Permanent Career Firefighter/Paramedic

Position Summary: Under supervision, engages directly in firefighting and fire prevention activities and the savings of lives and property.  Maintains and cleans Fire Department buildings, equipment, and does related work as required. Provides Advanced Life Support including medical evaluation, treatment and stabilization of the critically ill and injured; responds to emergency rescue situations involving potential loss of life or bodily injury; maintains control, and directs patient care at the scene of a pre-hospital emergency; provides training and instruction to lesser trained personnel; performs other duties as required.

Principal Responsibilities: Under general supervision, the purpose of the position is to perform fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue duties and act as Firefighter-EMT/Paramedic. Position is responsible for providing life and property protection. Responds to emergency fire, rescue and medical incidents; provides support functions, including vehicle and equipment maintenance, emergency responses, records and reporting duties, and emergency medical treatment including but not limited to medical emergencies, and trauma emergencies. Performs fire/rescue and medical service functions within applicable department policies, laws, codes, rules and regulations. Performs related work as required.

•    Responds to alarms with assigned company to assist in combating and extinguishing fires. Drives and operates equipment and heavy apparatus, including aerial ladder trucks, hose wagons, pumpers, rescue trucks, and similar firefighting apparatus. Lays, couples, and connects fire hose and advances fire hose into burning buildings to direct fog or water streams using various heavy stream appliances and extinguishers.

•    Enters burning buildings to evacuate and rescue persons in danger. As required, places, erects, climbs ladders (including aerial ladders), and ventilates burning buildings. Using forcible entry tools, if necessary, opens locked doors, windows, and skylights and chops, cuts or breaks openings in roofs, floors, partitions, and ceilings. Spreads salvage covers, removes excess water and debris, and secures buildings against rekindling, trespassers and weather.

•    Performs emergency rescue operations in connection with drowning and extrication work. Administers first-aid and resuscitation on a variety of victims. Ability to work effectively, using good judgment and common sense with a thorough understanding of the principles of emergency medical care.

•    Washes, polishes, and tests fire apparatus and equipment. Hangs, dries, and tests fire hoses. Maintains clean and orderly condition of quarters and performs minor maintenance repairs.

•    Attends department drill schools, company drills and training classes in firefighting and related subjects. Participates in routine fire prevention inspections of buildings in area served by assignment company. Performs alarm operations, radio dispatching, and other related duties of a similar nature and complexity as required or requested by supervisor.

•    Ensures that vehicles and equipment are ready for use at the beginning of each shift and after every call. This includes appropriate inspecting, cleaning, disinfecting, restocking and completing required checklists.

•    Performs indicated Basic life support and/or Advanced Life Support procedures as per the appropriate Regional Protocols under the direction and supervision of the Medical Control Physician, through standing orders, radio or telephone communication. Transports to the most appropriate hospital and provides inter-facility transport if needed, and in the best interest of the patient, pending the approval of the officer in charge.

•    Acts at all times in the best interest of high quality patient care, and in the best interest of the patient. Maintains patient care and pat

ient advocacy until responsibility has been transferred to the appropriate medical professional. Must be able to document, in writing, all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifications of such; ability to converse with dispatcher and EMS providers via phone or radio as to status of patient.

•    Ability to interact effectively and professionally with coworkers, patients, family members, bystanders, hospital staff and other medical professionals in a way that reflects the professionalism of the Westford Fire Dept.

•    Assists in department EMS training when needed, including educating BLS providers in the interest of high quality patient care. Attends regular scheduled training, including mandatory simulation lab time, morbidity / mortality rounds and other required specialized training.

Required Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Abilities: Emergency medical care to the EMT & Paramedic level, fire suppression and rescue practices, fire prevention, principles, methods, and practices; local codes related to emergencies; state statutes. Responds to fire and emergency alarms; perform all phases of fire suppression work.

Education, Training, Special Licensure/Certification Requirements:

1.    Proof of graduation from high school (diploma) and/or copy of General Education Development (GED) certificate.

2.    Maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.

3.    Maintains current certification as  Massachusetts Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

4.    Massachusetts Certified Firefighter I/II.

5.    Maintains current certification as a Basic Life Support provider, Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support provider by the American Heart Association.

6.    Attends regular scheduled training, including mandatory simulation lab time, morbidity / mortality rounds and other required specialized training.

Contacts (boards & committees, vendors, general public, etc.): Makes frequent contact with municipal and state government agencies/officials, other municipal fire departments, business owners, civic groups, contractors, attorneys, insurance company representatives, and other town departments, coworkers, patients, family members, bystanders, hospital staff and other medical professionals in a way that reflects the professionalism of the Westford Fire Dept.

Supervisory Responsibility (Include Positions Supervised): Works under the administrative direction of the Fire Chief and direct supervision of the Officer in Charge. Questionable situations are referred to the Officer in Charge.

Summary of Occupational Exposures:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Employee is regularly required to walk, stand, sit, talk, and hear; uses hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms as in picking up paper, files, and other common office objects.  During emergencies, the employees is required to climb, stoop, crouch, kneel, run, roll, and climb a ladder; employee must be able to access all areas of buildings/structures.  Employee is required to detect odors and have heat/cool sensitivity.  May lift/drag/carry/move objects weighing more than 100 pounds. Vision and hearing at or correctable to normal ranges. Ability to operate a computer and view a computer screen for extended periods of time. Video Display Terminals, calculator, Telephones, Office machines, Personal Computers. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Environment:    Inside: Varies                       Outside: Varies        

Responsibility for Operating Budget: None

Salary: $28.97 / hour ; $63,513.82 annually 

Location:     Westford, MA                                                         

Approximate Start Date:  October 2024

Direct Report:  Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Captain and Lieutenant