Lateral Entry Firefighter

This position performs firefighting activities, including combating and extinguishing fires, rescuing persons and salvaging property in emergencies, training with and maintaining equipment, assisting in fire prevention activities, and controlling and containing hazardous substances.

The City of Savannah offers an excellent benefits package to include twelve (12) paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, education reimbursement, employer home purchase assistance, employee referral program, 457B deferred benefit contribution plan, Georgia Firefighter Pension Fund, Georgia Firefighter Cancer Benefit program,  accident Insurance, cancer Insurance, critical illness insurance, and legal Insurance.

• Responds to calls for fire, medical, hazmat, rescue, and other natural and/or man-made emergencies.
• Carry out commands and tasks necessary to mitigate the emergency safely and efficiently; perform all duties and tasks assigned by supervisors.
• Provide immediate lifesaving care while awaiting additional EMS resources to arrive. Aids higher-level EMS personnel on the scene at emergencies.
• Maintains competence in specialized training required for specialty unit assignments; participates, develops, and leads training drills/classes; maintains readiness to respond to high-risk/low-frequency incidents; maintains recertification.
• Conducts Community Risk Reduction: public service calls, customer surveys, recruiting events, blood pressure checks, home safety surveys, smoke detector installation, fire plans, community meetings, school events, fire safety talks, and apparatus displays.
• Cleans and maintains equipment: bunker gear cleaning, self-contained breathing apparatus maintenance, industrial firefighting equipment, pump service, hose testing, extrication equipment, etc.
• Performs station cleaning and maintenance duties, including cleaning windows and overhead doors, dormitories, apparatus floors, equipment and tools, the kitchen, brass cleaning of fire poles, and stripping, waxing, and buffing floors.
• Conducts station tours and walk-up blood pressure checks.
• After successfully completing probation and a driver operator task book, serves as a relief driver.
• Drives and operates fire apparatus for emergency and non-emergency incidents.
• Conducts vehicle inspections, maintenance, and records management.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

To qualify as a Lateral Firefighter, at the time of application, you must be:

• Currently employed as a full-time paid firefighter by a state, county, or municipal fire department.
• At least one (1) year (full-time) paid firefighting experience while employed full-time by a state, county, or municipal fire department. 
  • Academy training does not count towards the one (1) year experience requirement.
• Nineteen (19) years of age at the time of hire.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Must successfully pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) before being hired
• NPQ or IFSAC firefighter 1 and 2.
• NPQ or IFSAC Hazmat Awareness and Operations.
  • Reciprocity is available through the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.
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  • 409 (7) “Reciprocity” means the process of reviewing training documentation provided to GFSTC by a candidate or a department requesting the opportunity to enter a training program at the next higher level above the level being requested or credit for prior training to be considered toward registration/certification 
• Preferred NREMT Basic or GA equivalent. 
  • Must obtain NREMT Basic or GA equivalent within one year of employment unless certified prior.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory motor vehicle record and the ability to upgrade the license to a Class E license.
  • Must obtain a Georgia State license within 90 days.
• Successful completion of the lateral recruit academy.
• Successful completion of one (1) year probation period beginning on the hire date.
• Successful completion of FEMA-required NIMS courses.

WORK SCHEDULE

The work schedule consists of a 56-hour work week. Each firefighter works one day (24 hours) and then has two days (48 hours) off. At the administration’s discretion, firefighters may also be assigned to various other work schedules per their work assignments.

SALARY

The full salary range for this position is listed below. The starting pay range for lateral firefighters depends on each candidate’s qualifications and experience. Candidates selected for hire will be placed one step below their current career experience as dictated by the salary range below.

Lateral entry with one (1) years of prior service with or without the NREMT Basic or GA equivalent:

• Enter at Step 1 ($51,660.00)
  • Must complete EMT-B within one year of employment.
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  • Eligible for promotion after five (5) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator.
  • After successful completion of one (1) year probation, will move to Step 2.

Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service and meeting all minimum requirements: 

• Minimum two (2) years of service, enter at Step 2.
  • Must complete EMT-B within one year of employment.
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  • Eligible for promotion after four (4) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator.

Lateral entry with two (2) years of prior service, EMT-B, and meeting all minimum requirements:

• Minimum two (2) years of service, EMT-B: enter at Step 2.
  • Eligible for promotion after four (4) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator. 
• Three (3) years of service, EMT-B, enter at Step 2.
  • Eligible for promotion after three (3) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator.
• 4 years of service, EMT-B, enter at Step 2.
  • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator.

Lateral entry with four (4) years of prior service, EMT-A, and meeting all minimum requirements (EMT-A with less than four (4) years will EMT-B track):

• Minimum four (4) years of service, EMT-A: enter at Step 4.
  • Eligible for promotion after two (2) years of SFD service and completing or challenging SFD’s NPQ driver operator.

Lateral entry with 4 years of service, EMT-P (Paramedic), and meeting all minimum requirements (EMT-P with less than four (4) years will follow the EMT-A track):

• Minimum 4 years of service, EMT-P: enter at Step 5.

Salary : $51,660