Firefighter/EMT (N. Tongass)

Salary: $28.25 - $29.98 Hourly
Location : Ketchikan, AK
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 2024-3.6
Department: North Tongass Fire Department
Opening Date: 03/06/2024
Job Description
Protects lives and property through activities associated with fire prevention, rescue, firefighting, hazardous materials and emergency medical incidents and participates in the training and maintenance activities necessary to achieve that end.
Examples of Duties

• Responds to emergency calls for fire, medical, and other emergency situations.
• Drives fire apparatus and operates pumps and other equipment associated with emergency response including but not limited to; firefighting, rescue, salvage and maintenance.
• Enters burning buildings to accomplish extinguishment and/or rescue.
• Conducts support operations as necessary at all emergency scenes or operations.
• Conducts overhaul or clean-up operations as necessary to prevent further damage of property.
• Advances charged and uncharged hose lines and applies extinguishing agents to fires.
• Wears breathing apparatus, including mask, in confined areas.
• Positions and climbs ladders to gain access to upper floors or to accomplish rescue, extinguishment, access, ventilation or other duties necessary.
• Carries or moves heavy equipment and/or objects necessary to accomplish fire extinguishment, rescue, overhaul, or clean up.
• Effectively communicates verbally by means of two-way radio as well as person-to person and in writing through completion of various records, reports, memos and letters.
• Provides emergency medical service and assists the EMS Lieutenant as necessary or when requested.
• Maintains all applicable state and departmental requirements including, but not limited to, interior firefighter, EMT, EVOC, and instructor certifications.

ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES:

• Provides instruction to other employees of this or a similar job classification in all aspects of procedure and technique relating to the duties required by this job description unless such instruction requires a specialized certification which the employee doing the training does not have.

• Inspects buildings for fire hazards and completes pre-fire plans as appropriate.
• Maintains apparatus, equipment, buildings and grounds.
• Participates in all phases of training necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills required of the position including training of volunteers.
• Presents classes and other training to various groups including other employees and members of the general public in subjects related to fire protection, fire prevention, and EMS.
• Receives and/or prepares various documentation (forms, checklists, reports, correspondence, etc.); processes, completes, and/or forwards as appropriate.
• Responds to routine requests for information from officials, employees, and members of the staff, the public or other individuals.
• Serves as Acting Lieutenant when so designated.
• Employ strong moral and ethical standards, must perform his/her duties in a manner that reflects positively on the Borough and the department and maintains a level of professional expertise and image that promotes efficient use of the resources available to the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must interact successfully with the medical community, other FIRE/EMS organizations and fire departments, other emergency medical care providers and first responders, patients and the general public, particularly in emergency situations. Contacts are sometimes adversarial and stressful, and the Firefighter/EMT must react in a courteous, calm and professional manner.
• Must be able to make sound decisions in hazardous, stressful, life-threatening and health threatening situations; re-evaluate the dynamics of emergency situations and formulate plans to deal with changing threats.
• Must have working knowledge of computers and ability to learn software programs.
• Must be able to pass a physical agility test, self-contained breathing apparatus and N-95 mask fit test; and receive medical clearance by a physician.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• The employee will frequently perform duties wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and firefighting gear weighing approximately 45 pounds; often perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions; frequently climb stairs, balance, stop, crouch, crawl, and reach; frequently required to push and pull items weighing more than 50 pounds; sometimes required to lift and carry items more than 50 pounds; often use hand tools and small electrical tools; and frequently scheduled to work on a schedule that may vary as working conditions change.
• In addition, the employee will routinely be required to serve on an on-call status or pre-scheduled standby when off-duty.

• Must work in all weather conditions, at nights, during weekends and on various shift configurations which may include extended tours of duty; be able to perform arduous tasks; meet department health and physical fitness standards; and perform tasks under adverse conditions;
• Must be able to hear.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision (able to distinguish colors on slides, plans, illustrations, and other graphic representations), peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch; and taste or smell.
• Field investigations may require the ability to walk, climb, or crawl through all kinds of terrain.
• Each of the listed activities also requires standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, climbing on stools and ladders, and routinely lift and carry items and boxes up to fifty (50) pounds. Driving a vehicle to and from projects or meeting sites. Long hours of sitting at a desk, in meetings, and in front of a computer. Must listen carefully and take accurate written notes.

Requirements
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. College level professional or technical studies in applicable program fields such as fire science, emergency medical services or methods of instruction also desirable. Preference may be given to persons with degrees in the above fields.
• Level of experience typified by three years of employment with a recognized municipal fire protection or EMS agency as a Firef1ghter/EMT or equivalent required.
• Volunteer time can be counted as being employed.

LICENSES:

• Valid State of Alaska Driver's License with a driving record acceptable to the Borough's insurance carrier.
• Must be certified as a State of Alaska Firefighter I at time of hire and able to obtain Fire Service I Instructor certification within two (2) years of hire.
• Must be certified as a State of Alaska EMT I or Nationally Registered EMT at time of hire and able to obtain certification as a State of Alaska EMT II within two (2) years from date of hire.

Any combination of related education and/orrelated experience will be considered if the candidate possesses the demonstrated ability.
KGB employees in the Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA) Bargaining Unit can find information through the following links:
• Participation in the Alaska Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS);
• Health, vision and dental benefits provided by the Borough through Meritain Health effective the first of the month following your start date. The premium associated with health benefits are $25 per pay period, however, the Borough encourages participation in the Healthy Merits Wellness Program, which allows each covered employee to "buy back" the anticipated premium through wellness participation.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued at a rate of 176 hours or 22 days per year for the first two years and thereafter at higher levels set out in the Borough Code (KGBC 3.30.030).
• Ten paid holidays every year and two annual floating holidays.