What are the responsibilities and job description for the Certified (Volunteer) Firefighter - Paid Per Call position at City of River Falls?
*We are currently accepting applications for fully Certified Firefighters only*
A Firefighter serves the City of River Falls and surrounding townships by responding to a wide variety of incidents, ranging from emergencies that immediately threaten life or property to routine citizen requests for assistance, to prevent and minimize the loss of life and property by fire or other hazards.
- Drives or rides in an emergency vehicle in response to fire, rescue or other emergency incidents;
- Properly places vehicles, equipment, and/or tools at incident scenes;
- Wears appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at all incidents;
- Safely and properly operate and use vehicles, equipment and tools under a variety of adverse conditions;
- Properly lay and connect fire hose;
- Properly operate high-capacity pumps and direct water streams;
- Apply proper firefighting techniques to control and/or extinguish fires;
- Properly raise and climb ladders;
- Properly use chemical extinguishers, safety belts, lines and hooks;
- Properly use self-contained breathing apparatus;
- Properly enter burning buildings as part of a fire suppression team;
- Properly perform ventilation tasks;
- Properly respond to hazardous materials incidents;
- Communicate appropriately with officers and Firefighters during incidents using portable radios;
- Ensures that Department vehicles, equipment and tools are properly returned to service after a response to an incident is completed.
- Work within a para-military organization and respond readily to directives by adhering to the Incident Command System at emergency incidents;
- Must comply with such other requirements as established by Federal Rules,Wisconsin State Law, City of River Falls Ordinances, and the Department Administrative Regulations;
- Perform necessary maintenance and care of apparatus, equipment and tools;
- Report needed repairs to apparatus, equipment or tools to assigned Captain or Engineer.
- Prevent waste and damage of materials, supplies, and equipment;
- Perform pre-incident surveys of structures and businesses in the community;
- Prepare necessary reports as required;
- Firefighters will at all time present themselves in a courteous, professional and responsible manner;
- Maintaining confidentiality about the incidents the Department responds to and refrains from giving out any information about incidents to anyone without written authorization from the Chief;
- Drives responsibly to the fire station in personally owned vehicle, according to state laws.
- Performs all other job-related duties or tasks as assigned
NON-ESSENTIONAL SPECIAL EVENTS RELATED TO THE JOB:
- During the course of the calendar year, the Department sponsors and participates in a number of Department and community events, including, but not limited to, an annual banquet, River Falls Days, Fire Safety Week, and an annual open house. Members are encouraged to participate in these Department events.
- Able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing;
- Able to perform CPR and administer basic first aid;
- Able to carry heavy objects and equipment;
- Able to search for and rescue injured or trapped victims;
- Able to work at varying heights above grade;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Firefighters, supervisors, and the general public;
- Must be able to work as a team member under stress;
- Able to understand and carry out verbal and written instructions using the English language.
- Able to maintain physical conditioning necessary to perform efficiently in emergency situations
- Able to learn the geography of the River Falls Fire District, the location of important buildings and the street system.
- Able to learn and apply technical information pertaining to fire fighting.
- Must be willing to work under hazardous conditions: Firefighter is exposed to many emergency incidents such as fires, rescues, possible exposure to death situations, hazardous material releases, mutual aid emergencies, disaster operations, mass casualty incidents and any type of emergency that presents risks to the public.
- High School Diploma, GED or HSED.
- Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
- Have a valid driver's license;
- Must possess a Fire Fighter I certification, a Fire Fighter II certification, a Haz Mat Ops certification and an emergency driver/operator class,
Special Requirements:
- Live or work within the geographic area served by the Department
- Must possess or obtain a Fire Fighter I certification, a Fire Fighter II certification, a Haz Mat Ops certification and must have completed or will complete an emergency driver/operator class, all within twenty-four (24) months of becoming a member of the Department;
- Must successfully pass a physical agility test, health assessment, drug screening, background investigation, and any other tests or evaluations required by the City of River Falls;
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Firefighter encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Firefighters perform their duties under adverse conditions and physical conditions that may pose a high risk of personal injury or exposure to hazardous conditions.
Physical hazard from fire, equipment, traffic, smoke inhalation, and falling objects at emergency scenes, and exposure to health risks may occur. Performance of hazardous tasks under emergency conditions may require strenuous exertion under such handicaps as limited visibility, exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals and gases, extremes in temperatures, cramped surroundings, and contact with death, and emotional stress.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the Firefighter is regularly required to use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and talk and hear. The Firefighter is frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, lift, carry, push or pull. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The work may require the Firefighter to move firefighting equipment and extract injured persons from a wide variety of situations that may involve injuries from vehicular, industrial and residential accidents. Periodical, the work may require movement over various types of terrain, (hilly, steep, rocky, rough, and/or wet/slippery surfaces.) The Firefighter may be required to assist movement of a patient from the site of the injury to the mode of transportation (vehicle/helicopter).
The Firefighter must occasionally lift, push or pull up to 75 pounds or more.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EXCEPTIONS:
All Firefighters must meet all requirements herein at the time they finish their probationary period (i.e. the 24 months within which to complete all requirements). Thereafter, if circumstances warrant a deviation from a specific physical requirement herein, the Chief is authorized to make exceptions for Firefighters that would not jeopardize the safety of any other member of the Department.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This position is a paid on-call volunteer position. This is not an employment contract and is subject to change at any time under the discretion of the Fire Chief. In order to maintain proficiency as a Firefighter, a Firefighter is expected to respond to incident calls, attend weekly training, and attend business meetings, but the Department recognizes that family and employment will, at times, need to have priority over responding to incident calls, attending training, and/or attending business meetings. Any member who knows that he or she will be unable to attend a training session or attend a business meeting, should notify a chief officer ahead of time.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Firefighter encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Firefighters perform their duties under adverse conditions and physical conditions that may pose a high risk of personal injury or exposure to hazardous conditions.
Physical hazard from fire, equipment, traffic, smoke inhalation, and falling objects at emergency scenes, and exposure to health risks may occur. Performance of hazardous tasks under emergency conditions may require strenuous exertion under such handicaps as limited visibility, exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals and gases, extremes in temperatures, cramped surroundings, and contact with death, and emotional stress.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the Firefighter is regularly required to use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and talk and hear. The Firefighter is frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, lift, carry, push or pull. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The work may require the Firefighter to move firefighting equipment and extract injured persons from a wide variety of situations that may involve injuries from vehicular, industrial and residential accidents. Periodical, the work may require movement over various types of terrain, (hilly, steep, rocky, rough, and/or wet/slippery surfaces.) The Firefighter may be required to assist movement of a patient from the site of the injury to the mode of transportation (vehicle/helicopter).
The Firefighter must occasionally lift, push or pull up to 75 pounds or more.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EXCEPTIONS:
All Firefighters must meet all requirements herein at the time they finish their probationary period (i.e. the 24 months within which to complete all requirements). Thereafter, if circumstances warrant a deviation from a specific physical requirement herein, the Chief is authorized to make exceptions for Firefighters that would not jeopardize the safety of any other member of the Department.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This position is a paid on-call volunteer position. This is not an employment contract and is subject to change at any time under the discretion of the Fire Chief. In order to maintain proficiency as a Firefighter, a Firefighter is expected to respond to incident calls, attend weekly training, and attend business meetings, but the Department recognizes that family and employment will, at times, need to have priority over responding to incident calls, attending training, and/or attending business meetings. Any member who knows that he or she will be unable to attend a training session or attend a business meeting, should notify a chief officer ahead of time.
