Firefighter (Hazardous Materials Operations)

Air Education and Training Command • Fort Sam Houston, TX

2d

About The Position

The primary purpose of this position is to serve on a crew engaged in airfield, structural firefighting, crash-rescue, and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) operations. The firefighter also helps reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards and responds as a first responder to actual or potential hazardous-material releases to protect people, property, and the environment.

The employee performs incident hazard and risk assessments, surveys scenes to identify materials and determine whether hazardous materials have been released, evaluates surrounding conditions, and predicts the likely behavior of materials or containers. Duties include crash-rescue and firefighting in air traffic or support operations where hazardous conditions create a high likelihood of fire, as well as structural firefighting in facilities such as multistory buildings, industrial areas, and base storage facilities. The employee rescues personnel, provides first aid to help prevent further injury, and prepares victims for transport to a medical facility. The employee also maintains firefighting equipment and fire station facilities and follows health, safety, and environmental procedures.

This is a key, mission-essential federal firefighter position. It requires a 72-hour workweek on a 24-hours-on/24-hours-off schedule, including weekends and holidays, and may involve recall. The employee participates in a mandatory physical fitness program, uses provided safety equipment and clothing, works under adverse environmental conditions, and is covered by respiratory-protection and hearing-conservation programs. The position requires driving a motor vehicle and may require work in the Fire Alarm and Communications Center. Specialized rescue certifications may be required when mandated by the agency and accompanied by certification training.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must meet the specialized-experience requirements for the GS Fire Protection and Prevention Series 0081, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05. Qualifying experience includes fire control or extinguishment as a member of an organized fire department or brigade; rescue operations; fire-hazard detection, reduction, or elimination; operation of fire communications equipment; hazardous-materials incident control; and/or fire-protection or prevention training.
• Merit-promotion applicants must meet the applicable federal time-in-grade requirement; one year at GS-05 is required for GS-06. Time-in-grade applies to current GS employees and former GS employees within the previous 52 weeks.
• Must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to respond to hazardous-materials emergencies; use airfield and structural firefighting equipment and procedures; understand relevant building and aircraft design and safety features; provide emergency first aid; operate communications equipment; communicate orally and in writing; maintain good working relations; and lift and carry heavy loads.
• Must pass initial pre-employment and periodic medical examinations, required physical fitness and agility tests, and established hearing and color, contrast, and depth-perception standards.
• Must hold and maintain Airport Firefighter certification (including Firefighter I and II), HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, CPR, and Basic Life Support as a National Registry Emergency Medical Responder or Emergency Medical Technician. Certifications or a current certification transcript must be submitted as specified in the announcement.
• Must have an appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Must participate in mandatory physical fitness programming and use safety equipment and clothing provided by management.
• Must pass initial and periodic short-notice drug testing under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
• Must be able to work a 72-hour week on a 24-hour-on/24-hour-off basis, including weekends and holidays, and may be subject to recall.
• Must be able to work under adverse environmental conditions and comply with respiratory-protection and hearing-conservation requirements.
• For initial appointment, applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday by the appointment date, subject to the stated rules for applicants with prior federal civilian firefighter experience.
• May be required to certify specialized training such as Swiftwater Rescue, wildland Red Card, or Technical Rope Rescue when the agency mandates it and provides certification training.
• The position is a key, mission-essential position and cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing agency functions.
• Males must be registered for Selective Service.
• Depending on the position type and selection, the employee must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Specialized certifications such as Swiftwater Rescue, wildland Red Card, or Technical Rope Rescue team-member certification may be required when mandated by the agency and when certification training is provided.

Responsibilities

• Assess hazards and risks during initial incident analysis.
• Survey incidents to identify materials involved, determine whether hazardous materials have been released, evaluate surrounding conditions, and predict material or container behavior.
• Perform crash-rescue and firefighting duties involving air traffic or support operations.
• Perform structural firefighting at facilities including multistory buildings, industrial areas, and base storage facilities.
• Rescue personnel and provide first aid to alleviate further injury and prepare victims for transport to a medical facility.
• Reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards and respond to actual or potential hazardous-material releases as a first responder.
• Maintain firefighting equipment and fire station facilities.
• Follow health, safety, and environmental rules and procedures and work in a manner that enhances workplace safety.
• Operate communications equipment and drive a motor vehicle as required.
• Participate in required physical fitness, medical, and physical-agility testing; use safety equipment and clothing provided by management.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on the type of position held and whether employment is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
• Federal firefighters in this position are covered by special retirement provisions under FERS and CSRS.
• Authorized permanent change of station (PCS) expenses may be paid in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations and Air Force regulations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed