Firefighter – Alachua County Fire Rescue

This is responsible technical work in the Fire Rescue Services Department protecting life and property by performing firefighting, driving apparatus, performing emergency medical aid, hazardous materials and fire prevention duties.

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

An employee assigned to this classification is responsible for safely transporting a crew and medical equipment to the patient, assisting in providing immediate care to the critically ill or injured on an emergency basis, transporting the patient to a medical facility, and performing firefighter duties including combating, extinguishing and preventing fires as required.

Work is performed within standard operating procedure guidelines and an employee is expected to exercise independent judgment, based upon firefighting and emergency medical training.

Work is performed under a higher level supervisor and is reviewed through observation of results obtained.

Classification Level Pay Structure:

The Alachua County Fire Rescue pay structure includes classification levels defined by both educational and length of service with the department.  New employees will be classified in the following manner upon hire:

Firefighter Trainee (Level 0):

This classification includes employees who meet most minimum requirements for Firefighter Level 1 but do not possess a current State of Florida Certificate of Compliance and/or a State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.  Employees in the Level 0 classification will be paid $10.5169 hourly/35,000.24 annually and will be required to obtain both certifications within the first 12-months of employment.

Firefighter (Level 1): 

This classification includes employees who meet all minimum qualifications for Firefighter (Level 1).  Employees in the Level 1 classification will be paid $12.0193 hourly/$40,000.23 annually.

Paramedic Incentive Pay:

Alachua County Fire Rescue offers a $7500 annual incentive to all applicable bargaining unit employees who possess a State of Florida Paramedic certification and receive medical clearance certification by the Alachua County Medical Director.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including:  integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Performs fire fighting activities including operating related fire equipment, laying hose, and performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks.

Provides emergency medical treatment to the Basic Life Support level of certification and training. Provides assistance with Advanced Life Support medical procedures.

Receives emergency and non-emergency calls from dispatch; drives the emergency unit to the call and/or hospital using the most expeditious route.

Utilizes all required safety measures when performing assigned job duties.Responds to medical, rescue, fire and other emergency and non-emergency calls.

Operates radio in accordance with system standards and guidelines.

Assists in loading patient and/or transportation of patient to a medical facility.Makes up stretcher and cleans inside of vehicle after each call.

Inspects vehicle daily; insures that vehicle is clean, fully equipped and in proper operating condition and in compliance with all state and local laws.

Prepares reports as required.

Attends and participates in company drills and training sessions.Performs routine station housekeeping and routine office work as required.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIESKnowledge of emergency medical, rescue and fire equipment, operation and maintenance.

Knowledge of basic life support emergency medical treatment.

Knowledge of fire prevention, suppression, and extinguishing techniques.

Knowledge of defensive driving techniques and methods and ability to execute such methods quickly and efficiently.

Knowledge of Alachua County’s street systems and geography.

Knowledge of departmental Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG) manuals, and Rules & Regulations.

Ability to rapidly determine locations by quadrant addressing.

Ability to react quickly and efficiently in emergency situations.

Ability to receive, follow and execute orders from a supervisor.

Ability to follow precise technical instructions in an emergency situation.

Ability to learn and operate relatively complex fire fighting and rescue equipment.

Ability to perform prolonged and difficult work under adverse conditions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and representatives from other agencies.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; frequently lift and/or move 50 pounds; and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outdoor weather conditions and is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.