Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Veterans Health Administration • Tomah, WI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Firefighter (Basic Life Support) is located within the Facilities Services Line at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin. The position controls and extinguishes fires, rescues people endangered by fire, reduces or eliminates potential fire hazards, and provides basic life support and other non-invasive medical procedures. The employee responds to emergency calls on VA Medical Center grounds and, when requested and approved by management, provides mutual aid to surrounding communities. The role also involves specialized rescues, hazardous-materials spill response, and operating motorized firefighting vehicles.

The position includes fire-prevention inspections across medical, psychological, administrative, industrial, public-assembly, warehouse, and residential facilities, including high-hazard work areas. Inspections follow applicable NFPA, OSHA, Joint Commission, and VA standards and regulations. The firefighter conducts inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire-detection and suppression systems and other safety equipment, and inspects buildings and facilities for compliance during new construction, alterations, and repairs. The employee plans work, maintains proficiency through periodic training, prepares reports, and reviews fire-department records and training programs.

This is not a virtual position. The employee must live within, or be willing to relocate within, a commutable distance of the duty location. The work schedule consists of 72-hour shifts totaling 144 hours per pay period, on a repeating 48-hours-on/72-hours-off, 48-hours-on/72-hours-off, and 48-hours-on/48-hours-off rotation. Overtime call-back and mandatory overtime may be required to meet minimum crew staffing requirements. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized; the Critical Skills Incentive is not approved.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Meet the maximum entry-age requirement: for an initial appointment, must not have reached age 37 by appointment, subject to the stated prior covered-service provisions.
• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification; may be required to pass a practical road test and provide driving-record information.
• Have IFSAC or Pro Board HAZMAT Operations Level Responder certification.
• Have IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter I and II certification.
• Have Incident Command Systems certifications ICS-100 and ICS-200.
• Have National Incident Management Systems certifications ICS-700 and ICS-800.
• Have IFSAC or Pro Board Apparatus Operator – Pumper certification, or be willing to obtain it within 24 months.
• Have IFSAC or Pro Board Fire Inspector I and II certification, or be willing to obtain it within 24 months.
• Possess current, valid state or national registry EMT-Basic certification.
• Possess and maintain Basic Life Support Provider certification.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level, involving relevant firefighting, rescue, fire-hazard prevention, fire communications, hazardous-materials incident response, or fire-protection training duties performed with independent judgment under general supervision.
• May be required to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the minimum physical abilities needed to perform the job safely and efficiently.
• May be required to demonstrate the ability to operate assigned specialized firefighting or hydraulic equipment before appointment.
• Meet and maintain medical standards for arduous or hazardous duties and may be subject to periodic medical examinations.
• Maintain physical fitness, complete one hour of physical activity per day, pass an annual Fire Department Physical Agility Test, and complete an annual firefighter physical with Employee Health.
• Maintain the physical condition necessary to wear approximately 75 pounds of personal protective equipment and perform strenuous work carrying equipment and victims.
• Maintain alertness, self-control, and emotional stability under stressful and dangerous conditions.
• Submit proof of required certifications with the application.
• Complete the required application steps and online assessment; selected applicants must complete onboarding and applicable background/security requirements.
• Comply with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program for Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Comply with pre-employment drug testing for this designated position; refusal or a verified positive result prevents appointment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.

Responsibilities

• Control and extinguish fires using hose lines, nozzles, hydrants, forcible-entry techniques, ventilation, ladders, hand and hydraulic tools, and portable fire extinguishers; perform salvage and overhaul.
• Rescue people and perform or assist with specialized rescue operations.
• Respond to emergency calls on VA Medical Center grounds and provide approved mutual aid to surrounding communities.
• Respond to hazardous-materials spills and operate motorized firefighting vehicles as a driver-operator.
• Attend periodic classes and maintain proficiency in firefighting, rescue, and emergency-response skills.
• Inspect medical, psychological, administrative, industrial, public-assembly, warehouse, and residential facilities for fire-safety violations and hazards, including high-hazard work areas.
• Conduct inspections, testing, and maintenance of fire-detection and suppression systems, including sprinkler systems, fire alarms, extinguishers, and hydrants.
• Inspect safety equipment and building structures for operational readiness and compliance with fire-protection and prevention requirements, including during construction, alterations, or repairs.
• Plan daily work, particularly training and fire inspections, and prepare reports following inspections, drills, annual inspections, and emergencies.
• Review and assess fire-department records, equipment, workloads, safety meetings, pre-fire plans, and firefighter and inspector training programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Selected applicants may qualify to receive credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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