Volunteer Paid on Call Fire Fighter and/or EMS

Volunteer Paid on Call Fire Fighter and/or EMS

Are you passionate about serving your community? Do you possess the dedication and skills to make a real difference in people's lives? Essex Fire Department is seeking individuals to join our team as Paid On-Call Volunteer Firefighters and/or EMS members.

About Us:

Essex Fire Department takes enormous pride in providing our town the best emergency care that we can. Our customers are the residents and visitors of our region, and we enjoy working with all of you daily.  Like many towns in our region, we rely heavily on volunteers, who often take time away from their fulltime jobs and their families to respond to our calls. Essex Fire, as well as the Town of Essex, thanks these volunteers, their employers, and families for their support in making the fire department successful.

Essex Fire Department is made up of approximately 37 volunteer and per diem members who put countless hours into training, planning, responding, and educating. No two calls are alike, and we need to be prepared to handle a wide range of emergencies. Over the years we have been very lucky to boast a great number of firefighters who are cross trained in other emergency services fields such as Emergency Medical Technicians, Hazardous Material Technicians, Police Officers, and Nurses.  Our members also have a diverse background in full-time professional careers including finance, banking, insurance, consulting, construction, engineering, and hospitality.  This diversity and well-rounded range of professions provides a strong foundation for executing the mission of the fire service.

A recent training video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj591VmNSBA&feature=youtu.be 

Responsibilities: New members with minimal prior experience will be trained to perform a variety of functions such as:

• Station Duties
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Base radio operation
  • Proper documentation of fire/EMS incidents
  • Station maintenance

• Fireground duties
  • Lighting
  • Hydrant connection
  • SCBA rehab area
  • Portable Pond setup
  • Tanker Fill operations
  • Equipment locations (on apparatus)
  • Equipment functions (on apparatus)
  • Basic deployment of ground ladders
  • Basic hose loading and deployment (both supply and attack lines)

Responsibilities will evolve, increase, and vary based on a member’s current rank, certifications and experience. 

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent for all ranks higher than Cadet. Applicants between 16 and 18 years of age may apply for the rank of Cadet.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record. The Town will run a drivers license check with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Physical fitness to meet the demands of the role. Candidates will need to pass a pre-employment fire physical.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check successfully. 
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to respond to emergency calls and meet minimum attendance requirements. Currently members are required to respond to 10% of calls.
• Ability to attend routine trainings, typically on Monday nights.

• The Fire Department values professional development and will work with members on both obtaining and maintaining their Fire Fighter 1 Certification and/or County Basic Training. The department accepts other relevant certifications as well.
• Minimum requirements criteria may change based on the needs of the department.

Requirements will change based on rank, to include some legally mandated certifications such as Fire Fighter 1 and EMS.

Benefits:

• Competitive hourly pay for both emergency responses and training sessions.
• Opportunities for skill development and advancement within the department.
• Valuable experience in emergency response and medical care.
• Contribution to the safety and well-being of your community.
• Camaraderie and a sense of pride from working alongside dedicated professionals.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the department's roster is filled.

Join our team and become a vital part of the network that keeps our community safe and thriving. Your dedication and commitment can make all the difference when seconds count.

The Town of Essex is an equal opportunity employer.