practices, and procedures.
Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of equipment, apparatus, and tools used in firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical care activities, and has the ability to operate and care for such equipment.
Knowledge of the hazards involved in emergency response operations and of applicable safety precautions.
Knowledge of basic emergency medical procedures and protocols.
Knowledge of procedures of extrication, movement of patients, rescue techniques, and transportation of a patient.
Knowledge of location and layout of County streets, subdivisions, buildings, and hydrants.
Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
Ability to respond quickly and calmly, exercise good judgment, and adopt effective courses of action during emergency situations or under stressful conditions.
Ability to effectively communicate and interact
