Firefighter

The St. Louis Park Fire Civil Service Commission is now accepting applications for the position of Firefighter to create an eligibility list to fill vacancies that may arise. The list will stand for two years, or until otherwise determined by the Commission.

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: * First and second round interviews are tentatively scheduled for the weeks of May 29, 2023 and June 5, 2023.

Primary Objective of Position: Responsible for protecting life and property from the hazards of fire and other emergencies. Apply fire suppression methods to control and stop property damage, save lives through rescue from fire or other hazardous environments, perform safety inspections, and provide public fire safety education. Respond to emergency calls and provide efficient and immediate care to the ill and injured. Respond to other types of call back emergencies and disasters that may occur in the community. May be required to assist neighboring communities as assigned.

1. Respond to fire alarms and other emergency calls, extinguish or control fires, or other hazards as a member of a team, under the supervision of a superior officer within the chain of command.

2. Select, drag, lift, and carry hose and nozzle depending on type and size of fire, and apply a stream of water or chemicals onto fire.

3. Position, raise, and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings or to rescue individuals from burning structures and emergency situations.
4. Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using an ax, sledgehammer, chisel, crowbar, battering ram, power saw, or power equipment.
5. Protect property from water and smoke by use of positive or negative pressure ventilation, waterproof salvage covers, property removal, smoke ejectors and blowers.
6. Administer emergency medical care to injured persons and those overcome by fire and smoke.
7. Communicate during emergencies in a calm, descriptive, and articulate manner, using portable two-way radios or person to person voice communications.

8. Wear and use appropriate protective clothing and equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

9. Conduct fire prevention inspections and pre-fire planning of commercial buildings as part of a team under the supervision of superior officer.

10. Knowledgeable of fire and building codes to recognize possible violations.

11. Inspect building for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances.
12. Prepare and issue inspection forms to building owners/occupants listing fire code violations to be corrected.
13. Participate in pre-fire planning of target hazards within the jurisdiction by inspecting, developing or updating building layout cards, and planning for possible future fire fighting operations.

14. Participate in public education demonstrations, expositions, and presentations

15. Maintain fire apparatus, equipment, stations, and grounds as part of a team, following department procedures, under the supervision of a superior officer.

16. Perform assigned duties in maintaining apparatus, stations, equipment, grounds and hydrants.

17. Conduct tests on equipment as required.

18. Maintain appropriate maintenance records.

19. Attend regular and assigned training sessions to maintain and upgrade fire fighting skills.

20. Participate in drills, demonstrations and courses in hydraulics, pump operation and maintenance, emergency medical procedures, fire prevention, rescue techniques, and fire fighting techniques.

21. Perform as driver/operator of fire apparatus under supervision of superior officer.

22. Drive and operate all fire fighting vehicles and all equipment in a safe and proper manner following department procedures and regulations.

23. Maintain vehicle and equipment in safe operational condition according to department procedures.

24. Respond to emergency medical calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the ill and injured.

25. When patients need extrication from entrapment, assess the extent of injury and give emergency care and protection to the entrapped patient and use the prescribed techniques and appliances for removing the patients safely.

26. Assess the nature and extent of illness and injury and establish priority for appropriate emergency care.

27. Respond to emergency call backs when off-duty.

28. Work under the direction and supervision of superior officer responsible for the assigned shift. In emergency situations, work may involve considerable personal danger. Must be able to act without continuous supervision and exercise appropriate independent discretion. Must perform in a skillful manner, using sound judgment, based on accepted fire fighting practices.

29. Must be able to concentrate during emergency situations while working quickly as a team member, under stress caused by emergencies, danger, or criticism.

30. Must be able to work and live in a non-emergency setting for extended periods of time with people of diverse backgrounds in a manner that fosters teamwork, acceptance, and dignity of fellow employees.
31. May provide work direction to other Firefighters in special circumstances or assist in training of others as assigned.
32. Must maintain work habits, personal manner, and appearance which command respect of associates and the public at all times.

33. Shall effectively carry out the policies and goals of the department and city.

34. Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed, apparent, or assigned in accordance with fire department standard operating procedures.

• Age: NA
• Education: High School Diploma
• Experience: NA

++Minimum Requirements++ • Ability to multiply, divide, use fractions, and read graphs. • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent • Must have Firefighter I and II certification (NFPA 1001) or equivalent as determined by the Fire Department • Must have Hazardous Materials Responder – Operational Level certification (NFPA 472) or equivalent as determined by the Fire Department • Must have current Minnesota Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification or equivalent as determined by the Fire Department. • Must be capable of reading fire protection textbooks, writing reports with proper grammar and speaking correctly in public.
• Must have ability to understand and communicate effectively to meet the essential requirements of the position. • Ability to communicate effectively with people from all cultures and backgrounds. • Demonstrated cultural competence and comfort with supporting the city’s strategic objectives for racial equity. • Must be able to interpret instructions and use logic to solve concrete problems. • Must have valid Minnesota Class D driver’s license.

++Physical Requirements++ • Vision--Normal vision needed with or without correction. Requires near acuity, far acuity, depth perception, field of vision, and focusing. • Hearing--Normal hearing needed. Requires ability to discriminate among similar sounds in environments with a great deal of background noise, as in carrying on conversations over portable radios or through SCBA masks.

++Lifting and Carrying Requirements++

• May be required to lift very heavy loads.
• Ground to Waist Level – 100 lbs.
• Dragging/removing fire victims.
• Advancing hose lines at fires.
• Carrying fans, rescue tools, foam containers.
• Waist to Shoulder Level – 50 lbs.
• Opening/closing hydrant valves.
• Making hose connections.
• Lifting/carrying ladders, hose bundles, and other equipment.
• Above Shoulders – 35 lbs.
• Placing ladders against buildings
• Pulling ladder halyard to raise ladder.
• Using axe and other equipment to ventilate.
• Lifting items onto fire apparatus.

++Walking and/or Mobility Requirements++ • Must be able to walk and crawl while carrying or lifting. • Must be able to ascend and descend stairs and ladders while carrying heavy loads. • Must be able to balance and possess the ability to steady oneself and keep from falling when walking, standing, crouching, crawling on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. • Must be able to work in confined spaces. • Must be capable of:• Reaching (extending hands or arms in any direction);• Handling (seizing, holding grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hands while carrying items of substantial weight (i.e., fans, rescue equipment, foam containers, ladders, and using axes, sledgehammers, hydrant wrenches, pulling ladder halyards or using rope to lift heavy items, dragging victims and hose lines).• Fingering (picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers while manipulating items such as SCBA valves, apparatus controls, small monitoring equipment, alarm panel controls. Must be able to use rope and tie knots).• Feeling (must be able to discriminate differences in items by feeling. Must be able to determine the difference between hot and cold by touch. Must be able to feel a patient’s pulse.)• Must be capable of applying a leg lock with either leg upon a ground ladder to provide a safe anchor when operating hose lines or performing rescue work. ++Work Environment++ • Works both inside where there may be protection from the weather conditions and outside where there may be no effective protection from the weather. • May work in extreme cold where the temperature is sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort and variations in temperature which accompany extreme cold and are sufficiently marked and abrupt to cause marked bodily reaction. • May be required to work in extremes of heat where temperatures are sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort and variations in temperature which accompany extreme heat and are sufficiently marked and abrupt to cause marked bodily reaction. • Encounters wet conditions and high humidity where atmospheric conditions have a moisture content sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort. • Will frequently encounter noise and/or vibration exceeding 80 decibels, constant or intermittent, to cause marked distraction. • Will encounter a variety of physical hazards, including but not limited to, moving mechanical parts, electrical shock, working on high places, bodies of water, exposure to radiant energy, explosives, toxic chemicals, and biological agents.

Please apply through our website here: https://www.stlouisparkmn.gov/our-city/employment