Firefighter

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Responds to fire, hazardous materials, technical rescue incidents, and other emergency requests;

• Lays and connects hose, holds nozzles and directs water streams; raises and climbs ladders and uses chemical extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines and other equipment at fire scenes;

• Performs fire suppression duties, enters blazing buildings, locating and extinguishing fires; searches for and rescues fire victims; performs salvage operations; raises and places ladders to preserve property; and overhauls fire scenes for investigations;

• Assists in the maintenance and repair of fire department facilities, apparatus, and equipment, including reporting problems to command staff;

• Assists in performing fire prevention functions, including assisting with pre-fire planning, inspecting fire extinguishers, and speaking to schools, businesses and the public about fire prevention;

• Operates, maintains, and instructs others in the use of specialized equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus, power rescue equipment, air bags, gas detectors, heat detectors, generators, and chain saws;

• Operates and maintains radios and other communications equipment, including Computer Aided Dispatch equipment and incident reporting software;

• Participates in drills, demonstrations and courses in firefighting techniques, medical aid, heavy rescue, hazardous material, equipment maintenance and related areas;

• Performs tests of pumps, hoses, hydrants and other emergency equipment;

• Assists with department administrative duties, including preparing reports and maintaining files and statistical information; demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes; works cooperatively and jointly to provide seamless customer service;

• Conducts tours of station houses for scout, civic and other interested groups; and

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with employees, volunteers, other agencies, and the general public.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This is a non-supervisory position, however, may occasionally be asked to perform some of the duties of the Apparatus Operator in their absence.  

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school graduation or its equivalent; or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge Of

Firefighting principles and practices, emergency medical techniques, fire salvage and overhaul operations; and standard office practices and procedures.

Skill/Ability To

Operate computers; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; read and understand manuals, policies, and other documents; and operate and maintain fire suppression vehicles and equipment.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

TCFP Basic Firefighter Certification or SFFMA 1 & 2, and minimum of Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Certification required.  Valid Class B Texas Driver’s License or the ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.

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 essential duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stand and walk on various types of surfaces, and constantly is required to reach with hands and arms, bend, kneel, crouch, climb, crawl, twist, and to talk and hear.  The employee frequently is required to drive a vehicle.  The employee must be able to use hands and fingers to write and/or type information into computer and clean and maintain the fire station.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing 20 to 50 pounds, such as fire hoses and other equipment and materials, and occasionally must lift and/or move objects weighing 100 pounds or more with or without the assistance of another officer.  The employee must be able to see clearly, with or without vision correction, in close situations, at a distance, and peripherally, and be able to recognize colors and adjust focus.  The employee must be able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, such as walking while pulling the fire hose and watching for dangerous situations, and must be prepared to be called upon to perform acts of intense physical exertion during emergency situations.

Residency Requirement:  Employees who are likely to be called to work in cases of civil emergency may be required to reside within reasonable response community ranges from their places of work.  City Administration has established a reasonable response time is sixty (60) minutes.