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Firefighter Hiring
for the Raytown Fire Protection
District
Firefighters basic job description, Hiring and employment
qualifications
Here
are some of the basis requirements for our Firefighters
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The applicant must be at least
21 years of age on or prior
to the first class session.
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The applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
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The applicant
may anywhere he or she chooses,
but is encouraged to reside within
close proximity to the district
boundaries for purposes of
emergency recall.
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The applicant must possess a current valid Missouri drivers
license and provide a copy of that license to the Chief of
Training.
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The applicant must possess a high school diploma or G. E. D.
and provide a copy to the Chief of Training.
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The applicant must not have been convicted of a felony
offense in any court of law.
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Current
State of Missouri license as an EMT or Paramedic.
Passing a National Registry
test for EMT or EMT-P is not an
equivalent
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Successfully
passed a IFSAC recognized Firefighter 1
and 2 course (NFPA
1001 standard)
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Hazardous Materials trained to
the Operational Level
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Have passed a Candidate
Physical Agility Test (CPAT)
within the year of application
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Pass a written entry level
firefighter exam administered
at a scheduled time and when
openings are available
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Pass a series of interview
panels
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Successfully pass a physical
exam including a 10 panel
drug screen
Fire Fighter Job Description
Raytown Fire Department's goal is to fill each job with a person who is
well-qualified, has an interest in the job, and who will be committed to a
career in that field. To do this, we feel it is important to give each applicant
a realistic description of the job and its tasks so that the candidate can
decide for him or herself if the position is truly one in which there is
interest and ability to do well.
As a Firefighter, you will be required to perform a large variety of tasks.
These tasks are very diverse and may include rescue and care of victims; fire
prevention; clean-up; hazardous materials containment; and community service. We
urge you to consider the entire job of Firefighter and not just the exciting or
glamorous aspects.
Emergency
Response
Emergency response calls can come in at any time of the day or night and must
be responded to immediately. Sleep may be frequently interrupted.
Firefighters must be expert at getting themselves dressed in the appropriate
gear/equipment and onto the emergency vehicles quickly when responding to an
emergency call, regardless of what they might be busy with at the time the
emergency call comes in.
Emergency calls can cover anything - brush fires, structure fires, automobile
accidents, life-threatening medical emergencies, non-life-threatening medical
calls, and false-alarms. All must be responded to with the same speed and
professionalism.
Firefighters must immediately size up each emergency situation upon arrival,
including: properties of the fire; probability of the fire spreading; the needs
of victims; medical conditions; effects of weather conditions; etc. in order to
effectively deal with the emergency.
Once on an emergency scene, Firefighters are responsible for gathering
information from witnesses and other sources. It is critical that the
Firefighter think quickly and obtain the appropriate information to deal with
each unique situation.
Firefighters must intimately coordinate their activities and work as a team.
This includes those Firefighters working directly with the emergency, those
directing traffic and those standing by to relieve other Firefighters.
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Fire Scenes
Firefighting is a dangerous occupation. Firefighters must enter burning
structures. Once inside the structure, Firefighters must search for victims, the
source of fire, and ways to extinguish the fire. In this process, Firefighters
are exposed to extreme heat, smoke and fumes.
Firefighting is very physically demanding. Firefighters carry 80 - 100 lbs.
of equipment such as hoses, axes, ladders, chain saws and extinguishers into and
around the fire scene to rescue victims and put out the fire. This may include
climbing many flights of stairs.
Firefighters make forced entries into grounds/structures by cutting locks,
breaking doors, windows or roofs as needed to gain access to or ventilate
structures. This may involve using hand tools such as axes, sledge hammers,
battering rams and power tools.
While at a fire scene, Firefighters must constantly evaluate personal safety
by examining structures for cracks, breaks, charring or partial collapse.
Firefighters use ladders and work at heights to rescue victims and fight
fires. They must raise, lower, rotate and extend these ladders. Ladders are at
times used for purposes other than climbing, such as bridges, battering rams and
carrying victims.
Firefighters locate hydrants and other sources of water. Firefighters connect
hoses to sources of water using various tools and considerable strength.
Firefighters operate hand-held hose lines without assistance and get the hose
into position by dragging, carrying or hoisting it into place.
Firefighters occasionally are overcome by smoke and/or are burned while
working to put out fires.
Firefighters are responsible for the clean up of fire scenes. Firefighters
carry burnt furniture, clothing, appliances, etc. from buildings to reduce fire
and smoke damage. Firefighters scoop, shovel, sweep and mop excess water and
debris caused by the fire and firefighting efforts. Firefighters tear down or
shore up weak or dangerous parts of fire structures such as floors, roofs or
overhangs.
Emergency Medical Treatment
Cross trained
firefighters now perform the tasks previously done by paramedics.
However, Firefighters may also be assigned to these duties but at a lower level
than those of paramedics. Raytown Firefighter's are trained to use automatic
defibrillators. Raytown Fire has one on each of it's responding units.
There are seven firefighter paramedics employed currently. All
Firefighters are required to be State of Missouri licensed as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) as a
condition of employment. Paramedic license is voluntary, but
if the paramedic decides to drop his license, he must
maintain at least to the EMT level.
Firefighters must assess a victim's general condition by checking pulse,
respiration, bleeding, consciousness, etc. This will require physical contact
with the victims who will often be bleeding from open wounds and/or have broken
bones and other severe injuries. Firefighters must use first aid and emergency
medical techniques to treat victims to the best of their ability.
Firefighters may also come into contact with victims who have died before
they could be rescued; sometimes, too, victims will die despite the best efforts
of Firefighters.
Firefighter/Paramedics and EMT's must obtain specific information from or
about the victim; load the victim into the ambulance; stabilize the victim to
the best of their ability; and care for victims on the way to the hospital. In
addition, Firefighter/Paramedics must often obtain more extensive information,
draw blood samples, and discuss the case in detail with emergency room physicians.
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Rescue Operations
Firefighters use systematic search procedures to try to find trapped victims
without getting lost or trapped themselves.
Firefighters free trapped victims from a variety of situations including car
crashes, cave ins, structure collapses, flood channels, chemical spills, and all
kinds of unusual occurrences. Firefighters may be required to use special tools
to accomplish a rescue.
After locating and freeing the victim, Firefighters must determine the safest
path of evacuation. Firefighters may be required to lift and/or carry the victim
with or without assistance in dangerous situations.
Other
While not out on a call, Firefighters must constantly work at keeping the
station and equipment in excellent condition. Much of the Firefighter's time is
spent cleaning their living quarters, including floors and restrooms,
the fire station, and the equipment.
Firefighters often come into contact with hazardous and infectious materials.
Firefighters conduct inspections for Fire Code violations. Firefighters may
have to educate the general public in fire safety and fire prevention
techniques.
Personal Considerations
Firefighters work 24-consecutive-hour shifts, living at the station for the
entire period. Firefighter shifts are organized on the following schedule: 24
hours on the job, and 48 hours off the job.
While on duty, Firefighters live and sleep at the station. Firefighters, male
and female, sleep in dormitory style quarters.
Firefighters may be required to work overtime. Firefighters may be away from
home for days at a time during severe emergency situations.
Firefighters work on holidays. Should your shift fall on a holiday, you will
be expected to work at the station over the holiday period. This includes your
birthday.
Firefighters must work during unusual and/or catastrophic events such as
major brush fires, earthquakes, floods or civil unrest.
The duties and equipment of firefighting make special demands on the physical
attributes of Firefighters. Personal preference for hair length, nail length,
jewelry, etc. may be overruled for Firefighter safety.
The fire service is regimented and Firefighters receive orders which must be
carried out promptly and without question.
Firefighters pay for their own meals while on duty. They also assist in food
shopping, meal preparation and clean-up.
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