Paramedic/Firefighter

Classification Summary
Under general supervision, provides emergency medical care, fire suppression, rescue, and protective services to residents and visitors of the City of Tumwater and Thurston County. Paramedic/Firefighters respond to medical emergencies, fires, hazardous materials incidents, accidents, natural and human-caused disasters, and other situations threatening life or property.

As licensed paramedics, employees provide basic and advanced life support services in accordance with Thurston County Medic One protocols, medical direction, and applicable laws and standards. Employees operate as members of an emergency response team and may direct other emergency personnel or civilians when necessary to support patient care, treatment, transportation, fire suppression, rescue, or scene safety.

The position also performs non-emergency responsibilities, including training, pre-incident planning, fire and injury prevention, public education, inspections, report preparation, equipment and apparatus checks, and station and facility maintenance.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• This classification performs the combined duties of a career firefighter and paramedic. Positions at this level independently provide advanced life support care while participating in fire suppression, rescue, emergency response, and other Fire Department operations.
• Employees work within an established chain of command and operate in closely coordinated team environments. Work requires the ability to follow orders, exercise sound judgment, maintain composure, and perform physically and mentally demanding duties under hazardous and rapidly changing conditions.
• Unlike firefighter classifications without paramedic responsibilities, this position maintains the certifications and medical authorization necessary to provide advanced life support services under Thurston County Medic One protocols.

Emergency Medical Services

• Works with a paramedic partner and other emergency responders to assess, treat, stabilize, and transport patients experiencing medical or traumatic emergencies.
• Provides basic and advanced life support services under established medical protocols, standing orders, and physician direction.
• Determines appropriate emergency medical interventions and assists in selecting appropriate transportation and receiving facilities.
• Operates, maintains, cleans, inspects, and restocks medic units, medical equipment, medications, and supplies.
• Completes timely, accurate, and legally compliant patient care reports and related medical documentation.
• Coordinates patient care with firefighters, emergency medical technicians, ambulance personnel, hospital staff, air transport crews, law enforcement, and other response partners.
• Directs emergency personnel or civilians regarding emergency medical procedures, treatment, scene operations, and patient transportation when appropriate.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and protects sensitive medical information.

Fire Suppression, Rescue & Emergency Response

• Responds to fires, alarms, hazardous conditions, rescue calls, natural and human-caused disasters, and other emergency incidents.
• Performs fire suppression, search and rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, salvage, overhaul, water supply, and other assigned fireground functions.
• Operates within the incident command system and follows established orders, operational procedures, and safety practices.
• Uses personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus, fire apparatus, rescue equipment, tools, hoses, ladders, and other emergency-response equipment.
• Assists with hazardous materials response, technical rescue, disaster response, and other specialized operations within the employee’s level of training and authorization.
• Maintains readiness to respond and may work for extended periods during major emergencies, disasters, or adverse conditions.

Training & Professional Development

• Participates in required classroom, practical, and scenario-based training to maintain firefighter and paramedic knowledge, skills, and certifications.
• Attends monthly in-service training, quarterly skills verification, and activities required through the Ongoing Training and Evaluation Program.
• Participates in drills involving fire suppression, emergency medical care, rescue, hazardous materials, apparatus operation, safety, and other operational disciplines.
• Maintains current knowledge of emergency-response practices, medical protocols, Department policies, operational guidelines, and applicable laws and standards.
• Instructs or assists with public and internal classes, including CPR, first aid, fire prevention, injury prevention, and emergency preparedness.

Fire Prevention & Community Services

• Participates in pre-incident planning and inspections of buildings, facilities, and other structures.
• Supports fire and injury prevention programs, public education, community outreach, and public-relations activities.
• Interacts professionally and respectfully with patients, families, community members, business owners, students, partner agencies, and members of the public.
• Provides information and assistance in a manner consistent with Department policy and assigned authority.

Apparatus, Equipment & Facility Readiness

• Inspects, tests, cleans, maintains, and inventories fire apparatus, medic units, tools, protective equipment, medical supplies, and emergency-response equipment.
• Reports damaged, missing, unsafe, or malfunctioning equipment and assists with corrective action.
• Performs routine station, facility, apparatus, and equipment maintenance to support operational readiness, safety, and professional appearance.
• Maintains living quarters, work areas, storage areas, and common spaces.

Documentation & Department Operations

• Completes accurate emergency incident reports, patient care reports, inspection records, training documentation, equipment records, and other required reports.
• Uses Department computer systems, software, radios, mobile devices, and documentation systems.
• Participates in meetings, training sessions, conferences, special assignments, and other Department activities.
• Complies with Department policies, procedures, operating guidelines, safety requirements, medical protocols, and the established chain of command.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Modern principles, practices, equipment, and techniques used in advanced life support, emergency medical care, fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response.
• Patient assessment, emergency treatment, trauma care, pharmacology, medication administration, airway management, and other paramedic practices authorized under Thurston County Medic One protocols.
• Fire behavior, fireground operations, incident command, rescue techniques, hazardous conditions, and emergency-scene safety.
• Ability to assess emergencies, identify hazards, make sound decisions, and perform effectively under stressful and rapidly changing conditions.
• Ability to maintain composure, self-control, courtesy, tact, and respect when working with patients, families, coworkers, partner agencies, and the public.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions, medical protocols, operational orders, safety requirements, and Department policies.
• Ability to work cooperatively within a paramilitary chain of command, small teams, emergency-response crews, and multiagency environments.
• Ability to communicate clearly and complete accurate medical, incident, inspection, training, and equipment documentation.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with people of different backgrounds, identities, cultures, abilities, and experiences.
• Ability to maintain operational readiness, meet established performance standards, accept direction, and respond promptly to emergency calls and assigned duties.

Minimum Qualifications 

1. Accredited high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
2. Successful completion of a recognized Advanced Life Support paramedic training program consisting of at least 750 hours, plus 250 hours of additional advanced life support training or experience.
3. Current paramedic certification and eligibility for affiliation with Thurston County.
4. Successful completion of the Candidate Physical Ability Test before appointment.
5. Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
6. Any equivalent combination of education, training, certification, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the classification may be considered, subject to applicable certification and medical-control requirements.

Training/Licenses/Certifications

• Valid Washington State Driver License.
• Driving record that meets City and Fire Department requirements.
• Current paramedic certification meeting Washington State requirements.
• Eligibility for certification and affiliation through the Thurston County Medic One system.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment background investigation, medical evaluation, drug screening, suitability testing, and other condition-of-employment requirements.

• Successfully complete a Fire Department-recognized firefighter recruit academy.
• Obtain IFSAC Firefighter I certification within the first year of employment.
• Obtain IFSAC Firefighter II certification within the first two years of employment.
• Obtain HAZMAT Awareness and Operations Certification within first two years of employment.
• Complete the Washington State Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee firefighter program within the first three years of employment.
• Maintain the knowledge, skills, continuing education, and other requirements necessary for paramedic recertification in accordance with applicable Washington State requirements.
• Maintain authorization from the Thurston County Medic One Medical Program Director to perform advanced life support duties.
• Maintain all required firefighter, emergency medical, respiratory protection, driver, and Department certifications throughout employment.
• Successfully complete required fitness-for-duty evaluations and self-contained breathing apparatus or respirator fit testing.

Decision Rights & Problem Solving

• Exercises judgment within established medical protocols, emergency-response procedures, the incident command system, and the Department’s chain of command. 
• Assesses patients and emergency conditions, identifies immediate hazards, and selects appropriate actions within the employee’s training, certification, and assigned authority.
• Emergency-scene decisions may involve significant risk and must frequently be made under stressful, hazardous, and rapidly changing conditions. 
• Employees follow the direction of incident commanders, company officers, senior paramedics, and medical control and elevate unusual, high-risk, or protocol-related issues as appropriate.

Supervision Received / Exercised

• Received: Direct supervision is provided by senior Paramedic/Firefighters, Lieutenants, and Battalion Chiefs. Performance evaluations are conducted by a Paramedic Lieutenant in collaboration with the Shift Battalion Chief.
• Exercised: May provide instruction, coaching, or task guidance to probationary Paramedics and Paramedic students.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Firefighters, Paramedic/Firefighters, Lieutenants, Battalion Chiefs, command staff, fire prevention personnel, administrative staff, and employees from other City departments.
• External: Patients, family members, residents, visitors, law enforcement agencies, neighboring fire departments, ambulance providers, hospitals, air medical transport providers, Thurston County Medic One, medical control physicians, schools, businesses, contractors, and community organizations.

Tools & Technology

• Fire engines, medic units, emergency-response vehicles, and related apparatus
• Advanced and basic life support equipment
• Cardiac monitors, defibrillators, airway equipment, medication-delivery systems, and patient-movement equipment
• Self-contained breathing apparatus and respiratory protection equipment
• Fire suppression, rescue, forcible-entry, ventilation, and salvage equipment
• Hoses, ladders, pumps, nozzles, hand tools, and power tools
• Radios, mobile data terminals, computers, tablets, and communication devices
• Electronic patient care reporting and emergency incident reporting systems
• Personal protective equipment and exposure-control equipment
• Office software and standard office equipment

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Work is performed in fire stations, emergency vehicles, medical facilities, residential and commercial properties, roadways, outdoor environments, confined spaces, elevated locations, and disaster or emergency scenes.

Duties involve exposure to fire, smoke, extreme heat and cold, inclement weather, hazardous materials, bloodborne and airborne pathogens, contagious diseases, electrical hazards, traffic, unstable structures, loud noise, traumatic injuries, death, violence, and other conditions that may be immediately dangerous to life or health.

The position requires strenuous physical activity while wearing protective clothing and respiratory equipment. Employees regularly stand, walk, run, climb, balance, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push, pull, carry, drag, and operate tools or equipment. Duties include climbing stairs and ladders, working at heights or in confined spaces, handling charged fire hoses, moving patients, and performing rescue activities.

Emergency operations may require heavy lifting and moving people, equipment, or materials independently or as part of a team. Employees must possess the strength, mobility, coordination, vision, hearing, and respiratory capacity necessary to safely perform assigned firefighter and paramedic duties.

Employees generally work 24-hour shifts and may be required to attend training outside the normal shift schedule. The position is subject to overtime, callback, holdover, shift reassignment, and extended work periods during emergencies or disasters.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.

Commitment to Equity, Safety, and Ethics

Employees are expected to perform their duties in a manner that supports equity, safety, integrity, and professionalism. This includes following all safety policies and procedures, treating coworkers and the public with respect, and conducting work ethically and responsibly.

Employees are expected to uphold public trust through fair, transparent, and lawful conduct and to contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment