PT Firefighter-Paramedic

Summary of Job

The Part-Time Firefighter/Paramedic provides both emergency medical services and firefighting duties to protect life and property. This dual role requires responding to emergency situations, including fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents, and rescue operations. The position involves operating and maintaining firefighting and medical equipment, engaging in fire prevention and safety activities, administering advanced life support, and performing other related tasks under potentially hazardous conditions. Considerable independence of judgement and action may be necessary in circumstances of extreme urgency where referral to a supervisor for instruction is not possible.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides general duty firefighting work in combating, extinguishing and preventing fires and operating firefighting apparatuses, and responding to a wide variety of emergency alarms, including fires, medical emergencies, and other incidents requiring immediate attention
• An employee in this class is responsible for the protection of life and property through firefighting activities, rescue operations; fire prevention activities, inspections and administration of emergency medical care in emergency situations.
• Administers advanced life support (ALS) care to sick and injured patients, including airway management, cardiac monitoring, IV/IO insertion, and medication administration.
• Lays and connects hoses, holds nozzles, and directs fire streams; raises ladders, cuts holes in roofs, forces doors, operates fire extinguishers, hand tools, power tools, bars, hooks, lines and other firefighting equipment as needed on firefighting and emergency medical scenes.
• Respond to vehicle accidents which may require vehicle extrication, stabilization, and fire suppression. • Enters premises for firefighting, rescue and salvage operations.
• Drives fire apparatus and rescue vehicles, operate pumps, aerial ladders, and auxiliary fire rescue equipment.
• Performs salvage/overhaul operations by opening walls and ceilings to look for fire extension/hot spots, deploying salvage covers, removing water, and clearing debris.
• Performs fire prevention inspections (if qualified).
• Participate in on-shift regular fire and rescue training sessions and drills.
• Attends public gatherings as assigned to ensure observance of fire safety regulations and Page 1 of 4 requirements.
• Performs general maintenance and minor repairs to fire department property, apparatus and quarters. • May be required to perform duties under hazardous conditions, which involve extreme exertion, smoke, cramped surroundings, and extreme temperature ranges, all while wearing protective ensembles.
• Generates and/or completes various records, reports, and checklists including medical records.
• Required to follow any other lawful directives requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or GED; Associate degree in Fire Science is preferred.

• Previous experience in firefighting and emergency medical services is desirable.

Candidates who do not meet the exact education and experience criteria may be considered if they possess any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Required License/Certifications/Training

Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of appointment, a valid WI Driver’s License and maintain it throughout employment.

Required certifications include Paramedic, ACLS, CPR, Firefighter 1.

The following certifications are preferred: Rank Certifications Firefighter/Paramedic- Firefighter II, Paramedic, MPO (Pumper and Aerial). Required certifications are subject to change based on departmental needs and regulatory updates.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of modern firefighting techniques, fire suppression methods, and fire prevention principles. • Knowledge of emergency medical care practices and procedures.

• Ability to handle and operate firefighting and medical equipment.

• Ability to administer emergency medical care, including advanced life support if certified as a Paramedic.

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, particularly under stressful conditions.

• Ability to operate radio and other communication equipment, receive and relay phone calls and fire alarm information.

• Ability to work effectively in high-pressure situations, including extreme physical exertion and hazardous environments

. • Perform duties requiring physical strength, agility, and endurance.

• Maintain calm and composed demeanor during emergency situations

• Work collaboratively within a team and follow directives from supervisory personnel.

• Must meet all department requirements for training and maintain certifications as required by the department, county, and state.

• Ability to assist in the Administrative Division and assist in training new employees when asked to do so by a supervisor

• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Must produce annual training records for ISO compliance.

Tools & Equipment

• Use of Microsoft Word and related programs.
• Use of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) for communication, first aid equipment, and EMS emergency medical equipment (e.g. oxygen).
• Requires use of fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager.
• Must operate passenger vehicles, fire apparatus, and/or ambulance.
• Must be able to apply patient restraints, first-aid equipment, oxygen, blood pressure equipment, defibrillators.
• Familiarity with general medical equipment, patient lifting devices, and breathing apparatus.
• Must be able to wear hearing and eye protection, firefighting turnout gear, and hazardous materials protective clothing.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

• Performance of essential functions requires a capacity to intermittently sit, stand, walk, bend, run, and climb.

• Performance of tasks associated with responding to fire alarms and other calls for assistance requires a capacity to lift heavy objects (50-100 pounds) unassisted and larger objects (more than 100 pounds) with assistance, a capacity to position, raise, and climb and work from ladders; a capacity to use various hand tools and powered equipment requiring a moderate to high degree of physical strength, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity; to pull and advance empty and water-filled firefighting hose lines of various sizes.

• Ability to meet medical standards in the most current version of National Fire Protection Association Standard 1582 – Standard of Medical Requirements for Firefighters and Information for Fire Department Physicians.

• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, prolonged visual concentration, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The working conditions described here are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed at fire and accident scenes, and at outdoor settings with corresponding weather conditions, hazards, and discomforts.

• Workplace environment may occasionally be confined.

• Ability to work in full firefighting and hazardous material protective ensembles; all under emergency conditions in all types of weather.

• Requires adaptability to a wide range of hostile and hazardous environments, including extreme cold and heat, extreme temperature changes, and confined spaces, all with appropriate protective equipment.

• Must be able to operate in the environment posed by a structure fire, with high heat, zero visibility, and Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) conditions requiring protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus

• Must also be able to operate in dangerous chemical environments, in cold water and on ice, at significant heights, and in trenches and confined spaces, all with appropriate protective equipment. • Exposure to loud noise and vibrations from tools, equipment, etc.

• Exposure to atmospheric conditions such as fumes, gases, noxious odors, dust, smoke, and poor ventilation.

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the duties of employees under supervision. The City of Elkhorn retains and reserves all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This job description is not a contract for employment.

The City of Elkhorn is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is the policy of the City not to discriminate unlawfully based on age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, disability, national origin, creed, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, membership in the military or national guard, ancestry, sexual orientation, arrest, conviction record, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The city will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

This position is not eligible for additional benefits.