Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Veterans Health Administration•Tomah, WI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Firefighter (Basic Life Support) works in the Facilities Service Line at the Tomah VA Medical Center Fire Department in Tomah, Wisconsin. The position is under the general supervision of the Supervisory Firefighter (Captain) and the supervision of the Assistant Fire Chief. Its purpose is to control and extinguish fires, rescue people endangered by fire, reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards, provide protocol-based basic life support and non-invasive emergency medical procedures, inspect and test fire protection equipment, train personnel, operate fire communications equipment, and advise on improvements to structures for fire prevention. The firefighter responds to emergency calls on the medical center grounds and, when requested and approved by management, provides mutual aid to surrounding communities. The work includes firefighting and rescue in a range of facilities and environments, including residences, medical and psychological facilities, multistory buildings, industrial sites, warehouses, fuel storage areas, public assembly areas, and wildland areas. The position also conducts fire-safety inspections and pre-incident planning, maintains readiness of safety equipment and systems, and reviews department records and work plans. The schedule is full-time, 72 hours per week and 144 hours per pay period. This is not a virtual position. The role includes arduous physical exertion and hazardous working conditions, including extreme heat, smoke, dust, all types of weather, unsafe atmospheres, and exposure to possible physical injury or death. Personnel must wear firefighting protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus weighing 75 pounds, maintain physical fitness, and complete annual physical and agility testing. Overtime call-back and mandatory overtime may be required to meet minimum crew staffing requirements.

Requirements

Basic CPR (BLS) certification.
Valid state driver's license and proof of possession.
IFSAC/Pro Board Firefighter II certificate in accordance with NFPA 1001.
IFSAC/Pro Board HAZMAT Operations certificate in accordance with NFPA 1001.
Incident Command Systems training: ICS-100 and ICS-200.
National Incident Management Systems training: ICS-700 and ICS-800.
National Registry Emergency Medical Basic License.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-6, such as firefighting in an organized department or brigade, rescue operations, fire-hazard detection or reduction, operating fire communications equipment, controlling hazardous-material incidents, patient assessment, or inspection of fire-safety equipment.
For initial appointment, applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday by the appointment date, subject to stated exceptions for applicants with prior covered firefighter service.
Applicants who are current federal employees or former federal employees applying for reinstatement or VEOA appointment must meet the GS-6 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks when applicable.
Must meet medical standards for arduous or hazardous duties and maintain the physical fitness necessary for firefighting.
Must be able to wear personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus weighing 75 pounds and work in unsafe atmospheres and physically strenuous conditions.
Must complete one hour of physical activity per day, an annual Fire Department Physical Agility Test, and an annual firefighter physical with Employee Health.
May be required to demonstrate the ability to operate assigned specialized firefighting, pumping, hydraulic, or rescue equipment before appointment.
Must be a U.S. citizen, complete applicable background/security screening and onboarding, and meet applicable probationary and influenza-vaccination requirements.

Nice To Haves

IFSAC/Pro Board Apparatus Operator - Pumper certification, or applicable certification for apparatus on site, is to be obtained within 24 months of hire.
IFSAC/Pro Board Fire Inspector I and II certification in accordance with NFPA 1031 is to be obtained within 24 months of employment.

Responsibilities

Control and extinguish fires using nozzles, hose lines, hydrants, pumps, foam generators, and other specialized firefighting equipment.
Perform forcible entry, ventilate structures, carry and raise or lower ground ladders, conduct or assist with rescues, use hand and hydraulic tools and portable fire extinguishers, and perform salvage and overhaul.
Respond to emergency calls on Tomah VA Medical Center grounds and provide approved mutual aid to surrounding communities when requested.
Provide basic life support and emergency medical care as an EMT in accordance with medical center protocols, using established techniques and equipment to stabilize patients for transport.
Independently inspect buildings and facilities for fire-safety violations and conditions that could contribute to fire hazards.
Conduct pre-incident planning by familiarizing oneself with building interiors, potential hazards, and fire-protection systems.
Inspect built-in fire-protection features, including fire barriers, smoke barriers, and fire doors.
Conduct scheduled, unscheduled, and special inspections of safety equipment and systems, including extinguishers, sprinklers, alarms, exits, stairways, standpipe systems, breathing masks, and indicator posts, to ensure operational readiness.
Plan daily work, particularly training and fire inspections, and adjust schedules for unexpected changes and assignments.
Review and assess fire department records concerning inspections, breathing apparatus, extinguishers, vehicles, hoses, equipment, workloads, safety meetings, and pre-fire planning; make recommendations.
Train personnel in fire protection and prevention, operate fire communications equipment, and advise on structural improvements for fire prevention.