WYOMISSING FIRE DEPARTMENT
1259 Penn Avenue
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-375-4436

The Wyomissing Fire Department is hiring for the following position:

FIREFIGHTER

The Civil Service Commission of the Borough of Wyomissing, Berks County, PA will conduct examinations for the position of Firefighter for the Wyomissing Fire Department. Applications are preferred to be submitted through the advertisement on Indeed, however, applications are available for pick up and submission at the Wyomissing Borough Hall, 22 Reading Boulevard, Wyomissing, PA 19610.

The application period is open from Friday May 10, 2024, through 3:00 pm Thursday May 23, 2024.

Any applicant claiming Veteran’s Preference is responsible for providing a DD-214 with their application.

Applicants for Firefighter must be a United States citizen, 18 years old before deadline for submitting a completed application, have a high school diploma or GED, be physically and mentally fit to perform the full duties of a Firefighter, have a valid Driver’s License and be eligible to legally operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and shall obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License within six (6) months of hire date, and possess the following Certifications:

Applicants MUST provide documentation of successful completion of a Candidate Physical Ability Testing Certificate (CPAT) with a certification date not more than 18-months prior to this examination announcement.

· NFPA 1001 Firefighter II Certification

· Emergency Medical Technician Certification (PA or Reciprocal)

· Healthcare Provider CPR and AED Certification

· Emergency Vehicle Operators Certification (16 Hours)

· PA Department of Health Vehicle Rescue (or equivalent as determined by the Fire Chief)

· NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Operations Certification

· NIMS 100, 200, 700, 800

Applicants must successfully complete a written examination, oral examination, and a thorough background investigation to be certified as eligible on the eligibility list. To be hired, the applicant will need to complete an NFPA 1582 Physical, psychological screening and drug and alcohol testing.

The starting salary for probationary Firefighter in 2024 is $69,702.88.

The written test will be administered on Saturday June 1, 2024, at 9:30 AM at the Wyomissing Area Jr./Sr. High School located at 630 Evans Avenue, Wyomissing, PA 19610. Please follow the sign to the parking location and entry door being used for the examination. Doors will open at 9:00 AM, and no one will be permitted to enter after 9:20 am. The written exam will begin promptly at 9:30 am.

Applicants achieving a written test score of 70% or greater, will be notified of the date, location and time of the oral interview panel.

Scoring for this hiring process is weighted, with the written examination worth 40% and the oral interview worth 60% of the overall grade. Veterans’ Preference points will be added to the final weighted score.

Conditional offers will be made following the June 11, 2024, Borough Council Meeting.

Job Title: Firefighter / EMT

Department: Fire Rescue Service

Reports to: Captain / Shift Commander

FLSA: Non - Exempt

Approved By: Borough Council 12-30-2019

SUMMARY

Under direction of the Captain / Shift Commander, Firefighters perform public safety work involving the protection of life and property by fighting fires, responding to emergency incidents, using Emergency Medical Services (EMS) skills, using rescue operations skills and engaging in fire code enforcement, public education, and station and equipment maintenance activities. Must be capable of performing all essential job functions of NFPA 1582

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responds to alarms and assists in the suppression of structural, residential, commercial, industrial, chemical, petroleum, vehicle, and wildland fires; perform fire control activities and utilize strategies in the areas of victim rescue, entry, exposure tactics, ventilation, fire containment and extinguishment, and salvage work; lay and connect hose, hold nozzles and direct water streams; raise and climb ladders; ventilate burning structures; make forcible entries and evacuate occupancies.

• Responds to medical emergencies; performs primary and secondary physical assessment of ill or injured persons; treat patients in accordance with EMS Council Emergency Medical Services Protocols and Fire Department policy; operate radio-telephone equipment and communicates medical information to hospital medical personnel and others; compile necessary reports and records; respond to and perform skilled tasks at the scenes of emergency calls and non-emergency calls.

• Operates a variety of apparatus, equipment, tools, devices, and vehicles including lifting, hoisting, spreading, and pulling equipment, foam and additive proportioners, fuel and oil pumps, building heating and cooling systems, cutting, boring and sawing tools, lighting, lifting and air moving equipment, appliances, elevators, fire protection and escape systems, radio equipment and meters, all types of portable fire extinguishers, pike poles, hand lines, smoke ejectors, salvage covers, forcible entry tools, emergency medical equipment and other rescue equipment.

• Conducts fire prevention inspections of dwellings, public assemblies, commercial, industrial, and governmental buildings, and other public establishments to ensure compliance with codes and regulations pertaining to fire safety; identify common, special, structural, and panic hazards and complete assigned pre-fire planning activities.

• Conducts daily inspections of condition and readiness of equipment; clean, wash, and service equipment, inspect, test, and maintain equipment including nozzles, appliances, fittings, hydrants, fire extinguishers, hand and power tools, ropes, emergency lighting equipment, generators, rescue and EMS related equipment.

• Performs cleaning, salvage, and overhaul work following fires, prepare apparatus and equipment for further alarms.

• Participates in periodic testing of pumps, ladders, and other apparatus and equipment.

• Participates in fire training activities; attends continuing and advanced training sessions, which include firefighting techniques, emergency medical care, and the proper use of all equipment and related tools.

• Assists in the investigation of fires; collect and preserve evidence; secure fire scene.

• Participates in physical and skills related training activities as requested and/or assigned.

• Assists in securing sites by directing traffic, keeping public at a safe distance, clearing landing zones for helicopter landing; setting up lighting and other scene management related activities.

• Responds to the orders and directives of incident commanders/superiors and carries out assignments per applicable practices, protocols, and procedures.

• Assists in the cleaning and maintenance of fire station and grounds, apparatus, and equipment; assists in maintaining inventories of apparatus, equipment, and supplies; physical fitness apparatus, and station appliances.

• Performs a variety of administrative duties including maintaining property records and documentation on all job related activities, functions, apparatus, and equipment; prepare reports, forms, recommendations, and other required administrative procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma or GED, and must meet the education and experience requirements expressed in the Wyomissing Civil Service Commission Rules & Regulations as amended from time to time, for the Fire Department.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional journals and technical procedures. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the general public. Ability to write incident related reports and documents in a standard format and in accordance with commonly accepted practice and standard in Fire Rescue/EMS documentation. Must also have the ability to effectively communicate relevant incident and other information concerning Fire/EMS calls or other issues/incidents in written and verbal form.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to make life or death decisions during emergency conditions. Maintain personal safety and safety of others and make critical decisions in a confused, chaotic and potentially life threatening environment throughout the duration of the operation. Must have the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

1. Valid driver’s license – Shall have a valid Driver’s License and be eligible to legally operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with an acceptable driving record and obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License within six (6) months of hire date (if license is from another state, must obtain PA license within 6 months of hire).

2. The following certificates are mandatory minimum requirements:

· Emergency Vehicle Operators Certification (16 hour course required)

· NFPA 1001 Firefighter II certification

· Emergency Medical Technician certification (PA or reciprocal )

· Health care provider CPR with AED

· Pa. Department of Health Vehicle Rescue (or equivalent as determined by Fire
Commissioner)

· NFPA 472 Operation Level Hazardous Materials certification

· NIMS 100, 200, 700, 800

The following certificates are preferred hiring requirements. Candidates who do not possess these credentials upon hire will be required to obtain them within (6) six months of employment:

· Firefighter Survival

· NFPA 1006 Rescue Core Certification

COMPUTER OPERATIONS

Basic personal computer skills including electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheet and graphics as well as the ability to learn and effectively utilize department specific software and applications including, but not limited to, Emergency Reporting software.

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.

Must meet all physical job requirements of NFPA 1582 (2013 Edition).

NFPA 1582 JOB FUNCTIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

(1) Performing fire-fighting tasks (e.g., hoseline operations, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry, etc.), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged time periods.

(2) Wearing an SCBA, which includes a demand valve–type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter masks, which requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads.

(3) Exposure to toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, biological (infectious) and non-biological hazards, and/or heated gases, despite the use of personal protective ensembles and SCBA.

(4) Climb six or more flights of stairs while wearing fire protective ensemble weighing at least 50 lbs. (22.6 kg) or more and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg).

(5) Wearing fire protective ensemble that is encapsulating and insulated, which will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration and can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C)

(6) Searching, finding, and rescue-dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns up to adults weighing over 200 lbs. (90 kg) to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility.

(7) Advancing water-filled hoselines up to 2 1⁄2 in. (65 mm) in diameter from fire apparatus to occupancy [approximately 150 ft. (50 m)], which can involve negotiating multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and other obstacles.

(8) Climbing ladders, operating from heights, walking or crawling in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces, and operating in proximity to electrical power lines and/or other hazards.

(9) Unpredictable emergency requirements for prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without benefit of warm-up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration.

(10) Operating fire apparatus or other vehicles in an emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens.

(11) Critical, time-sensitive, complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, which is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.

(12) Ability to communicate (give and comprehend verbal orders) while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA under conditions of high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hoselines and/or fixed protection systems (sprinklers).

(13) Functioning as an integral component of a team, where sudden incapacitation of a member can result in mission failure or in risk of injury or death to civilians or other team members.

Must be able to hear and speak on a constant or frequent basis. Must be able to stand, walk, crouch, kneel, stoop, crawl use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb and balance frequently. Occasionally required to taste and/or smell. Ability to lift, push, and/or pull up to 200 lbs. on an occasional basis while wearing SCBA.

Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision

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 is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; explosives; risk of radiation; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud.

OTHER:

Successful completion of the CPAT physical agility test, State Police Criminal and DMV Driving Background check, Child Abuse clearance and NFPA 1582 Physical (2013 Edition) and drug test, are required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $69,702.88 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Shift:

• Rotating shift

Work Location: In person