Firefighter/ Paramedic presso City of Janesville Wisconsin, WI

About the Department

Position Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by the incumbent. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Responds to fire alarms and other EMS calls as a member of an engine, truck, ambulance, or specialty company.
2. Performs a variety of technical and manual labor duties required to locate, control, ventilate, and extinguish fires.
3. Performs forcible entry operations to gain access into structures using a variety of manual and mechanical power tools.
4. Participates in post-fire salvage operations, such as removing and covering household articles, mopping floors, and cleaning debris to prevent undue damage to property not involved in fire and/or emergencies. 
5. Performs tasks to extricate individuals safely from wrecked vehicles, structures, earth cave-ins, etc., and administers EMS to injured persons.
6. Performs search and rescue operations.
7. Responds to emergency calls for special operations emergencies (hazardous materials, confined spaces rescue, technical rescue, tactical emergency medicine (TEMS), swift water and dive rescue) as needed. 
8. Performs general maintenance, service, cleaning, and upkeep of fire apparatus, ambulances, and auxiliary equipment and tools.   
9. Participates in completing fire pre-plans and fire prevention inspections of public places of assembly.                  
10. Promotes fire safety education, fire prevention, and maintains responsive public relations.
11. Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire station buildings and grounds.
12. Provides advanced EMS; coordinates with and supplements regional paramedic services; assesses, treats, and transports patients following appropriate scope of practice and approved protocols.
13. Utilizes city information technology systems to document in the fire department's records management system and administrative job functions.
14. Operates fire apparatus, ambulances, and other vehicles in an emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens and non-emergency mode. 
15. Follows all safety regulations, policies, and procedures; reports all unsafe conditions and acts to supervisor; reports all accidents to the supervisor immediately whenever possible; follows recognized safe work practices.
16. Performs other special projects and other job duties as assigned or required during regular and non-business hours.
17. All employees may be assigned by the City Manager or their designee to perform duties and assume responsibilities that are outside the scope of their work duties when the City Manager has declared a City disaster or the City Emergency Operations Center has been initiated.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

1. Connects appropriate fittings and hose to fire hydrants to establish a water supply, including laying supply/attack lines.
2. Uses visual, sensory, technical, and judgmental criteria to locate fire sources.
3. Carries, positions, raises, and climbs portable and aerial ladders.
4. Wears personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) while performing firefighting tasks (e.g.; hose line operations, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged periods.
5. Utilizes extrication tools (cutting/spreading, etc.).
6. Utilizes cribbing in vehicle extractions and collapse situations. 
7. Locates and removes individuals and victims from fire and emergency situations.
8. May utilize specialized equipment such as ropes, harnesses, boats, and exposure suits.
9. Performs daily inspections of required equipment.
10. Performs immediate lifesaving procedures required by circumstances; stabilizes patients and transports them to local emergency facilities. 
11. Ensures compliance with local and state codes and nationally recognized good practices and standards.
12. Have a working knowledge of the occupancies within the fire departments response area. Delivers public fire education programs, tours, lectures, etc., as may be necessary to ensure public fire safety. 
13. Completes written and verbal reports on patient care. 
14. Interacts appropriately with patients, families, police, and co-workers.
15. Completes patient care reports, NFIRS incident reports, work orders, hydrant reports, inspection forms, medical records, etc. 
16. Participates in company drills and department training as needed or required.       

Minimum Qualifications

The requirements listed below are necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

1. Minimum 18 years of age.
2. A High School diploma or equivalent is required.
3. A valid, state-issued driver’s license at time of hire is required.  
4. Wisconsin Firefighter I & II certification at the time of application is required.
5. Possession of a valid Wisconsin Certified Emergency Medical Technician-Basic license at the time of application is required. ** EMT-Paramedic preferred.
6. Possession of a current Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Assessment Certificate at the time of hire is required.
7. Possession of certifications for National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 700.B, and 800 at time of hire is required. 
8. Satisfactorily complete a water survival test.

COMPETENCIES
For successful performance in this position, the incumbent must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors.

Knowledge: 

1. Working knowledge of applying firefighting, rescue, and life-saving techniques. 
2. Working knowledge of Janesville Fire and EMS geography and response areas.
3. Working knowledge of applying emergency medical care to the appropriate level (Paramedic or EMT-B).
4. Working knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and policies pertaining to fire prevention, fire suppression protection, hazardous materials, and emergency and disaster situations.

Skills: 

1. Physical strength and agility skills and the ability to perform arduous tasks under strenuous and adverse conditions.
2. Skilled in applying firefighting techniques, life-saving techniques, and emergency rescue procedures.
3. Considerable skill in the operation of fire equipment, tools, and apparatus.
4. Organizational and time management skills to prioritize duties and accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
5. Exceptional communication skills, both verbally and in writing, paired with a strong customer service background, and effective interpersonal skills.
6. Collaboration skills to effectively work with others to achieve common goals through communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
7. Accurate record-keeping and data-reporting skills to complete daily reports, incident reports, inspection forms, medical records, etc.
8. Critical thinking skills to effectively analyze situations and solve complex or technical problems in a timely manner.
9. Basic, level of technical proficiency skills, including computer applications and software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

Abilities: 

1. Ability to be exposed to and handle grotesque sights and smells associated with major traumatic injuries or burn injuries.
2. Ability to learn and perform a wide variety of administrative, firefighting, rescue, and EMS duties, methods, and techniques. 
3. Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and making critical decisions.
4. Ability to cope with stressful situations firmly, courteously, and tactfully, and with respect for the rights of others. 
5. Ability to demonstrate individual initiative and pride in the department and profession.
6. Ability to learn the streets and numbering system in the city.
7. Ability to communicate (i.e., give and comprehend verbal orders) while wearing PPE and SCBA under conditions of high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hose lines or fixed protections systems (e.g., sprinklers). 
8. Ability to perform a variety of strenuous tasks on slippery, hazardous surfaces such as rooftops or from ladders.
9. Ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing work duties, performing physically demanding work in hot (up to 400 degrees F) and humid (up to 100% humidity) atmospheres while wearing equipment which significantly impairs body cooling mechanisms.
10. Ability to work for long periods of time, requiring sustained physical activity and intense concentration.
11. Ability to make rapid transitions from a near rest too near maximal exertion without a warm-up period.
12. Ability to use both manual and mechanical power tools designed for the tasks required in the performance of duties.
13. Ability to write a summary on a daily activity on daily log reports and maintain required reports and documentation in an established record system.
14. Ability to compose routine correspondence and routine reports in a clear, concise, logical, and effective manner, utilizing proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and tone.
15. Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations, including the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, and to compute percentages. 
16. Ability to make decisions according to applicable laws, regulations, established procedures, and the directives of the City Manager and City Council.
17. Ability to comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures, and report all unsafe activities or conditions to supervisor.
18. Ability to maintain a valid, state-issued driver’s license.

Behaviors: 

1. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chiefs, Department, Division, and Office heads, City employees, healthcare providers, other governmental agencies, and the general public.
2. Exhibit exceptional professionalism, tact, and decorum in all areas of work duties.
3. Strong ethics base built upon integrity, honesty, initiative, and respect; maintain strict confidentiality. 
4. Interact positively with a diverse group of individuals and work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
5. Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment. 
6. Conduct all business and working relationships in an accurate, fair, equitable and highly ethical manner. 
7. Work with the public in a fair and consistent manner, maintaining objectivity and excluding personal bias while performing job duties
8. Reliable, timely, and proactive in the completion of duties, meeting deadlines and responding to inquiries.
9. Work with others in a positive and supportive manner to solve problems, generate ideas, and accomplish division and City goals.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

LATERAL TRANSFER:

1. For all new employees hired after January 1, 2023, the city may grant an initial pay rate on any step of the wage table to a maximum of the >/= 4-year step and vacation to the 4-year step. Such placement shall not affect the new employee’s seniority for any purpose.
2. The actual amount of full-time career fire service time credited for purposes of determining wage rate and vacation accrual placement shall be reviewed by a Local 580 representative. The Fire Chief has final determination on service time credited. Credited service shall be considered in only full-year service-time increments. The credited service-time determination made by the Chief shall be documented, along with the determined wage rate and vacation accrual step, and issued to the employee. 
3. Employees hired under the terms and conditions of a lateral transfer shall move through the wage and vacation table based on the combination of the full years of service recognized and credited by the City, in the City’s discretion (up to the maximum of four years), and the employee’s actual full-time fire service employment for the City of Janesville.  

Other Qualifications

Tobacco Clause:
“As an applicant for employment, I agree that from my date of hire, I will not smoke, chew, or use any tobacco product(s) on or off duty during the entire tenure of my employment. If I choose to smoke, chew, or use any tobacco product(s) at any time during the entire tenure of my employment, I may be subject to dismissal for cause.”

Recruit Academy:
New Hires must complete the recruit academy (including swim test).

Probationary Period:
New Hires will complete an 18-month probationary period. (reference Local 580 Labor Contract Article XX – Probationary Period). 

Work Schedule
Attendance is required for a 24-hour shift schedule based on a 56-hour workweek.

Paramedic Status:
Firefighter/Paramedics shall complete and maintain minimum requirements up to and including Firefighter II, ACLS-PALS-BLS re-certification every two years, and attend EMS refresher training to obtain the minimum number of hours determined by the State of Wisconsin for re-licensure of EMT-Paramedic/EMT license. Firefighter/EMT-Paramedics are appointed by the Chief.  
**It is a condition of employment that new hires, if not hired with Paramedic training, may be assigned to begin training at the discretion of the City.  Such new hires will be required to proceed with all necessary training to become Firefighter/Paramedics as positions are opened.  Until required to proceed with paramedic training, such new hires will be classed as Firefighters. Once so required, such new hires must promptly proceed to become Firefighter/Paramedics and then remain qualified and active as Firefighter/Paramedics or be terminated unless released as outlined in the contract between the City of Janesville and Local #580 (Article XXVIII – Paramedics).
Firefighter/Paramedics -shall be subject to ongoing, periodic performance evaluations per established department policy and contract guidelines.

EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, AND MACHINES:
Motor vehicles, ambulances, fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, ladders, first aid equipment, and other standard firefighting equipment.  Personal protective equipment. Basic office equipment, including but not limited to department computers, copiers, and cellular communications equipment. Basic tools and equipment necessary to perform job tasks and functions, including but not limited to 2-way radios, mobile data terminal, and other simple tools. 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL FACTORS:
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions.  The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, and with explosives.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock, bloodborne pathogens, contact with persons who may have contiguous/communicable diseases, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.
An individual in this position is frequently required to see/observe, talk/speak, and listen/hear; sit, walk, and stand, and on occasion, may need to lift, carry, push or pull objects weighing more than 100 pounds.  The employee is frequently required to stand, stoop, and climb or balance; use hands to finger, handle, grasp, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; taste or smell; repetitive arm, hand and eye movements are included.  There is occasional twisting, kneeling, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching and wrist turning.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at the fire station and loud at an emergency scene.  Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of equipment.  Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze and verbalize thoughts and ideas.
The employee is frequently exposed to life-threatening situations, which could include situations with an active threat that require ballistic gear to be worn. Below are some, but not all, life-threatening situations and active threats that employees may encounter:

1. Wearing an SCBA, which includes a demand-valve-type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter mask, requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads.
2. Exposure to toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, biological (i.e., infectious) and nonbiological hazards, or heated gases, despite the use of PPE and SCBA.
3. Climbing at least six flights of stairs or walking a similarly strenuous distance and incline in areas of the city without tall buildings while wearing PPE and SCBA, commonly weighing 40-50 lbs. and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20-40 lbs. 
4. Wearing PPE and SCBA that is encapsulating and insulated, which will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration and can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F.
5. Working alone while wearing PPE and SCBA, searching, finding, and rescue-dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns to adults weighing over 165 lbs. to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility.
6. While wearing PPE and SCBA, advancing water-filled hose lines up to 1 ¾” in diameter from the fire apparatus to occupancy (approximately 150ft), which can involve negotiating multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and other obstacles.
7. While wearing PPE and SCBA, climbing ladders, operating from heights, walking or crawling in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces that might be wet or icy, and operating in proximity to electrical power lines or other hazards.
8. Unpredictable, prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion as required by emergency operations without the benefit of a warm-up period, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration. 
9. Critical, time-sensitive, complex problem-solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, that is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
10. Functioning as an integral component of a team, where sudden incapacitation of a member can result in mission failure or risk of injury or death to members of the public or other team members.

The employee must be available and present for work as scheduled; be available for on-call emergency notifications and response when deemed necessary; and perform all functions of the job safely and efficiently at all times and in compliance with all safety regulations and policies for the safety and welfare of the employee, co-workers and the general public.

DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville.  
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
The City of Janesville, Wisconsin, is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 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.

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