Firefighter (Part-Time)

About the Department

Grade: Reg Part-Time (Non-Union)  FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt
Safety Sensitive Position:  Yes
Supervisor Title: Assistant Director of Public Safety

Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience:

• Must possess a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years old. 
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.
• Current Minnesota or I.F.S.A.C Accredited Firefighter 2 Certification.
• A minimum of two (2) years' experience as a full-time, volunteer, or military firefighter.

OR

• Any satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the job proficiently may be substituted for the above requirements. 

Nature of Work:

Under the direction of the Public Safety Supervisor or Assistant Director of Public Safety, Part-Time Firefighters protect and save life and property through effective rescue and firefighting work; performs related fire prevention activities, equipment and facility maintenance, housekeeping functions as assigned; and performs other fire duties as directed. Responds to emergency medical calls as per departmental policy.

About Us:

Our employees are committed to working in an environment that fosters the core values of the City of Mankato – positive attitude, accountability, respect, teamwork, and integrity. We care about making a positive difference in the lives of others. Our work is challenging and has purpose. We listen and engage with each other and our community. We are empowered and trusted to make good decisions that align with the public service principles and core values. Our organization is committed to investing and developing each other. We will recognize and celebrate our collective achievements and individual accomplishments.

We take pride in investing in our employees. Our team enjoys a supportive work environment that encourages not only success for the community we serve, but for you as well. Come grow your career with us! 

Position Duties

Primary Essential Work Functions: 

• Responds to fire calls and/or emergencies as directed when on-duty.
• Responds to emergency medical calls, renders aid to victim(s) as required in accordance with department policy.
• Responds to fire alarms involving getting to the scene with proper equipment quickly and safely; and includes proper positioning of fire apparatus and other equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Rescues individuals from fires and other emergency situations. Evacuates occupants of burning structures and assists them to safety. Administers first aid to injured persons as required.
• Extinguishes fires. Places hoses and ladders, operates pumps, directs streams of water, uses other extinguishing agents as appropriate, ventilates structures by opening windows or cutting holes, etc. May operate aerial ladders, fire extinguishers, bars, axes, etc., as needed. Involves working inside, outside, and on top of burning and smoke-filled structures.
• Performs salvage operations, which may include placing canvas, removing excess water, shoveling out debris, sometimes patching windows and holes, and performing other clean-up as directed.
• Performs firefighting tasks, rescue operations, and other emergency response actions, under stressful conditions, while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Ventilates and forces entry of burning buildings by breaking glass; springing or forcing doors, windows or gates; cutting locks, bars or wire grating; or breaking walls using appropriate safety gear and equipment.
• Assists with special rescue operations and crowd control in emergency situations. Pries open vehicles equipment, or structures using specialized equipment such as jaws-of-life or winch in order to free trapped persons.
• Cleans up and prepares equipment, including refueling vehicles, refilling water tanks, recharging air tanks and extinguishers, washing trucks and hand tools, drying and reloading hoses, and other work needed to return vehicles and equipment to ready status.
• Assists in inspecting, maintaining, and repairing, as necessary, all fire related equipment. Completes proper checklists and reports damaged and improperly functioning equipment.
• Maintains facilities and performs housekeeping maintenance duties as directed, including building and grounds maintenance, sweeping and washing floors and walls, cleaning living areas, and performing minor repairs as needed and assigned.
• Assists in fire prevention duties as assigned. Assists with regular inspections of commercial and public buildings.  Assists with fire prevention education, etc.
• Keeps a superior officer advised of fire suppression developments and performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs all duties assigned in connection with the operation and maintenance of the Fire Division and the Division apparatus, equipment, and quarters.
• Actively supports, demonstrates understanding of, and participates in the Department of Public Safety Community Governance Philosophy.
• Operates automobiles, trucks, and apparatus in all environmental conditions; operates sirens, lights, and radios while driving; and enters and exits vehicles and apparatus quickly.
• Reads road signs, house numbers, license plates, etc. day and night.
• Responds to fires, accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and emergency areas and removes or mitigates hazardous situations.
• Works in burning and smoke filled buildings and other highly hazardous areas.
• Identifies smoke and common hazardous materials by smell, and/or monitoring.
• Recognizes the sounds of danger, cries for help, alarms, sirens, vehicles, breaking glass, etc.
• Climbs ladders, stairs and fire escapes carrying heavy hoses, equipment, and people; climbs over or crawls under objects.
• Crawls carrying hoses, equipment and tools, searching for victims, and fire or other hazards.
• Walks and crawls in smoke filled atmospheres with zero visibility.
• Runs, dodging low hanging objects and obstacles.
• Forces open doors and windows.
• Operates a variety of hand-tools ranging from wrenches and screwdrivers to axes and pike poles.
• Gives and receives orders, information, and directions to and from others under various conditions and distances.
• Provides crowd control, and traffic direction and control at events and emergencies in areas subject to large scale pedestrian and traffic congestion.
• Visits the scenes of fires and hazardous material accidents and other emergencies. Searches for and preserves evidence. Investigates causes and interviews victims, witnesses, and potential suspects. Records findings and observations. Provides testimony in court.
• Makes oral and written reports.
• Identifies and provides accurate, detailed descriptions of persons and objects.
• Inspects structures and buildings to detect hazards and violations of the Fire Code.
• Issues citations and warnings to Fire Code violators.
• Speaks to and trains large groups of persons.  Performs public education and public speaking on fire service and fire prevention topics.
• Develops collaborative partnerships within the community.  Initiates and maintains active contact with business operators and community residents and fosters community relations activities, community partnerships, and hazard prevention awareness.
• Scans residential and business areas to identify unlawful conduct, whether criminal or non-criminal, to identify hazards to life or property, whether public or private, and to maintain a visible presence.
• Identifies and utilizes progressive nuisance prevention techniques.  Identifies and monitors areas, whether self-identified or identified by the community, where public nuisances or criminal activities are occurring or are likely to occur.  Conducts proactive scanning activities within areas assigned areas of the city, concentrating on assigned areas of responsibilities or assigned neighborhoods.
• Responds to identified problems to situations that may be perceived as problems by members of the community.   Initiates appropriate responses by partnerships, including other non-public safety resources. Conducts preliminary investigations on non-criminal matters, and documents facts necessary to provide for appropriate responses by other non-public safety resources to community issues and/or nuisances as necessary to maintain public order and safety.  Notifies property owners of potential problems and hazards. Ability to mediate resolutions to problems.
• Carries on discussions with and answers questions from the public as well as represents the Department in contacts with the public as assigned.
• Serves the citizens of Mankato by accepting responsibility for enforcing the laws and ordinances intended to maintain public peace and safety.

Communicates With:

• Internally – Public Safety staff, Public Works staff, Records staff, Maintenance staff, and other city employees
• Externally – General public, ambulance service, vendors, Blue Earth County, State Fire Marshal's Office

Supervision:

• Non-supervisory

Other Work Functions:

• Performs physical and mental demands and work environment requirements for this position.
• Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours as necessary.
• Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and community customers.
• Performs other related work as assigned or apparent.

The above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.

Minimum Qualifications

Conditions of Employment:

• Must satisfactorily complete a background investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and pre-employment drug testing.
• Must successfully complete the Department of Public Safety Fitness Program and maintain those standards.
• Ability to pass medical standards for self-contained breathing apparatus; and ability to wear self-contained breathing apparatus while performing work duties.
• Must successfully complete annual physicals. 
• Must meet expectations of the work functions and knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
• Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
• Must comply with data practices policies and standards relative to not public data. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished the not public data must be properly stored according to city policy and the Minnesota Statutes.
• Safety Sensitive Notice: This is a safety sensitive position which requires cannabis pre-employment drug testing. Safety sensitive position means a job in which an impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis usage would threaten the health and safety of any person.

Other Qualifications

Hours and days of work for this position will vary by shift assignment. Part-time firefighters work an average of 10 hours/week, but may not exceed 14 hours/week.

Provides essential municipal services and infrastructure for Mankato residents.