Firefighter / EMT

Protects life and property by performing firefighting, emergency aid and rescue, hazardous materials, and fire prevention duties. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Lieutenant or Sr. Fire Fighter on shift.

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 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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.

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

Essential Duties: The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the classification. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are logical assignment to the position.

• Perform firefighting activities including driving fire apparatus, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose, and performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks.
• Performs emergency aid and rescue activities including administering first aid and providing other assistance as required.
• Participates in fire drills, attends classes in firefighting, emergency medical, hazardous materials, and related subjects.
• Receives and relays fire calls and alarms. Operates radio and other communication equipment and keeps logs as required.
• Participates in the inspection of buildings, hydrants, and other structures in fire prevention programs.
• Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities. Perform 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; wash and dries hose; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment.
• Assists in developing plans for special assignments such as emergency preparedness, training programs, firefighting, hazardous materials, and emergency aid activities.
• Presents programs to the community on safety, medical, and fire prevention topics.
• Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris.
• Assists in department supervisory and administrative activities as assigned.
• Assists in training new employees as assigned.
• Serves on various employee committees.
• Perform other non-essential duties as required.

• Working knowledge of driver safety; working knowledge of first aid.
• Ability to learn the operation of fire suppression and other emergency equipment.
• Ability to learn to apply standard firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention techniques.
• Ability to perform strenuous or peak physical effort during emergency, training or station maintenance activities for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme heights, intense heat, cold or smoke.
• Ability to act effectively in emergency and stressful situations.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to meet the other requirements listed below.

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Must be a State of Florida Certified Firefighter.
• Must be a Certified State of Florida EMT.
• Must be willing to learn and demonstrate a positive attitude.

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must possess a valid State of Florida drivers' license.
• Must possess an honorable military discharge, if applicant has been service connected.
• Must be a United States citizen or naturalized citizen.
• Must pass a physical examination and drug urinalysis test.
• Must not have been convicted of a felony or have disqualifying criminal histories in the past seven (7) years.
• Must endure a personal, professional, and a moral background investigation to determine honesty, maturity, and dependability.
• Must be able to work weekends and nights.
• Must be fluent in the English language; ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus.

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain within 18 months of employment the State of Florida Certified EMT.
• Must successfully pass 80 hours of the State of Florida Certified Pump Operators within 12 months of employment.
• Other courses as required by FSFM/DFD.

This position may be required to report for work when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.