Firefighter/Paramedic

The Seekonk Fire Department is accepting resumes for Firefighter/Paramedics in order to establish a hiring list. Applicants must be a nationally registered EMT, paramedic preferred. Must obtain paramedic certification with 3 years of graduation from the fire academy or upon hire if you have already graduated from a career fire academy. Graduates of a full-time, career fire academy preferred. Seekonk residents and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

JOB TITLE: Firefighter

SUPERVISOR: Fire Chief

SALARY: $52,088.40

FLSA: Non-Exempt

STATUS: Union

UNION: International Association of Firefighters, Local 1931

HOURS/WEEK: 42

POSITION OVERVIEW: A Firefighter/Paramedic is responsible for the technical work in combating and preventing fires. To protect the lives and property of our citizens, visitors, and firefighters.

SUPERVISION: Works under the general supervision of a superior officer in conformance with departmental rules and regulations.

SUMMARY: Performs responsible duties based on clearly prescribed standard practices, but may on occasion be required to exercise judgement in the choice of action within limits defined by standard practices and precedents; Errors could endanger person and property, cause adverse public relations, and have legal repercussions; Makes periodic contact with the general public and public officials; Performs duties demanding considerable physical effort under field conditions with variable weather conditions and exposure to personal danger; Has access to limited amount of confidential information;

JOB ENVIRONMENT: Firefighting and fire prevention work is performed under varying weather conditions and conditions that may involve considerable personal danger with exposure to fumes or toxic substances. This work consists in working at great heights during extreme weather conditions. Extreme care and safety precautions are required to prevent injuries resulting in total and permanent disability or loss of life. Responds to emergencies as needed by incident type or staffing levels. Operates computers and standard office equipment such as telephone, copier, and fax; when at a fire or emergency may operate some or all of the following equipment: emergency medical aid equipment, various power, and hand tools, all fire apparatus, a radio, and all standard firefighting equipment. The employee wears appropriate uniform and equipment as indicated by each situation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Responds to fire alarms with assigned company;
• Performs firefighting activities utilizing fire hose, heavy stream applicators, ladders and extinguishers;
• Ventilates burning buildings to evacuate persons in danger;
• Performs salvage operations such as laying salvage covers, sweeping and pumping water, and removing debris;
• Administers first aid and resuscitation;
• Performs emergency rescue and extrication duties in accidents involving elevators, motor vehicles and similar equipment;
• Performs minor maintenance repairs as required;
• Attends training classes in firefighting, paramedicine, and related subjects;
• Carries raises and takes down ground ladders ranging from 12 to 55 feet; operates aerial ladders;
• Lays, charges and operates a hose (line); collects, folds and re-loads hose on engine;
• Carries and throws tarps; operates portable pumps, saws; breeches wall, moved or removes furniture, obstacles;
• Climbs stair and ladders carrying equipment such as forcible entry and room fire equipment, protective gear, and uncharged hose lines with nozzles;
• Wears a respirator (SCBA) in order to safely perform firefighting operations, or perform rescues in conditions where smoke or gases may be present; duties may require a Firefighter to wear an SCBA thirty (30) minutes to several hours at one time;
• Cuts or creates openings in structures to ventilate smoke/gases using power saw, axe or other tools;
• Searches premises and rescues (and removes) victims by carrying them down stairs or ladders; administers first aid to victims (includes starting IVs, placing victim on backboard administering cardiac care);
• Sizes up a motor vehicle accident scene; operates extraction tools such as hydraulic jaws, ram and cutters; dismantles vehicles to safely extricate victims;
• Performs equipment checks; pulls equipment out of compartments for cleaning and maintenance; washes engines, trucks;
• Performs household duties at fire station such as sweeping, mopping, power washing;
• Inspects business/industrial locations for compliance with fire codes;
• Educates the public on fire safety issues and rules.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

Must be a high school graduate or equivalent; completion of Massachusetts Firefighting Academy; Massachusetts Class III license; licensed Massachusetts Paramedic; or any equivalent combination of education, certification, and experience.

Knowledge, Ability, and Skill

• Ability to understand and follow oral instructions;
• Ability to become proficient in firefighting and lifesaving techniques within a prescribed probationary time period;
• Ability and sufficient physical stamina to perform prolonged and strenuous work under adverse conditions;
• Ability to meet required physical standards of age, weight, height and strength at time of examination.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The position requires significant physical strength and dexterity and the ability to function in very adverse environments with exposure to numerous safety risks typically found at emergency scenes. The physical demands of this position are considered to be: Heavy (50 to 100 pounds lifted/carried or force exerted occasionally; 25 to 50 pounds lifted/carried or force exerted frequently).

INTERMITTENT is on an "on and off again" basis;

RARELY = 1 < % of the time

OCCASIONALLY = 1 - 33% of the time (4.8 min. - 2.6 hrs.)

FREQUENTLY = 34 - 66% of the time (2.7 - 5.3 hrs.)

CONSTANTLY = 67-100% of the time (5.3 - 8.0 hrs.)

EMERGENCY RESPONSE DUTIES: Duties at the incident scene include firefighting, overhaul, emergency medical treatment and rescue, and management of hazardous materials, property conservation, environmental conservation, securing an emergency scene for the safety of the public and Firefighters. The fire alarm indicates the change of priorities to emergency response duties. This requires immediate response from current actions to moving quickly to the apparatus, incident scene or fire station, as appropriate. Response may involve navigating a flight of stairs or a ladder to ground level, follow by driving of a fire service apparatus.

STANDING/WALKING (FREQUENTLY): Frequently to continuously when responding to calls. Optional while at rest. This usually includes: going to and from the emergency vehicle, getting patients from their locations, and rendering treatment. Most walking would be for short distances, as emergency vehicles are allowed to get as close to the location as possible. However, must also be able to run these same distances, in case of an emergency where time is of the essence. Walking and running may vary, however, as the patient may be located inside a large, multi-floored facility. Standing, walking and running could be on all types of surfaces, including but not limited to: asphalt, cement, concrete, soft/packed dirt, linoleum, wood, hardwood floors, etc. The individual must be able to go up and down slight inclines or declines that may be found at roadsides, agricultural areas, etc. At a location, standing would occur more often than walking or running. Standing would occur on the wide variety of surfaces mentioned above. Standing could last from a few minutes to hours, depending on the situation. Standing could occur in the standard erect position, the kneeling or squatting position, etc.

SITTING (OCCASIONALLY): Occasionally when responding to a location, the individual will sit in the emergency vehicle. The emergency vehicles are equipped with a standard installed vehicle seat. The time performing the sitting activity on a call would depend upon the specific situation.

LIFTING AND CARRYING (OCCASIONALLY/FREQUENTLY): Frequently required to lift and carry weights ranging from a few pounds to ten (10) pounds and above. Occasionally required to lift and carry weights scaled at above 100 pounds or more. Will need to lift and carry, with one team member, adult patients, lifting them from various positions (such as a bed or a chair) onto various patient movement devices, such as an ambulance stretcher, a stair chair, long back boards, etc., and then efficiently move them into an ambulance. Other heavier objects in the high range category would be 5-foot tall, 10-inch diameter oxygen cylinders, and medical equipment boxes. The oxygen cylinders can be made of quarter-inch steel and weigh up to 113 pounds. The medical equipment boxes can weigh approximately fifty (50) pounds or more.

BENDING AND STOOPING (FREQUENTLY): Frequently throughout a work shift the individual will be required to bend in a range of 1 to 90 degrees. The average situation will require the individual to work in a range of 35-to-65-degree bends. This would involve: lifting a patient, lifting equipment, treating a patient at ground level, sitting on a bench located in the ambulance. This activity may be prolonged and last up to 30 minutes or more. During any given call, the provider may bend and/or stoop 1 to 15 times per incident.

CROUCHING AND KNEELING (FREQUENTLY): Frequently, crouching and kneeling may be performed when on the scene picking up equipment or assisting patients. The actual number of times this is done depends on the particular incident but may be up to 15 times for a duration up to 30 minutes or greater.

CLIMBING (OCCASIONALLY): Occasionally. This is required when climbing steps up and down with a patient on a stretcher or other device, and when entering or exiting the emergency vehicle. Generally, the climbing would require lifting and carrying heavy objects such as a stretcher or other device with a patient on it. Balancing may be required when backing down staircases. The most physically demanding tasks in firefighting include moving equipment upstairs to the floor of a fire while wearing bunker gear in a building, breaking through a roof while on a ladder, using a pike pole to pull down a ceiling, dragging a charged hose, directing a charged hose for prolonged periods, laying hose to fire sites from a distant water source, rescuing a victim using a ladder, using an axe while on a ladder, using hand and/or power tools in awkward positions to enter a structure or complete a rescue operation.

REACHING (FREQUENTLY): Frequently to continuously throughout the work shift in order to review monitoring equipment, operate communication equipment, administer oxygen, and operate equipment. May also be required to reach in precarious positions, such as in a vehicle, which has been crushed in an accident, or in other confined spaces. If working inside the ambulance en route to a medical facility, will need to reach to access the patient and supplies. Reaching will involve partial to full extension of the arms.

PUSHING AND PULLING (OCCASIONALLY/FREQUENTLY): The activities that would require the most force in pushing and pulling is when removing or returning a gurney to the emergency vehicle, with and without a patient on the gurney. The weight required to push/pull will vary, depending on the weight on the gurney. Slight pushing will be required if the incumbent is performing CPR, which can require repetitive pushing and may range from a few minutes to hours. Pushing and pulling is required when operating and closing vehicle doors.

HANDLING OR GRASPING (CONSTANTLY): While working at any given location, continual bilateral gross manipulation is performed in this position. This may be involved when: opening/closing doors; and using, handling, carrying and/or operating medical equipment boxes that may weigh approximately fifty (50) pounds or more, stretcher rails, various handles attached to equipment, and tools. The arm and hand must be able to perform all types of positions, including supination and pronation. Hyperextension, extension and flexion of the fingers will be involved, ulnar and radial deviation, abduction and adduction of the hand and wrist will be required. A wide variety of grasping will be required, such as cylindrical grasping, palmer grasping, hook grasping, tip grasping, lateral grasping and spherical grasping.

HAZARDS: When responding to emergencies, can be exposed to dust, fumes, gases, fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and chemicals. Driving at speeds beyond the posted limit may occur and, therefore, the incumbent may be exposed to vehicular accidents at a higher speed than normal. There is also exposure to body substances that may contain infectious materials that could cause illness or death. There is potential for bodily harm or death from violent patients, bystanders, or other dangers. In active fire situations the Firefighters can be exposed to temperatures of 500-600 degrees Celsius. Firefighters are exposed to wet conditions from the hose spray, exposure to wet and cold environments occur simultaneously. The same personal protective equipment is used throughout the year. A Firefighter may become dehydrated as a result of exposure to heat from fires or from the combination of personal protective equipment and summer heat. Although infrequently exposed, a Firefighter must be capable of: working in unstable environments, crawling in hot, smoky buildings to search for victims, climbing ladders in hot, cold slippery, icy environments with heavy and awkward personal protective equipment weighing up to 92 pounds (dry weight). The weight of the equipment may be increased during wet conditions, particularly if the protective clothing ensemble is wet. A Firefighter must lift, carry and pull hose up to 50 feet in length, up to 4 lengths. Hose can be either charged (full of water) or uncharged.

OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Upon returning from an emergency incident Firefighters are required to complete additional servicing and maintenance tasks on all equipment utilized at an incident scene. This may include cleaning, scrubbing (if required) and testing for proper operation of hoses, breathing apparatus, personal protective equipment, and other firefighting equipment utilized for the task(s) required at the incident.

• Maintain balance and strength in awkward positions;
• Speak clearly under stressful circumstances;
• Accurately communicate ideas orally and in writing in English;
• Respond physically with speed;
• Speak loudly

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

• Handle a significant number of stressful situations, and be able to function calmly; coolly and collectedly under all types of stressful situations; Get along well with diverse personalities;
• Communicate with patients and others with empathy and respect;
• Create and maintain a positive and cooperative working environment in stressful situations;
• Work smoothly and professionally in an environment where teamwork is essential;
• Analyze and interpret difficult and complex patient care and personnel situations;
• Work independently with a minimal supervision for assigned tasks;
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general Policy and procedural guidelines;
• Anticipate and identify problems and take initiative to prevent or correct them;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel within the medical community, PRO, outside agencies, patients, and members of the community;
• Understand and follow federal, state and local laws, and PRO policies, procedures, and rules;
• Follow orders;
• Remember and apply concepts, knowledge and principles; and
• Appropriate deal with stress and maintain composure when encountering serious injuries or illnesses.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed within this position. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this position. Management has the sole discretion to add or modify the duties of the position and to designate other functions at any time. This position description is not an employment agreement or contract.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in the skills necessary to successfully be a key member of the Town and to work in the Fire Department.

Posted 4/15/24