Fire Fighter Paramedic

Under supervision, responds to fire alarms, medical emergencies, hazardous condition situations, and other types of emergency and public incidents; protects life and property endangered by fire and other emergencies; performs fire safety inspections; and performs related duties as required. Positions in this class are primarily responsible for the operations of a fire hose and related equipment when engaged in fire suppression and compassionately deliver high-quality basic, as well as advanced patient care when engaged in medical calls. 

Essential job Functions 

Essential duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Respond to structure fires, use power tools and hand tools for forcible entry during emergencies.  Penetrate structure to determine if a rescue situation exists; examine areas in buildings for victims.  (e.g., rooms, closet areas, etc.); remove victims from life threatening situations; and place in a safe area.
• Render emergency medical aid as a Paramedic examining and assessing victims.
• Communicating vital medical data to medical and/or fire personnel and administering medical treatment in accordance within established guidelines and/or at the specific instruction of base hospital medical personnel. 
• Perform primary and secondary medical physical assessments of patients; perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; maintain an effective airway for patients with compromised breathing; administer advanced life support drug therapy within established guidelines and/or at the specific instruction of base hospital medical personnel. 
• Operate heart monitoring and defibrillation equipment; operate radios, telephones and other communications equipment in order communicate medical information to base hospital medical personnel or other fire personnel; serve as a preceptor for emergency medical technician trainees; may operate fire and rescue apparatus in training or relief of others; 
• Give demonstrations, classes and training to the public; operate computer related equipment and software applications related to assignment; may drive or operate an ambulance; may assist in conducting hydrant maintenance or routine inspections; may participate in physical fitness program; build and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with co-workers, personnel from a wide range of outside agencies, other colleagues in the field, and the public; and perform related duties as assigned.
• Stabilize the scene of an emergency to ensure the safety of the victims and rescuers; stabilize the surrounding area (e.g., traffic control, crowd control, evacuations, etc.); and use power tools and hand tools to extricate patients or gain access to areas.
• Pull hose, nozzles and fittings from apparatus; connect hose, nozzles and fittings to supply water where needed; carry hose to where needed to perform extinguishment; use nozzle for application of water stream to extinguish fire; after fire ground operations, prepare hose for transportation to the station; reload hoses, nozzles, etc. on apparatus to maintain proper load; use hand tools to create fire breaks and extinguish hot spots; set back fires in brush or grass.
• Remove ladders from apparatus and carry to desired location; spot and raise ground ladders at correct height and proper climbing angle; ascend or descend ladders while carrying people or equipment for rescue or fire ground needs.
• Ventilate buildings to clear smoke or other hazardous atmosphere; open doors or windows as needed to assist with ventilation; position smoke ejector using hooks or hangers in doorways or windows to provide suction or pressure; open holes in surfaces with tools (e.g., open a roof hole with an axe or chain saw).
• Perform salvage operations by moving room contents and covering with salvage covers; constructing various devices with salvage covers to catch, divert, store or remove water; and removing water from buildings using hand tools (e.g., squeegee, water vacuums, mops, etc.).
• Perform overhaul operations by removing debris from fire area and opening areas as necessary to check for hidden fire and securing building to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Perform clean-up operations by cleaning and drying hoses after use and rolling for storage; cleaning and restoring to proper place, all apparatus, equipment and tools used on fire ground.
• Check and inventory all firefighting tools and equipment for readiness (e.g., rescue equipment, hoses, hand tools, etc.); visually inspect apparatus for leaks, scratches, damage, etc. to insure readiness; check levels of apparatus fluids (e.g., oil, water, fuel, etc.); place personal safety gear, firefighting tools and equipment, and emergency medical care equipment on apparatus; check emergency medical care equipment for readiness (e.g., replenish first aid supplies in trauma box); and maintain records for appropriate equipment.
• Clean and maintain apparatus and equipment (e.g., hose leads, ladders, etc.); inspect and clean tools and equipment to maintain readiness and prolong life (e.g., check axe handle for cracks, remove tar from axe head, wax axe head to prevent rust, etc.); inspect firefighting protective clothing, helmet, leather safety boots, leather gloves, etc.; and perform checks of breathing apparatus and maintain personal safety gear.
• At scene of medical emergencies, use appropriate trauma equipment; use personal safety equipment to limit personal exposure (e.g., latex gloves, goggles, face mask, etc.); locate patients; make proper patient assessment in order to provide necessary medical information; treat a victim or an illness or injury; prepare patients for transportation; and decontaminate equipment and self-following exposure.
• Communicate with Fire Captain/Company Officer, and other fire crew members to keep them informed of changes in equipment status during non-emergencies, and changes during emergency situations; communicate with oncoming shift members of changes in equipment status; and complete written forms to keep track of personal records (e.g., time cards, shift-trades, personal exposure records, etc.).
• Critique emergencies and participate in pre-fire planning, critiquing and discussing actions taken at emergency calls; making on-site visits to become familiar with specific hazards within district; and participating in discussions of how to improve actions at emergency calls.
• Participate in station drills and training programs (e.g., raise ladders, hose leads, first aid practices, etc.); participate in off-site training (e.g., community college courses, State Fire Marshall, etc.).
• Perform fire prevention work in the community, such as fire safety inspections (e.g., look for basic fire code violations); and educational presentations, etc., conduct fire station tours; and demonstrate firefighting equipment, fire safety survival skills, etc. during tours or off-site visits.

Education and Experience: 

• High School Diploma, or GED.  

 Experience and Training Guidelines

• One year experience in a paid fire department or two years as a fire fighter in a volunteer fire department 

Experience: 

• Experience working as a Paramedic for one year. 

Training: 

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented, by specialized training in the Fire Sciences. 

Licenses, certificates & Other Requirements:  

• Paramedic license, with Riverside County Medical Endorsements. CPR, Current BCLS, ACLS, PALS or PEPP, BTLS, or PHTLS Provider Certification 
• California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I Certificate or California Accredited State Fire Academy Certificate, certified by the State Fire Marshall's Office. 
• CPAT or Biddle Certificate current within the previous 12 months.
• Possession of a current and valid Class C California driver's license.
• Current California DMV Driver licenses printout. 
• Minimum age at time of application submission 18 years old.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of: 

• How to use and maintain personal safety gear. 
• Basic building construction standards, materials, and techniques.
• Basic life support emergency medical procedures.
• Advanced life support emergency medical procedures.
• Vehicle, building, and rough terrain rescue/extrication procedures and hazards.
• Basic firefighting tactics and strategies.
• Fire behavior and control in buildings, grass lands, and wild land.
• First responder requirements at hazardous materials incidents; fire behavior control involving chemicals and hazardous materials.
• Search and rescue techniques.
• Tools and equipment (e.g. appliances, hoses, ladders, apparatus, etc.) 

Learn Knowledge of: 

• Apparatus types, uses, and operating procedures; readiness and maintenance requirements for apparatus, equipment, and tools (e.g., knowledge of how to prepare for emergency responses).
• Rough terrain rescue/extrication procedures and hazards.
• Transportation procedures for EMS victims.
• Department standards for training and drill requirements.
• Personal records maintenance procedures; department standards for training and drill requirements.
• Incident Command System (ICS).
• Departmental policy and procedures regarding personnel management (employee conduct, complaints, assignments, performance, training, scheduling, etc.). 

Ability to: 

• Verbally communicate with other members of a fire crew; follow verbal instructions.
• Assess each call situation to determine best course of action and appropriate Riverside County EMS protocol.
• Utilize medical equipment and procedures including defibrillator, EKG monitor, oxygen and suction devices, intravenous fluids, CPR and other procedures and medications as required to provide advanced medical care.
• Develop and utilize triage skills to provide optimal efficiency during calls.
• Provide patient care according to clinical protocols and safety requirements.

Lift and move patients as required to provide optimum care.

• Communicate with receiving facility to receive medical direction and to provide critical information.
• Communicate with patient and loved ones to provide information and assurance that care is being given, and to show compassion.

Continuously maintain all required certifications.

• Monitor and maintain the general condition of the unit, keep it clean and stocked for optimal call response to maintain the image of Soboba Fire Department.
• Document activities with regard to patient care completely to ensure appropriate information is available regarding each call.
• Ability to work past scheduled shift with little or no notice.
• Work collaboratively and in a professional manner with all allied health and public safety personnel.
• Reports immediately to the on-duty supervisor any incident involving a negative customer and/or patient interaction.
• Read medication/prescription labels and directions for usage in quick, accurate, and expedient manner.
• Communicate verbally with patients and significant others in various environments to interview patient, family members, and bystanders.
• Ability to discern deviations/changes in eye/skin coloration due to patient's condition and to the treatment given. Read and understand materials or instructions in order to apply this information during emergency conditions (e.g., IFSTA Manuals, etc.); learn technical information in a classroom setting, and transfer this knowledge to actions.
• Learn by doing, and acquire more skill through practice and feedback.
• Work with others on a team, contributing to an overall effort; work closely with other people; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
• Apply mechanical principles (e.g., how pulleys, gears, levers, etc. work).
• Visualize spatial arrangements and 3-dimensional characteristics of structure (e.g., visualize entry and exits to structures in smoke-filled rooms).
• Analyze simple cause and effect principles with regard to the physical environment (e.g., if this happens, it will lead to ...).
• Requires a willingness to work in unpleasant, hazardous, and stressful conditions; perform undesirable, routine, or monotonous duties; work irregular hours; wear protective clothing and equipment; work effectively in confined areas; tolerate offensive sights and smells.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following:
• Frequently lift/carry a variety of fire equipment and occasionally move injured persons (requires upper body strength as needed to drag, move or place heavy objects, such as smoke ejectors, victims, charged hose lines, etc.)
• Prolonged, rigorous physical activity during emergency situations
• Climb and balance on ladders
• Stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl
• Reach and handle tools and equipment
• Feel objects for temperature, shape and other characteristics
• Use fingers to make minute adjustments, tie knots, etc.
• Listen for specific sounds during emergency.
• Demonstrate normal vision and color recognition. 

Ability to Learn to: 

• Communicate over a radio system; speak in front of groups or businesspeople for basic demonstrations, tours, inspections, etc.; complete written documentation of personal activities, schedules, etc.; and develop written statements of observations.
• Read and interpret basic maps in order to apply this information during emergency activities (e.g., finding most direct route).
• Read and understand simply technical or mechanical diagrams, blue prints of structures, building plans, floor plans, etc. in order to apply this information during emergency and non-emergency activities (e.g., pre-fire planning, location of victims in structures, etc.)
• Read and understand reference materials such as Building Codes as needed for pre-fire planning, inspections, etc.
• Perform basic mathematical calculations to compute pump requirements, hose and hydrant requirements, etc. (e.g., volume, flow, capacity, etc.) and to compute the size of a building or room, or determine the distance from one location to another (e.g., area, square footage, distance, size).
• Inductively solve basic problems (i.e., to induce means to infer general principles from specific or particular points, such as knowledge of fire behavior applied to a specific fire).
• Deductively solve basic problems.  

Ability to Learn to: 

• Estimate size, quantity, distance and slope (e.g., estimate size and spread of a fire).
• React in an emotionally appropriate manner during routine and emergency situations. 

Special Requirement: 

• Positions in this class may be subject to pre-employment/pre-duty and random drug and/or alcohol testing. 

Physical Requirement                                                                     Percentage of Work Time Spent on Activity

0%-24%

25%-49%

50%-74%

75%-100%

Seeing: Must be able to read computer screen and various reports.

x

Hearing: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with employees and others

x

Standing/walking

x

Climbing/stooping/kneeling

x

Lifting/grasping/feeling

x

Fingering/grasping/feeling: Must be able to write, type and use phone system.

x

Working Conditions:

  Note:   Environmental Conditions: 

Office and field environment; periodic exposure to extremely disagreeable working conditions including danger from smoke inhalation, burns, falling objects, severe fire injuries and hazardous materials.  Incumbents are required to work weekends, holidays, 24–72-hour shift cycles, callback and standby duty. 

Physical Conditions: 

• Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining good physical condition necessary for sitting, standing, walking, climbing ladders, bending, stooping, and kneeling for prolonged periods of time; and be able to lift, drag, hoist, and carry different types of fire equipment and other objects.  It also requires operating motorized vehicles. Requires stamina and physical endurance needed to sustain prolonged, rigorous physical activity during emergency situations.  Must respond quickly for turnouts.  Requires physical dexterity as need to don equipment quickly, tie knots, etc.