Firefighter

York County • Yorktown, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for performing skilled and specialized technical emergency response work in firefighting, emergency medical services, rescue, and hazardous materials/technical rescue situations and emergency responses. Performs firefighting, provides pre-hospital emergency medical care and transportation of the sick and injured, rescue work, fire and injury prevention public education and community services, contains hazardous materials response and cleanup; performs technical rescues and disaster response services. Provides public assistance. Trains in the methods and techniques of emergency response operations and in the use of equipment and apparatus. Responsible for life safety and emergency response operations until relieved by a Senior/Master Firefighter or officer/acting officer. Works wherever emergencies occur both indoors and outdoors; is exposed to a variety of hot and cold temperatures and may be, at times, exposed to fire, smoke, infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals, and other dangerous situations; may be required to walk, climb, crawl, bend, pull, push, or lift and balance on less than ideal terrain; is exposed to wide variety of noise levels, which at times can be quite high, particularly when multiple sirens are sounding; administrative and management duties are carried out indoors at the department’s administrative offices, in the fire stations, at indoor and outdoor training locations, or in the buildings and offices of County government; supervision of personnel occurs both indoors and outdoors, on emergency scenes, in the fire station, on training locations, and in the community.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Graduation from high school or GED; supplemented by fire fighting and emergency medical technician training courses; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Requires the ability to obtain/maintain Professional Rescuer CPR certification from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association equivalent.
• Must also complete the department's Driver Pump Operator program and any other training, education, or certifications required for continued employment.
• Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• This job is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment checks to include criminal history, background and DMV record checks.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred but not required, graduation from the Tidewater Regional Fire Academy (TRFA), Southside Regional Fire Academy (SRFA), Hampton Roads Recruit Fire Academy (HRRFA), or Hampton Roads Fire Academy (HRFA) is required (other approved career recruit school considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Preferred but not required: Virginia Emergency Medical Technician certification (may be required to obtain and/or maintain, at a minimum, a paramedic certificate and be released within the timeframe designated by the department).
• If not certified in Virginia, must hold current, unrestricted National Registry certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and be eligible for Virginia Emergency Medical Technician certification.
• Virginia Paramedic certification preferred.
• Applicants with Paramedic only (without approved fire recruit school training) may be considered, depending on the scheduling of an upcoming firefighter recruit school.
• If not certified in Virginia, must hold current, unrestricted National Registry certification as a Paramedic and be eligible for Virginia Paramedic certification.

Responsibilities

• Responds to incidents requiring firefighting, pre-hospital emergency medical care and transportation of the sick and injured, rescues, fire and injury prevention, public education and community services, and emergency management/disaster response; may make initial determination of necessary personnel, equipment and suppression or containment tactics until relieved by superior officer; in the absence of more qualified emergency medical personnel may evaluate a victim's condition and determine the most expedient and effective course of action to prevent death, minimize disability, and relieve pain and suffering.
• Advances hose lines into fire area; selects hose nozzle, depending on type of fire; lays and connects hoses; holds nozzle and directs stream of water onto fire; raises and climbs ladders; creates openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance using various hand and power tools; enters premises for firefighting, rescue, performs salvage operations, places salvage covers, removes debris and smoke; uses chemical extinguishers, bars, hooks, axes, rope, and other equipment.
• Provides immediate care to the ill or injured appropriate for the individual's level of emergency medical training and certification; assesses the scene for and manages hazards to response personnel, patients, and bystanders; assesses the presence, nature, and extent of illness or injury, establishes priority for required pre-hospital emergency medical care; provides treatment in accordance with established protocols and medical control direction; and continues that treatment while transporting to the appropriate medical facility.
• 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 in direction of evacuation operations, as necessary.
• Inspects assigned emergency apparatus and equipment at the beginning of each shift and as necessary after emergencies; cleans and sanitizes emergency medical equipment daily as required; completes logs and forms while checking out equipment; ensures that all assigned emergency apparatus are in proper working order, and are stocked with required quantities of equipment and supplies; performs daily routine station building and grounds maintenance and housekeeping duties; performs operational inspections and maintenance of assigned apparatus and equipment; makes minor repairs and adjustments, but reports damage, loss, and other than minor defects for specialized attention.
• Maintains clear and concise communications with other emergency response personnel, hospital personnel, and the Emergency Communications Center utilizing two-way radios, telephones, cellular telephones, or face to face communications as available, appropriate, and most effective; establishes rapport with family members of patients or bystanders; provides pertinent information to oncoming emergency personnel when relieved.
• Prepares reports of emergency incidents and patient care; thoroughly documents all aspects of emergency incident responses including response information, scene assessments, patient assessments, observations, actions taken, treatments performed, orders obtained, results/ consequences of actions, and responses to treatments; reports and documents any unusual occurrences or deviations from standard practice, protocol, or operating procedures as required; and, prepares and maintains activity records, checklists, logs, Quick Access Pre-Incident Plans, Pre-Fire Plans, and reports as required.
• Participates in training to improve competence in fire suppression techniques, rescue techniques, hazardous materials awareness/identification/containment and pre-hospital emergency medical care, awareness and knowledge of emergency responses to terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, radiological emergencies, and/or technical or specialized maintenance in the upkeep of fire apparatus equipment and tools, ambulances, and assigned specialized medical equipment.
• Participates in training to improve apparatus operation skills and abilities; maintains knowledge of new or modified operational protocols and procedures; studies target hazards, building layouts and utility controls, and hydrant locations, etc.; studies County streets, regional road patterns and traffic networks to ensure minimum difficulty or delay in getting to an emergency scene, or from the scene to the appropriate medical facility.
• Drives Virginia Department of Health Office of EMS permitted vehicles, fire apparatus, other emergency apparatus and county vehicles; operate pumps, aerial ladders and auxiliary fire apparatus.
• Appears before civic, community, school and other interested groups and makes presentations on topics of fire safety, injury prevention, available services and what to do in case of emergency.

Benefits

• Advancement opportunities
• Retirement benefits - Retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Insurance benefits - Health, life and dental insurance
• Holidays - additional pay for working any of the County’s 14 holidays, along with a special stipend when not working a specific holiday
• Paid vacation
• Tuition reimbursement benefit

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED