Firefighter/Paramedic

Salary : $76,740.84 - $93,278.88 Annually
Location : Fire Department Head Quarters - 800 South Blackstone, Tulare, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2022-60
Department: Fire
Division: Administration
Opening Date: 09/27/2022
Closing Date: Continuous

Position Description
RECRUITMENT OVERVIEW
Firefighter/Paramedics work a 24-day work period based on a 48/96 work schedule which begins with the start of the A shift 48/96 schedule. The 56-hour (average) workweek schedule consists of two consecutive 24-hour work shifts (48 consecutive duty hours) followed by four consecutive calendar days off (96 consecutive hours off duty).
Salary rates for Firefighter/Paramedics on the 24 shift schedule are as follows: Hourly: $26.35 - 32.03; Monthly: $6,395.07 - $7,773.24; Annually: $76,740.84 - $93,278.88
This is a continuous recruitment. We are currently recruiting to fill vacancies and to establish an eligible list that will also be used to fill future vacancies. The department has applied for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) thru FEMA.
To be considered for this career opportunity applicants must submit, an application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills. Applicants must also respond to the supplemental questions and attached all of the required licenses and certificates. To be considered during our next interview/assessment process, applicants are encouraged to submit their application and all required documents, by JULY 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The apply by date associated with our recruitment process has been included for planning purposes. Additional details regarding the recruitment process will be sent via email to qualified applicants as applications are received, screened, and processed.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Tulare Fire Department is comprised of two divisions: Administration and Fire Suppression.
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION: Tulare City Fire Department is responsible for enforcing local, state and federal fire safety laws. The Prevention Bureau within the admin division, achieves this by conducting annual fire & life safety inspections of all existing buildings that are open to the public. The prevention bureau performs plan reviews for safety compliance of all new commercial, industrial and multi-residential structures. Plan review consists of checking plans for fire safety features such as: fire sprinkler, and fire alarm plans. The prevention bureau is also very involved with the storage and sale of safe & sane fireworks, as well as large public gatherings most notably the World Ag Expo.
SUPPRESSION DIVISION: The Fire Suppression Division consists of forty-one (40) uniformed personnel. The primary responsibility of the fire suppression and first responder units are to respond to fire, emergency medical, rescue, and life safety emergencies within Tulare. Emergency Services are delivered through four (4) in-service fire companies from three (3) strategically located fire stations within the city. Three of the fire companies are staffed with three personnel (captain, engineer, and firefighter/paramedic) and one patrol unit is staffed with two personnel (captain and engineer/paramedic). A division chief is on duty each day to perform as an incident commander, supervise fire suppression activities, and provide personnel supervision.
The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 67,834 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The City provides a full-range of service to our citizens. The organization, staffed with 368 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.
The primary goals of the Fire Department are to reduce casualties and the loss of life, improve patient outcomes, reduce property loss and damage, affect successful extrications of trapped victims, and protect the environment from the effects of a hazardous materials release. In calendar year 2021, the Fire Department responded to 594 fire calls, 4,648 medical calls and 2,732 calls for various other reasons for a total of 7,974 calls for service. The Fire Department is also responsible for enforcing local fire ordinances, state and federal laws, apprehending arsonists and assisting in their prosecution.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Under general supervision, responds to fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, rescues and other emergency and non-emergency situations; participates in all other suppression, prevention, inspection, education, and related activities to protect life and property; performs fire station and apparatus maintenance; serves in specialized departmental roles as assigned; provides information and assistance to the public; and performs other duties as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from a Fire Captain or assigned supervisor. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the working-level class in the fire service series that performs all normal fire suppression, basic medical emergency, hazardous materials, and other emergency response activities. The nature of the work performed requires an employee in this class to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all others contacted in the course of work and requires the ability to perform heavy physical work at potential risk to health and safety. This class is distinguished from Fire Engineer in that the latter drives and operates all fire equipment and apparatus. It is further distinguished from Fire Captain in that the latter is the first supervisory level in this sworn class series.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
WRITTEN EXAM
If we determine that you meet the minimum requirements for the position and that you have attached all of the required items, you may* be invited to take a written exam which is the first phase of our recruitment process.
*Applicants that have taken the FCTC Written Exam will not be required to take another written exam.
Applicants that have not taken the FCTC Written Exam will be required to take a written exam.
SOURCE MATERIAL: If required to take a written exam, the exam will be based on the following source material:
*Brady Emergency Care 10th Edition

*Reading Ability

*Mathematical Reasoning

*Map Reading

*Writing Ability

*Human Relations (interpersonal skills, teamwork, commitment, honesty, emotional stability).
Additional details regarding the written exam will be sent via email to qualified applicants once our screening process is complete.

Examples of Essential Functions
(Illustrative Only) Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Responds to fire alarms, delivers all equipment, and implements fire suppression and firefighting techniques to rescue victims and protect private and public property.
• Responds to emergency medical calls and administers advanced emergency medical procedures including EKG interpretation, intravenous access, drug therapy, endotracheal intubation, pediatric emergencies, cardioversion and defibrillation, needle thoracostomy, patient assessment techniques, and safe patient transport.
• Assumes a designated position on an assigned apparatus and follows command structure instructions for fire suppression or related emergency services.
• Serves within a command structure, requiring adherence to officers' orders in life threatening situations.
• Responds to structural residential, commercial, industrial, chemical, petroleum, vehicle, aircraft, and wildland fires, and performs search and rescue operations to remove persons from burning structures, and fire suppression techniques as appropriate; lays, connects, charges and uses supply lines and various water appliances to control and extinguish fires; places water curtains and performs ventilating and access maneuvers; uses foam and chemical extinguishers as required by the nature of the fire; operates fire streams as directed; raises and climbs ladders; ventilates roofs and windows.
• Operates all types of portable fire extinguishers, pike poles, hand lines, smoke ejectors, salvage covers, forcible entry tools, aerial ladder equipment, emergency medical equipment, and other firefighting and medical equipment as required.
• Performs salvage duties at fire scenes by placing salvage covers, sweeping, vacuuming up water, and removing debris.
• Conducts daily inspections of condition and readiness of equipment including medical and first aid equipment; cleans, washes, and services fire apparatus, vehicles and equipment; inspects, tests, and maintains equipment and pump motors including nozzles, appliances, fittings, hydrants, fire extinguishers, hand and power tools, ropes, emergency lighting equipment, generators, rescue and first aid, and related equipment.
• Assists in the investigation of fires; obtains and preserves evidence at a fire scene, secures fire scene and controls traffic, and participates in determining fire origin and cause; may be required to testify in court, as necessary.
• Assists in inspecting building structures to ensure code compliance; explains City fire codes and fire prevention policies and procedures to the general public; identifies common, special, structural, and panic hazards and recommend pre-fire planning; issues orders to comply with codes; and prepares complete and accurate reports of inspection activities as required.
• Responds to emergency rescue calls, including auto accidents and collapsed buildings requiring extrication, search and rescue, gas system leaks, confined space rescues, and rope rescues.
• Performs overhaul operations to ensure the complete suppression of fire.
• Responds to a variety of alarms and follows established procedures to investigate.
• Maintains fire fighting and emergency equipment in a clean and operable condition, including performing daily equipment checks, and performing basic repair of damaged equipment as necessary; maintains inventories of apparatus, equipment, and supplies.
• Ensures the use of appropriate firefighting safety apparel and equipment, and follows appropriate safety procedures as required.
• Works closely with other emergency medical staff, public safety, and fire personnel from other agencies, depending upon response situation.
• Responds to hazardous materials emergencies, including scene assessment, identifying the extent of damage and/or potential hazard to the community, implementing containment plans, and protecting fire personnel and civilians from exposure to chemicals.
• Responds to man-made and natural disasters, including fires, floods, earthquakes, crash rescues and other catastrophic events, including providing medical assistance and removing persons from harmful structures or exposure to fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and harmful materials.
• Maintains an awareness of other Fire personnel on detail for the purpose of protecting other Firefighters' lives as necessary.
• Performs all necessary training activities as assigned and in accordance with readiness and preparation for firefighting activities, including training in fire suppression, emergency medical training, hazardous materials, vehicle extrication, technical rescues, equipment use and maintenance, and other related functions; participates in fire drills.
• Operates and maintains a variety of fire vehicles, apparatus, and equipment on a training basis.
• Performs physical fitness training to maintain physical abilities necessary for firefighting.
• Maintains station and personal living areas in a clean and orderly manner, and maintains surrounding grounds to ensure a safe and pleasant environment for fire personnel and the general public.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties including maintaining proper records and documentation on all job related activities, functions, apparatus, and equipment, preparing reports, forms, recommendations, and other required administrative procedures.
• Participates in a variety of public awareness activities to promote good public relations and fire safety awareness, including providing tours of fire facilities and giving presentations at local schools as requested; responds to complaints and requests for information from the public; engages in public information activities.
• May assume the responsibilities of Fire Engineer upon the absence of a Fire Engineer, if all acting requirements have been met.
• May provide direction to EMT-1 staff on medical emergencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of fire suppression, containment, rescue, clean-up and salvage.
• Symptoms of medical emergencies and of appropriate responses to such conditions.
• Purposes, uses, and operating characteristics of a variety of apparatus, equipment, tools, and devices used in rescue and medical assistance operations.
• Procedures, methods, and techniques of emergency medical services.
• Practices and techniques of hazardous materials response.
• Fire hazards and related prevention and abatement methods.
• Geography of the City, including locations of water mains, hydrants, major fire hazards of the City, and City streets.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes and ordinances.
• The operation and maintenance of a variety of fire services vehicles, equipment, and facilities.
• Basic principles of mechanics, hydraulics, and mathematics related to fire fighting and engineering duties.
• Safety practices and equipment related to the work.
• Safe driving principles and practices.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and computer applications.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by dealing effectively with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.

Ability to:

• Perform fire suppression and associated rescue and salvage work in a safe and ef