Firefighter Trainee

City of Asheville•Asheville, NC

12d•$44,940 - $51,065•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Asheville invites applications for the entry-level position of Firefighter Trainee. This role offers the opportunity to serve the community as a crucial member of a dedicated team, responding to fire emergencies, natural disasters, and medical crises. As a firefighter, you will engage in emergency response, technical training in firefighting techniques, hazardous materials handling, and emergency medical care, and life-saving work to protect residents. The position demands rapid response, strenuous physical exertion, and the ability to make independent judgments in high-pressure situations. Performance will be evaluated based on effectiveness in emergency responses and adherence to established procedures. The City of Asheville is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The tentative start date is January 4, 2027. The fire academy lasts from 3-5 months based on certifications. Final applicants are subject to pre-employment drug screening, driving record check, background check, and a physical examination per NFPA 1582 guidelines. All successful candidates will attend the City of Asheville Fire Department's Fire Academy as paid Firefighter Trainees for approximately 3-5 months. Upon successful completion of the academy, firefighters will begin 24-hour shift rotations.

Requirements

Graduation from high school (or equivalent) by the start of the Fire Academy.
Verbal and written communication skills, and reading comprehension skills necessary to successfully complete basic firefighter training and certification.
Any equivalent combination of training and experience required to perform the essential position functions.
Possession of a valid driver's license.
Must be at least 18 years of age by the starting date of the academy.
Obtain the following certifications issued by the State of North Carolina within one (1) year of the date of hire (all courses and tests required will be offered during the academy): Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Operations, EMT-B, Technical Rescuer.

Nice To Haves

Associate's Degree or higher (for Education Incentive)
Proficiency in more than one language (for Language Incentive)

Responsibilities

Respond to fire calls as a firefighter and perform necessary fire suppression tasks.
Handle environmental and other disasters involving hazardous materials, such as gas leaks, fuel spills, and chemical emergencies, by taking proper steps to mitigate hazardous situations.
Act as an emergency medical technician, perform necessary rescue work, and administer emergency medical care.
Respond to non-emergency calls, such as assisting other emergency medical care providers in moving patients into transportation vehicles and helping disabled persons in their homes when other assistance is inadequate.
Participate in a continuous training program to improve competence in all areas related to firefighting functions and meet Federal, State, and Local standards.
Assist in the inspection and maintenance of assigned apparatus and equipment, and perform station maintenance.
Actively participate in public fire and life safety education activities, hydrant maintenance, professional development reviews, and any other assigned duties.
Use specialized hand and power tools to rescue victims of fire, disaster, and other emergencies.
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation as necessary.
Maintain an appropriate level of physical fitness for duty.
Participate as a member of a company in pre-fire planning.
Utilize computerized data entry equipment and various word processing, spreadsheet, file maintenance, and/or database programs to enter, store, and retrieve information.
Assist with traffic control duties as required.
Respond on an off-duty basis in the event of a major fire, rescue, hazardous materials, or other emergencies.
Perform related work as required.