Wildland Fire Engine Operator / Highway Maintenance Worker

State of South Dakota•Rapid City, SD

43d•$24•Onsite

About The Position

This is a shared position between DPS/Wildland Fire and Department of Transportation (DOT). May through October with Wildland Fire and November through April with DOT. This job will be a Class B Retirement. While fulfilling wildland fire work responsibilities, your reporting station will be the Rapid City District; while fulfilling DOT job responsibilities you will be reporting to the Sturgis DOT yard. For more information please visit https://dps.sd.gov/and https://dot.sd.gov/. Wildland Fire: TheWildland Firefighter, Fire Engine Operator (FEO)is a first-line lead worker to a wildland fire engine module in suppressing wildfires. They ensure appropriate work and safety practices are implemented at wildland fires and other emergencies, and to ensure successful completion of fire prevention and remediation projects according to project plans. The FEO performs or directs others in starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, appropriate nozzle use, effective use of water and additives. Inspects, checks, services and adjusts the pump, hose lays, tank and reels for equipment readiness. The FEO reports to a Wildland Firefighter Engine Captain. Provides direction to firefighters; does not supervise. Department of Transportation: This position performsHighway Maintenanceactivities such as plowing and hauling snow, applying snow and control materials, patching asphalt surfaces, filling roadway joints and cracks, flagging and directing traffic, setting up traffic signs, hauling materials and supplies, mowing, clearing brush, spraying weeds, removing trash from roadways and ditches, repairing and replacing road signs and guard rails, etc. Work involves operating electronic and computerized applications and equipment such as truck-mounted snowplows, sanders, loaders, dump trucks, pickups, deicing liquid trucks, and tractor-mounted mowers.

Requirements

Must be able to achieve Firefighter Type 1 according to National Wildfire Coordinating Group PMS-310-1.
The duties of this position require that the incumbent meet prescribed physical requirements as measured by the Work Capacity Fitness Test at the arduous level.
Incumbents must have a valid driver license and must have or obtain a valid commercial driver license (CDL) within 120 days of starting work with DOT to retain employment. The incumbent must have a Class B CDL with the tanker endorsement and no restrictions in order to operate any Class B vehicle with manual transmission. The CDL must include an N endorsement (tank vehicle) for specific positions and must have no transmission restrictions. Employee will be subject to pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow up, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing.
Incumbent must be willing and able to report to work for inclement weather conditions and other highway emergencies; and must be able to report to their home station within 30 minutes, under normal driving conditions, from the time of notification.
Pursuant to SDCL 32-12A, applicants will be required to authorize the Department of Transportation to obtain a complete driving record.
Knowledge of: power tools and equipment typically used in fire and emergency situations such as chain saws, pumps, axes, shovels, picks, etc.; equipment maintenance and safety practices; perform vehicle inspections and to perform minor preventive maintenance; weather, fuels, and fire behavior; fireground hydraulics and water handling equipment.
Ability to: provide work direction and assignment to others; communicate information clearly and concisely; maintain required physical fitness standards; continuously assess the weather conditions and fire behavior, communication via digital radio and other methods, and mitigation of hazards during fire incidents; lead the implementation of tactical objectives set by the engine captain to suppress the fire safely and efficiently; operate or direct others in operating a specialized wildland fire engine, which includes starting pump engine, priming the pump, etc; act as an engine captain if qualified and when required; function as a look out who is expected to relay fire behavior, fire weather, changing conditions. A look out has no direct supervision and is trusted to make decisions independently.
Knowledge of: safe operation, maintenance and repair of equipment; operation and maintenance of a wide variety of hand and power tools; preventive maintenance methods such as changing oil, rotating tires, and lubricating parts; on-the-job safety practices as they relate to operating equipment and tools, and handling chemicals such as weed spray, road oils, deicing chemicals; use and application of various construction materials; work zone traffic control procedures; weather conditions and the effect on roadway surfaces; computer applications; electronic systems to operate various equipment and devices.
Ability to: drive and operate manual transmissions; operate and maintain a variety of road construction equipment safely and effectively; use and maintain hand tools such as chain drags, drills, jackhammers, epoxy guns, pressure washers, sand blasters, power drills and saws, impact wrenches, etc. lift and carry as much as 75 pounds routinely, push and pull heavy objects; sit for extended periods in rough riding equipment and walk or stand for extended periods; routinely kneel, bend, stoop, and twist to perform work activities; climb on and crawl under equipment; assess changing weather conditions and their effect on the work at hand; work outdoors in all weather conditions; work around hazardous materials, dust, traffic, and noise; and at high elevations over ground and water; work extended hours for an extended period of time; be on call and report to work at unusual times of the day or night; communicate sufficiently to read and understand written directions and follow and convey instructions; provide on-the-job training to seasonal employees and trusties; learn and utilize computer applications to complete time forms, receive material recommendations, enter road conditions, document material usage, and monitor weather forecasts; operate multiple complicated electronic systems.

Nice To Haves

NWCG Firefighter Type 1, ICT5;
a valid commercial driver's license (CDL).

Responsibilities

Provides work direction to a crew of firefighters to ensure appropriate responses in fires and other emergencies, and to ensure the safety of crew members in conjunction with the Engine Captain.
Provides work direction to a crew of firefighters to ensure non-fire assignments such as hazardous fuels mitigation and reduction, building and grounds maintenance, equipment maintenance and readiness, etc., are accomplished according to plans and directions.
Assists the Engine Captain with general and daily administrative tasks to maintain crew readiness.
Performs other work as assigned.
Performs roadway rehabilitation activities to maintain and extend the service life of existing roads and rights-of-way.
Installs and replaces signs, traffic control devices, and pavement and roadway marking to provide direction and safety for users and builders of the state highway system.
Performs winter-time highway maintenance to allow public mobility and safer traveling conditions.
Maintains and repairs department facilities, rest areas, and roadside parks.
Performs preventive maintenance and equipment repair to ensure compliance with scheduled maintenance requirements or as needed to accomplish assigned tasks.
Respond to emergency calls such as stranded motorists, hazardous material spills, and accidents.

Benefits

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits.
This position is a member of Class B retirement under SDRS.

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