About This Role
Performing fire suppression and emergency medical services for the community is the core of this role, which also involves assisting in the maintenance of equipment and facilities. This position protects lives and property through firefighting and EMS skills, performing hazardous tasks under emergency conditions.
Responsibilities
- Perform fire suppression duties by responding to emergency fire calls, using various firefighting equipment, including fire hoses and apparatus
- Assist advancing hose lines, making hydrant connections, directing water streams on fires, performing rescues, and ensuring all property and lives are safe and secure
- Operate hydraulic or pneumatic rescue equipment to trapped or endangered persons and forced entry into structures
- Perform emergency medical services by responding to emergency calls, performing basic and advanced life support, providing inter-facility transfer locally and regionally, restocking, decontamination, and performing other duties as necessary to save lives
- Conduct public tours of facilities, providing public education regarding fire, EMS, and safety
- Maintain continuing education and physical training
- Perform light building and vehicle maintenance duties
- Perform other duties as may be assigned
Requirements
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Valid Texas Class C driver’s license
- Valid BLS Healthcare Provider certification
- Certified Firefighter with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection
- Certified Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at time of employment, Paramedic preferred
- If not a DSHS certified Paramedic when hired, the employee must enroll in the first offered Paramedic class and/or prerequisite classes and make a continuous, uninterrupted effort to become a DSHS certified Paramedic
- Employee must maintain Paramedic level certification during employment with the Kerrville Fire Department
- No previous experience required
- Working knowledge of the mechanical principles involved in the efficient operation of fire apparatus and equipment
- Knowledge of fire suppression, rescue techniques, and fire streams
- Knowledge of department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
- General knowledge of EMS prehospital care for medical and trauma patients, equivalent to DSHS certification level
- Knowledge of Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Important Details
- Physical and Environmental Conditions: Duties are performed in both indoor and outdoor settings. The employee is subject to frequent standing, walking, lifting, climbing, reaching, kneeling, crawling, bending over, and other intensive physical activity. The employee must have normal vision (corrected), hearing, and the ability to communicate effectively. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects or persons weighing up to one hundred (100) pounds, and more with assistance. The employee will work indoors and outdoors during inclement weather conditions, in extreme hot and cold temperatures, in darkness and around dust. The employee is frequently exposed to personal risk while working in dangerous and life-threatening situations including fighting fires, performing rescues, hazardous material incidents, electrical hazards, and driving or riding in a fire or EMS vehicle at high rates of speed. The employee is exposed to personal risk while working with persons in life-threatening situations, with serious injuries and illnesses, infectious diseases, and under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The noise level of the work environment ranges from generally quiet to loud.