Firefighter

Under general direction and within guidelines set by policies, rules, and regulations, this position is responsible for performing firefighting work in combating, extinguishing and preventing fires and operating firefighting apparatus in accordance with well-defined policies and procedures. This position provides BLS Medical Assistance for the sick and injured. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Response to Alarms

• Responds to fire alarms with company; connects hoses; manipulates nozzle to direct water streams; raises and secures ladders; uses other equipment as needed. 
• Through the use of firefighting techniques performs hazardous tasks under emergency conditions which may involve strenuous exertion under such handicaps as smoke and cramped surroundings.    
• Assists in removing persons from danger; administering BLS to injured persons; performs salvage operations, such as deploying salvage covers, and the removal of water and debris. 

Supervised Training

• Learns about equipment and its maintenance, and cleans and maintains quarters 
• Participate in fire drills and attends classes in firefighting, first aid and related subjects.  

Maintenance Work

• Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of Fire Department property.
• Cleans and washes walls and floors; washes, dries and rolls hose; washes, cleans, polishes apparatus. 

Other Duties

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent with related work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Qualifications:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Alabama Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification and maintain a valid Basic Emergency Medical Technician license within the first year of employment. 
• If an applicant is currently Alabama Firefighter I/II certified, they will be allowed to forego the written examination. The applicant still must pass all other pre-employment checks.
• Must have successfully completed the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) within the past twelve (12) months to be eligible to be tested if not Firefighter I/II certified.  
• Must have a record which is free and clear of any and all convictions of a felony or crime of moral turpitude or other unethical, illegal charges as established by proper legal authority of the State of Alabama. 
• Possession of a valid, State of Alabama driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.  Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of City ordinances, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs).

• Skill in interpreting hazardous material placards and signs.  
• Skill in operating various firefighting equipment, e.g., hoses, axes, nozzles, breathing apparatus. 

• Skill in planning and organizing work.
• Skill in utilizing such office equipment as a calculator, typewriter, facsimile machine, and copier.
• Skill in interpersonal relations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.
• Skill in verbal and written communication.
• Skill in the use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Skill in using computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting purposes.
• Ability to comprehend and follow verbal and written instructions.   
• Ability to learn and perform first aid and CPR. 
• Ability to maintain regular attendance on the job. 
• Ability to organize and communicate effectively.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationship with other employees and the public. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is very heavy work which requires exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium. 
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet. 
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine. 
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. 
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand. Must have the ability to place records, files, and boxes weighing no more than 25 pounds on shelves about head level.
• Hearing 1: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. Must have the ability to hear well enough to carry on a normal conversation with clients both in person and on the telephone.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Must have the ability to efficiently operate a computer, calculator, fax, copy machine and other related office machines.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Talking 1: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Talking 2: Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Must have the ability to see well enough to interpret data on a computer monitor.
• Visual Acuity 2: Including color, depth perception, and field vision.
• Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
• Visual Acuity 4: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• Visual Acuity 5: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, operation of machines; using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. Must have the ability to move freely about the office.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, temperature and noise extremes, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, smoke, bodily fluids of other persons, and/or rude/hostile citizens.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.