Firefighter

The Firefighter protects life and property by performing mitigation activities during emergency situations including fires, medical incidents, rescue, and other circumstances. When necessary, the firefighter drives and operates a fire vehicle at the fire scene, fights fires, and prepares the fire vehicle, lines and equipment for use by other firefighters. Other duties include performing maintenance of vehicles and fire stations, conducting pre-plan fire inspections, promoting emergency prevention and public education, and representing the Town of Surf City Fire Department to the public at various events. The Firefighter must also work on continuing education and maintaining physical and knowledge-based skills. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

These duties and responsibilities are not intended to be all-inclusive.  Employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the Town. 

Performs fire control and rescue operations by entering burning structures, utilizing systematic search procedures to locate and rescue trapped victims, determining safe evacuation paths, locating fire source, extinguishing the fire, operating heavy equipment and apparatus, forcing entry into structures, locating hydrants and other sources of water, operating hose lines, examining fire damage, and salvage and overhaul. 

Responds to traffic accidents, extricates patients from their vehicles using extrication techniques and equipment, provides stabilization first aid and basic life support, communicates with patients and provides transfer of care reports, mitigates minor hazmat incidents, secures scenes, and extinguishes vehicle fires. 

Receives and responds to fire alarms, drives the fire vehicle to the fire scene, connects hoses to hydrants, and uses hoses to apply water or chemicals to fires.  

Participates in continuous professional development by attending training in areas such as fire ground operations, EMT, search and rescue, driver/operator training, NIMS, physical fitness, hazmat operations, ocean/waterway rescue, car seat technician, and fire boat operations. 

Operates various apparatus, including a fire engine, aerial truck, tanker, rescue, brush, ATV, boats, etc., for emergency and routine response to emergencies and daily activities. 

Maintains equipment and the facility by performing daily preventative maintenance, testing fire equipment, and maintaining standard living conditions. 

Performs operational support and administrative duties by facilitating fire prevention education, fire truck displays, station tours, installing smoke detectors, and assisting the public in emergency and non-emergency situations. 

Responds to customers' needs within the scope of training and expertise. 

Acts in the absence of an Officer on assigned shifts. 

Represents the department at special events, including parades and open houses. 

Participates in pre-fire planning. 

Works irregular hours, including weekends, holidays, and extended hours as needed.  

Performs work during emergency/disaster situations. 

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level. 

Qualifications & KSA's:

Qualifications 

Education and Experience 

Applicants must be a minimum of eighteen (18)  years of age. 

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and the ability to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job such as those listed above. 

Licenses and Professional Certifications

NC Driver’s License 

NC Firefighter Certification (or acceptable reciprocity from the NC OSFM)  

NC Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification 

NC Driver License Class B (or  able to obtain within six months of appointment) 

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) courses 100, 200, 700 and 800 (or able to obtain within six months of appointment)   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Knowledge of effective customer service, basic principles of fire science, emergency management techniques, hazardous materials management techniques, emergency medical practices, basic local and state fire ordinances, and basic principles of rescue. 

Skilled in performing fire suppression and rescue operations; operating firefighting equipment; performing basic vehicle maintenance; preparing written incident reports; using a computer and related software applications; and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction. 

Ability to represent the Town professionally and respectfully while interacting with diverse individuals within the workplace and the community. 

Working Conditions 

Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions having the lighting, temperature, and noise of an open floor-plan office environment.  The employee is also exposed to outdoor conditions when responding to calls and may be frequently exposed to weather elements, including rain, wind, varying temperatures, etc.  In addition, the employee must effectively deal with personal danger, which may include exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials, fumes and smoke, intense heat, electrical hazards, confined or high workplaces, dangerous animals, extremely loud noises, hazards of emergency driving, hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic, and natural and man-made disasters. 

Physical Requirements 

A portion of work is performed within an office environment, primarily behind a desk, and frequently includes computer operation.  The employee must read, write, and interact with others in person, over the phone, and via other devices.  The employee may move within the facility to access file cabinets, documents, office machinery, and other equipment.  Travel is often required to outside sites to perform the duties described above and training attend meetings, training, events, and other business activities.  Work also requires running, walking, standing, bending, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, and/or moving equipment and injured/deceased persons, pushing and pulling various objects, climbing stairs and ladders, performing life-saving and rescue procedures, and operating assigned equipment including motor vehicles.  Must be able to perform medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. ,