Performs responsible fire suppression, medical, and rescue activities including operating fire apparatus, and equipment, and participates in department training. Duties within this class may require the employee to perform these duties in an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere, confined spaces, heights above 10 feet, or in the water.

An employee in this class, under the supervision of a Lieutenant, Captain, or acting officer, participates in the 48-hour operations of fire suppression personnel and operations at the fire station and is subject to call-back response. The employee participates in the operation of fire apparatus, firefighting, and equipment and facilities maintenance. The employee also participates in fire suppression, medical, and rescue training. Work requires that the employee stay abreast of state-of-the-art fire suppression and rescue procedures, techniques, and equipment and requires the employee to incorporate the necessary changes into in-service training. The ability to make effective decisions under pressure is required in all aspects of work, particularly in operating apparatus during fire response. The employee is subject to the hazards associated with firefighting, rescue, and medical first 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 OSHA standards on blood-borne pathogens. Work is performed under regular supervision and is evaluated through observation, conferences, and written reports concerning the quality and effectiveness of work completed.

• Responds to fire, rescue, medical, and hazardous materials emergencies; operates fire apparatus and other equipment as required, provides medical first response level care at the NC EMT level, and rescue activities.
• Establishes water supply using fire hoses, drop tanks, etc.; ensures proper operation of hoses; operates equipment as required; assists in returning apparatus and related equipment to service.
• Performs search and rescue activities in structures or confined spaces, on land, or on the water.
• Participates in public education and relations activities; assists in developing and implementing fire education and prevention programs.
• Performs regular checks and maintenance of equipment; tests hoses and hydrants annually; flow tests, paints, and maintains fire hydrants.
• Has good working knowledge of all assigned apparatus equipment and operations.
• Completes and enters incident and training reports as necessary as well as fire prevention activities into the department’s data management system.
• Assists the supervisor in conducting pre-incident planning.
• Installs and checks smoke and CO detectors.
• Gives fire station tours to school and community children’s groups and occasional walkups.
• Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of modern methods of fire suppression and of the use and maintenance of firefighting apparatus equipment.
• General knowledge of departmental rules and regulations.
• General knowledge of district streets and layout.
• Ability to assist the officer and/or Engineer, if needed, in setting up department fire apparatus for emergency or training operations.
• Ability to take orders on an emergency incident and carry out given tasks safely and effectively.
• Ability to maintain positive and effective working relationships with employees and members of the public.
• Ability to make sound judgments in emergency situations.
• Ability to maintain physical fitness standards as required to perform duties outlined within this job description.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, and
  hearing.
• 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.

Minimum Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED, supplemented by completion of courses and seminars in
  fire service, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Position Requirements

• Possession of North Carolina Firefighter II Certification.
• Possession of North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician.
• Possession of NIMS 100C, 200C, 700B, 800D certifications.
• Successful completion of an NFPA 1582 physical annually.
• Possession of or ability to obtain North Carolina Class B Driver’s License within one (1) year of employment.
• Possession of or ability to obtain NC Emergency Vehicle Driver (EVD) within one (1) year of employment.
• Possession of or ability to complete the North Carolina Boater Safety Course within one (1) year of employment.
• Possession of or ability to obtain NC TR Water Operations and Transportation courses within one (1) year of employment.

Operating from the facility itself, this individual must frequently travel to various locations to respond to emergency scenes, disasters, or critical incidents; frequent exposure to excessive heat, smoke, noise, dust, grease, fumes, airborne particles, noxious odors, gases, explosives and blood-borne pathogens; and all types of weather and temperature conditions; frequently works near moving mechanical parts, in areas of limited and restricted entry and exit, and in highly
precarious places; exposure to vibration from equipment and vehicles; operation of hand and foot controls or repetitive body motions; extensive public contact on emergency scenes; the noise level in the work environment can be extreme and may be very loud when responding to emergency calls and when working at a fire or other emergency incident; wears appropriate and heavy personal protective equipment including goggles, face protector, turn-outs, safety shoes, ballistic PPE, and self-contained breathing apparatus; must be able to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside the fire district and county boundaries to attend meetings and training. The work environment is team- oriented having life-or-death tasks, pace, and pressure. Work is frequently performed in hostile and hazardous environments.