The City of Marion is seeking applicants for a Firefighter Trainee. The City offers a comprehensive employee benefits package, including employer-paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance; enrollment in the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System; a 5% employer contribution to a supplemental retirement plan with no required employee match; paid holidays; paid time off; and certification / educational pay incentives.

To Apply: Submit a completed City of Marion Employment Application (See Job Details on the right) with certifications attached to knolan@marionnc.org.

General Statement of Duties

Learns and performs entry-level fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency medical care under the supervision of experienced personnel. Upon passing certifications and completing required training and evaluations, trainees are promoted to a Certified Firefighter position.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class participates in the operations of fire suppression, fire education and prevention, technical rescue, emergency medical services, and other incident response activities at the fire station. Employees participate as part of a team in the maintenance of facilities, equipment, and apparatus. Employees also participate in pre-incident planning, record maintenance, and training programs. Work requires that the employee stay current with state-of-the-art fire suppression and rescue procedures, techniques, and equipment, and incorporate the necessary changes into in-service training. The employee is subject to the hazards associated with incident response work, including working in inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold temperatures, loud noise, vibration, moving parts, high heat, chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, oils, wearing respirators, and working in close quarters. The employee is also subject to the final OSHA standards on bloodborne pathogens. Work is performed under regular supervision and is evaluated through observation, conferences, and written reports concerning the quality and effectiveness of work completed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks

• Participates and completes required training curriculum to ensure employees have the ability, certifications, and licensure to perform the duties of a Firefighter and EMT.
• Assists with daily apparatus checks and cleaning, equipment inventory, and scheduled maintenance on apparatus and equipment.
• Performs cleaning and sanitizing at the fire station assigned.
• Participates in a variety of training activities to develop, maintain, and improve the level of fire suppression, emergency medical skills, and physical conditioning to complete all facets of the Firefighter position upon completion of training.
• Administers or simulates emergency medical care at the appropriate level, with appropriate oversight.
• Performs a variety of cleaning, maintenance, and repair tasks necessary to keep the fire station, apparatus, and related equipment clean, stored properly, fully functional, and operating safely.
• Communicates effectively via phone and radio in non-emergency as well as emergency situations to facilitate a timely response.
• Assists the company officer with pre-fire plans of businesses, manufacturing, industrial facilities, schools, and other commercial/public facilities.
• Educates community groups and citizens on fire safety, fire prevention practices, and techniques; informs the same on the functions of the Marion Fire Department.
• Contributes effectively to the Fire Department, communicates effectively with co-workers, both within the organization as well as outside the department.
• Maintains satisfactory attendance to ensure duties are performed without negatively impacting co-workers or the delivery of service to the public.
• Operates office equipment, including a computer; works with various software applications.

Additional Job Duties

Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to acquire knowledge of modern firefighting techniques, procedures, and principles.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of the use and operation of emergency equipment and apparatus used by the City, including pumpers and aerial equipment.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of incident response, including response to hazardous materials spills, technical rescue, and emergency medical service calls.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of the geography of the City; working knowledge of the location of hydrants and fire alarm boxes.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of the maintenance and repair of fire and first responder equipment.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of the hazards of firefighting, appropriate safety precautions, and OSHA requirements.
• Ability to acquire working knowledge of the principles of hydraulics applied to fire suppression.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of departmental rules and regulations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, other employees, volunteers, and the general public.
• Ability to use formal and informal evaluations and feedback to adjust and improve performance.
• Ability to prepare records of work activities.
• Ability to operate or learn to operate all required equipment and apparatus.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform heavy work, exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly, to move objects.
• Must possess visual acuity to size up the color, volume, and extent of fire involvement at fire scenes, to operate heavy fire apparatus in emergency situations, and to prepare records and reports.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Graduation from high school supplemented by completion of courses and seminars in fire service, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid class B North Carolina driver's license.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.