Firefighter II - Paramedic

General Purpose:

Protects life and property by performing firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention duties. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives direct supervision from the Fire Captain.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This is not a promotable position. To be classified as a Firefighter II the employee must obtain and maintain listed certifications listed below.

Exchanges information with on-coming and off-going shifts. Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.

Perform firefighting activities including; driving fire apparatus, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose, performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks. Perform emergency aid activities including; rescue, administering emergency medical aid and providing other assistance as required. Participates in fire drills, attends classes in firefighting, rescue emergency medical, hazardous materials, and related subjects. Operates radio and other communication equipment. Participates in the inspection of buildings, hydrants, and other structures in fire prevention programs. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities. Performs minor repairs to departmental equipment. Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment; cleans and washes walls and floors; cares for grounds around station; makes minor repairs; washes, hangs and dries hose; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment. Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris.

Participates in training to develop and maintain certifications, skills, and knowledge as it relates to fire prevention, suppression, rescue and EMS care and skills. Perform other duties as assigned.

Employees may not perform the duties of a higher classification without the assignment being designated in writing and approved by the Deputy Chief of Operations, the Fire Chief or City Manager. Pay for stepping up will be provided in accordance with Texas Local Government Code 141.033(b).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

High school diploma or equivalent.

Must possess a valid Texas Driver's Class B Driver's License without record of suspension or revocation in any State by date of hire.

Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Basic Structural Firefighter.

Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Driver Operator-Pumper.

Certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Paramedic.

Certification of attendance to Courage to Be Safe and Traffic Incident Management Program training required within 6 months of employment.

Must not have any felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories.

Must be able to proficiently read and write the English language.

Must have successfully completed the new hire orientation period for Fire Fighter I with the City of Copperas Cove or be hired with all qualifications of a Firefighter II.

External candidates must have two (2) years of verifiable, paid, full-time firefighting experience.

Must meet City of Copperas Cove's response time requirements.

Must have Certification in NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, & 800.

PREFERRED AND STEP-UP REQUIREMENTS:

Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as an Intermediate Structural Firefighter or higher.

Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Fire Instructor I.

Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Fire Officer I.

Texas Commission on Fire Protection Driver Operator-Pumper and Aerial Certification.

Must be certified in NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, & 800 and comply with future NIMS requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of City geography;

Knowledge of local and state government operations, policies, rules and laws;

Knowledge of Microsoft Suite software application including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc. Must be able to construct and modify documents including formulas in spreadsheets;

Skills to develop employees to ensure the necessary skills and abilities exist for growth;

Ability to cooperate as part of a team and to receive direction from crew leaders during stressful as well as routine situations and maintain a calm, mature composure, emotional self-control and rational cognitive/decision-making;

Ability to work in dangerous situations or hazardous environments that are personally offensive (cases of child abuse, child molestation, sexual assault, extreme trauma, or death, etc.) or which involve considerable stress, danger, personal risk, violence and hostility;

Ability to assess emergency situations calmly and to act safely, quickly, and appropriately in a variety of rescue/emergency encounters.

Ability to make standard calculations necessary for safety, training, and various rescue situations;

Ability to meet departmental physical standards;

Ability to quickly make decisions in emergency situations based upon limited facts available, often within the first few minutes of an incident;

Ability to work long hours in both emergency and routine assignments as part of an assigned crew of diverse employees;

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, other governmental agency representatives, city officials and the general public in a variety of situations.

Selection Guidelines:

Must have the ability to meet department's physical standards. Must be able to meet all legal requirements necessary maintain current and future certifications by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Tools and Equipment Used:

Emergency medical aid unit, fire apparatus, fleet vehicles, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, safety equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer including word processing software, phone, copy/fax machine, cameras, other specialized tools and equipment as required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, co-peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Math:

Standard calculations necessary for safety, training, and various rescue situations.

Reasoning:

Ability to assess emergency situations calmly and to act safely, quickly, and appropriately in a variety of rescue/emergency encounters.

Interpersonal:

Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, officials, and citizens in a variety of situations. Works for extended periods of time in both emergency and routine assignments as part of an assigned crew of diverse employees. Ability to cooperate as part of a team and to receive direction from crew leaders during stressful as well as routine situations. Maintains calm, mature composure, emotional self-control and rational cognitive/decision-making ability in dangerous situations or hazardous environments that are personally offensive (cases of child abuse, child molestation, sexual assault, extreme trauma, or death, etc.) or which involve considerable stress, danger, personal risk, violence and hostility.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

Possibility of severe injury or loss of life when fighting fires.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or E.M.S. activities when noise levels may be loud.

Employee will be required to work a flexible/rotating work schedule.