Under general supervision, suppress fires using firefighting equipment; perform emergency medical treatment at an emergency medical technician - basic level; perform rescues using ropes and associated hardware and power tools; respond to and address hazardous materials releases as appropriate; assist in fire prevention, public relations and educational activities; operate and maintain firefighting equipment; operate and maintain emergency and non-emergency vehicles; perform station maintenance tasks and perform related work as required. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

 Comply with City rules and regulations, and department rules, regulations, SOG’s, SOP’s and code of ethics.  Generally, the employee receives oral instructions, but written instructions are given occasionally.  Methods of accomplishing assignments are outlined in departmental policies and procedures.  Deadlines and priorities are usually determined by the supervisor.  The employee’s work progress will be monitored intermittently and formally evaluated each year.  Supervision may be close in the event of an unusual or complex situation.

SUPERVISION GIVEN:

None

1. Respond to emergency calls; drive fire apparatus to incident scenes; provide appropriate services as required including rescue, emergency medical service and fire suppression; prepare reports regarding emergency incidents as assigned.
2. Drive, operate, inspect, repair and perform other technical tasks related to the apparatus and equipment in the Fire Department.
3. Perform rescue for trapped or injured persons; provide necessary emergency medical services; operate numerous types of rescue, emergency medical and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
4. Respond to fire alarms; drive assigned apparatus; assist in firefighting operation including laying and connecting hoses, maintaining pumping apparatus, holding nozzles and directing water streams or other chemicals and raising and climbing ladders; assist with medical and rescue needs at fire scenes; determine hydrant/hose operations at incident scene.
5. Maintain appropriate certifications through constant training; participate in and direct instruction for department personnel.
6. Clean, re-equip, and re-stock vehicles after each call.  Clean areas of responsibility.  Perform inventories and vehicle checks on a daily basis.
7. Participate in cleaning and maintaining station facilities, equipment and apparatus; ensure that appropriate conditions are maintained at assigned station; ensure that all equipment and apparatus is in a constant state of readiness for emergency calls.
8. Study street and apartment locations in assigned district; perform inspections of sprinkler systems and other fire prevention devices; participate in a variety of fire prevention operations, activities and programs including training, fire investigations, code enforcement; participate in activities and operations in response to natural disasters, major accidents, incidents involving hazardous materials, and other emergency situations.
9. Documentation of information about fire incidents and medical patient reports as required by department policy and state law.
10. All other duties as assigned.

1. Appearance - overall dress, cleanliness and demeanor shall be acceptable as per department policies.
2. Greeting - the ability to make a good first impression - to easily put patients at ease.
3. Responsiveness - the traits of awareness, perception, empathy, sensitivity, consideration, consciousness and other characteristics which reflect an ability to successfully interact with citizens, patients, and co-workers.

1. Education - skills and training acquired through schools, seminars, military or other formal programs - including the ability to read, write, reason, question, and explain.   The minimum level of education required for a reasonable chance of success in the position is a high school diploma.
2. Intellectual development - intellectual diversification and range of interest.
3. Diversity of interests - range of professional, technical and personal interests, including hobbies and other pursuits which reflect variety, versatility, creativity, and adaptability.

1. Relevant prior work experience similar to the duties of firefighter/EMT.
2. Level of achievement - the amount of accomplishments which indicate mastery of job skills and indicate probable success in similar positions.

1. Maturity and judgment - common sense, good sense, logic, wisdom, and expertise necessary to carry out the job functions.
2. Energy level - enthusiasm, self-initiative, drive, determination, esprit de corps, vigor, vitality and intensity which reflects a capacity for future achievement.
3. Confidence - self-assurance, self-esteem, poise, presence and convictions which instill trust and morale in co-workers and management which reflects present and future accomplishments.

1. Personal chemistry - the ability to get along well with co-workers and management - the traits of likeability, cordiality, graciousness, pleasantness, approachability and character - having a sense of humor - having a pleasant temperament and disposition.
2. Leadership - the ability to motivate, direct and influence persons through various skills, charisma and personality - the ability to establish reasonable goals and direct a team toward their accomplishment - the qualities of ambition, drive and initiative directed toward work.
3. Teamwork - the ability to work together with other employees as part of a group - the presence of a spirit of cooperation, empathy toward others, harmony with others, rapport with others, unity, concert, and concord.
4. Be customer service driven.

1. Communication skills - the ability to accurately communicate ideas, instructions, questions, problems, solutions, or feelings - orally, visually, in writing or through other mechanism - the ability to make presentations - the ability to persuade or sell - the ability to teach - the capability to alert co-workers to problems or dangers.
2. Listening skills - ability to accurately receive and understand ideas, instructions,

1. Reliability - the characteristics of responsibility, dependability and stability - accuracy, uniformity and consistency of work output - willingness to work and accountable for the consequences (both favorable and unfavorable) of actions.   Report to work on time.
2. Integrity - the characteristics of honesty, trustworthiness, and faithfulness - having a good set of personal principles and virtues.
3. Dedication - is committed and determined toward on-the-job performance - is purposeful and resolute toward satisfactorily completing an assigned task - is concerned and interested with company operations.

1. Safety attitudes - understanding of the nature and causes of accidents, appreciative of the effects and seriousness of accidents, alert and attentive for possible hazards.
2. Results orientation - understand the profit motive behind success, is committed to achievement and success, has long term outlooks and goal orientation, and is willing to make personal sacrifices to attain them.
3. Efficiency - is effective, competent, capable, practical, sensible, successful and proficient in carrying out duties and responsibilities.

CERTIFICATION & LICENSE:

1. Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician –Basic or Intermediate from the Texas Department of State Health Services
2. Certification as a Basic Firefighter or higher by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection
3. TX Class B Driver License or higher
4. ITLS or PHTLS Certification (or department equivalent)
5. Meet all Harker Heights Fire Department Medical Director requirements
6. All above listed certification and licenses are required to be maintained.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Alerting - the ability to verbally communicate alarms or warnings clearly, concisely, loudly, and quickly.

2. Alarming - the ability to clearly and quickly hear or otherwise sense alarms or warnings and take the appropriate action.

3. Balancing - maintaining equilibrium to prevent falling when moving, walking, standing, kneeling, or crouching - particularly on narrow, uneven, irregular, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.

4. Bending - must be able to bend over and straighten up in assisting citizens, Police Officers, and Fire Fighters.

5. Climbing - going up or down ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles or other objects using hands, arms, feet or legs.

6. Crawling - moving about on hands and knees - moving about on hands and feet.  Must be able to crawl on all fours in life-saving events and rescues.

7. Crouching - bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine - working in a bent over position.

8. Dragging - must be able to carry/drag up to 175 pounds for a distance of 100 feet.

9. Driving - subject must have a Texas driver’s license.  Must be able to use hands and feet to control and operate a motor vehicle.  Hand coordination for driving and using radio at the same time.

10. Feeling - sensing physical attributes such as size, shape, temperature, texture or sharpness of an object by touching.

11. Finger agility and dexterity - feeling, picking, pinching, typing and other similar tasks which require finger motion.

12. Foot agility and dexterity - operating pedals and kick bars or other similar tasks which require foot or toe motion.

13. Grasping - gripping or applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm - holding an object in the hand.

14. Hearing - the ability to clearly and concisely perceive sounds with an uncorrected loss of no more than 40 db at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz - the ability to hear and understand detailed oral communications - the ability to hear subtle changes or discriminations in sound (such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts).   Must be able to hear and answer telephones, radios, citizens, and co-workers.

15. Kicking - extending a foot (feet) and/or leg(s) in any direction.

16. Kneeling - bending legs at the knee - working on one or both knees.  Must be able to kneel on all possible surfaces to perform medical care.

17. Lifting - raising or lowering objects in a vertical direction - particularly heavy or bulky objects.  Be required to lift injured personnel at accident scenes, from upstairs apartments or other hard to access places.

18. Moving - moving objects backward, forward, in or out in a horizontal direction - particularly heavy or bulky objects.

19. Pulling - exerting a steady backward, downward, upward, or outward force against an object - jerking, plucking, wrenching, stretching, towing, drawing, dragging, or tugging objects in a sustained motion.

20. Pushing - pressing against something with steady forward, downward, upward, or outward force - shoving, pushing, compressing, squeezing, mashing, packing, pressing, jamming, compacting, or squashing objects in a sustained motion.

21. Reaching - extended hand(s) and/or arm(s) in any direction.

22. Running - must be able to run to and from scenes for rapid care of the sick and injured.

23. Seeing - the ability to read and understand written communications including directions, instructions, and warning signs.  The ability to see and distinguish colors.  The ability to visually distinguish shapes or patterns.  The ability to accurately sense distances (depth perception).  The ability to accurately see objects and detect motion at wide angles (peripheral vision).  Must have vision correctable to 20/40.  Required to read computer screen, hearing impaired telephone, and to write reports.

24. Sitting - may require long periods of sitting in vehicle or at hospitals.

25. Speaking - required to speak the English language for assisting phone calls, radio calls, citizens, and co-workers.

26. Standing - particularly for extended periods of time.

27. Stooping - bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist - using the lower extremities and back muscles.

28. Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means by the spoken word - conveying detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

29. Walking - moving on foot, particularly for long distances.  Required to walk for periods of time at scenes, accidents, nightclubs, parades, and other events.

30. Attendance is an essential function of the job.

31. Exhibits the City of Harker Heights’ Core Values.

PHYSICAL MODIFIERS

Heavy work conditions - the job requires a frequent exertion of a heavy force - it is usually necessary to frequently stand, walk and transport objects.

WORK SCHEDULE:

The normal work schedule is comprised of three shifts, each working 48 hours with 96 hours off.  Part-time employment is permitted with approval from the City Manager.  Part-time or other employment shall not interfere with an employee’s ability to transfer from one shift to another.

VISUAL MODIFIERS

1. The job requires considerable, sustained use of eyesight for functions, such as visual inspection, reading, measuring, assembling, transcription, data analysis, operating machines or vehicles and utilizing computer terminals.

2. The job requires the ability to clearly see at night or in dim light.

3. The job requires the ability to clearly see in daylight or bright light.

4. The job requires the ability to clearly see under glare or poor contrast.

5. The job requires the ability to clearly see in frequently wet or misty conditions (not conducive to eyeglasses) - in frequently dusty or dirty conditions (not conducive to contact lenses).

ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFIERS

1. The job involves exposure to cold working conditions - temperatures (including wind chill effects) below freezing for periods longer than 15 minutes.

2. The job involves exposure to hot working conditions - temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for periods of more than 15 minutes.

3. The job requires frequent alternation between hot and cold conditions.

4. The job involves exposure to noise - workers must frequently shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.

5. The job involves frequent or continuous exposure to vibration.

6. The job involves exposure to pollutants or allergens, which can adversely effect the skin and/or the respiratory system such as gases, smoke, odors, mists, fumes, dust, chemicals, oils, solvents, or otherwise poor ventilation.

7. The job requires the use of protective equipment such as special clothing.

8. The job requires exposure to hazardous working conditions, including moving machinery, electricity and/or contact with violent/dangerous people.

9. The job involves continuous work which cannot be easily or economically interrupted for breaks except at regularly scheduled intervals or at the completion of an assignment.