Wildland Firefighter ~ Seasonal

The Tooele County Fire Department manages a seasonal wildland fire crew. This position acts as a firefighter on the crew to provide labor, and ensure the workforce meets minimum staffing and qualification levels.

Purpose

The primary role of this firefighter position is to provide labor and skills focused on fire suppression, hazardous fuels reduction, public education, equipment maintenance, and lot inspections.

This position may also assist administratively and operationally in structure fire mitigation, emergency medical services, special operations, and may provide coordination of other fire department related activities.

Specific duties are featured herein, but serve only as a general guide, which may be modified by the Tooele County Fire Chief as deemed necessary, based on the needs of the community and knowledge, skills, and abilities of the employee fulfilling the role.

Supervision Received

The firefighter reports to the lead crewmember and/or the engine captain or a designee.

Supervision Exercised

None

Primary Responsibilities

The firefighter completes tasks assigned. This role ensures readiness for and response to fire suppression assignments, implements fuels reduction projects, maintains equipment, assists with administrative tasks, participates in public education events, and assists with wildfire risk lot assessments.

Specific Duties

• Maintains positive working relationships with partner agencies and the public. Know department policies and standard operational processes. Adhere to chain of command on and off incident command system (ICS) organized assignments.
• Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records and logs, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.
• Assist leadership in ensuring proper maintenance, safety, and usage of fire apparatus and equipment, maintaining standards for vehicle and equipment safety, reliability, and readiness.
• Perform wildland firefighting duties.
• Assist leadership in performing and/or developing natural resource projects and improvement tasks to reduce wildfire risk.
• Lead or participate in safety sessions, briefings, and after-action reviews (AAR).
• Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by coordinating or facilitating training courses and workshops/drills.
• Educate the public about wildland fire prevention by participating in activities such as exhibits or presentations or by distributing promotional materials.
• Assist leadership in completing inspections, required maintenance, and manage inventory of assigned equipment and assets.
• May assist in evaluating the size, location, and condition of wildland fires, protect fire origin(s) to allow for potential investigation, and assess damage caused by fires and prepare reports.
• May assist with the operation, maintenance, calibration or adjustments of specialized wildland equipment.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• County rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Knowledge of County training standards and emergency medical procedures.
• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to fire protection, firefighting, and employee safety.
• Principles and practices of adult vocational training and education.
• Incident suppression and control strategies and tactics.
• Follow directions.
• Safety principles and practices associated with wildland firefighting and fire mitigation practices.

Skill in

• Use of hand tools, power tools, and equipment.
• Basic wildland firefighting.
• Reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, critical thinking, active learning, learning strategies, monitoring, social perceptiveness, equipment maintenance, quality control analysis, judgement and decision making, time management.

Ability to

• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• Work in a teamwork environment.
• Adhere to established timelines.
• Work cooperatively with the recognized employee organization.
• Coordinate and initiate actions, implement decisions and recommendations.
• Deal tactfully and persuasively with others in controversial situations.
• Communicate effectively through oral presentations, written reports, and in-person discussions.
• Drive a Tooele County vehicle to respond to emergency incidents.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience - Graduation from High School or GED equivalent; valid Utah Driver's license. At least o ne year of wildland firefighting experience preferred, including wildland fire suppression and prevention.

Required Licensure or Certification - Certified National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Firefighter Type 2 with the state of Utah. NFPA Firefighter I & II certification preferred. CDL and/or Apparatus Driver Operator - Pumper is preferred.

May be required to complete training from the following: Tooele County Emergency Management, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah State Comprehensive Emergency Management Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management. Licensed EMT or paramedic within the state of Utah.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, an employee is regularly required to talk and hear; use hands or fingers to handle and feel; and frequent use of the telephone and computer while communicating with internal and external customers; requires manual dexterity and visual acuity to operate personal computer or other standard office equipment, job site inspections and investigations. Employee may sit for several hours each day but will also need mobility and ability to stand and walk continuously for long periods of time. The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as duties associated with wildland firefighting, lifting heavy objects over 50lbs in recurring manners and /or for long periods of time in adverse environments under challenging weather. Work may require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. This position may require the employee to work under stressful conditions due to deadlines and time constraints.

This position may require the employee to perform strenuous work on occasions for extended periods of time, while performing some or all the following:

• Wear and/or carry over 50lbs of protective clothing/equipment
• Work in overheated, extreme cold, or wet environments
• Work under adverse or stressful conditions

Work Environment

The work area will encompass a wide variety of settings including: administrative duties in an office setting; working outside, in poor weather conditions, in hazardous traffic areas, in and around structures that may be hazardous and/or unstable, and under unfavorable or unsanitary conditions, which may include biohazards, air and blood-borne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may reach extremes where hearing protection is required.

• *Tooele County is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or any other protected class.**