Firefighter

City of Andover Kansas; Andover (KS); On-site; USD 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Holidays

Medical and Dental Insurance

KP&F Retirement

YMCA Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Life Insurance

EAP

Job summary

City of Andover Kansas is seeking a Firefighter to protect life and property during fires, medical emergencies, rescues and hazardous materials incidents. Duties include operating equipment, maintaining facilities, and participating in public education and risk reduction programs.

The role requires a High School diploma, Kansas EMT or higher certification within 1 year, and Firefighter 1 certification within 1 year, plus a valid Kansas Non-commercial Class B license.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Kansas EMT or higher certification preferred, required within 1 year of employment.
• Firefighter 1 certificate preferred, required within 1 year of employment.
• Kansas Non-commercial Class B driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Wear PPE and SCBA during fire tasks including hoseline operations, climbing stairs or ladders, heavy lifting, and forcible entry.
• Operate fire apparatus and emergency vehicles with lights and sirens.
• Work shifts including nighttime hours and potentially beyond 24 hours.
• Provide medical care and treatment to the sick and injured; render rescue services as needed.
• Maintain and service apparatus, equipment, station, and grounds; participate in community risk reduction and public education.
• Perform report writing and administrative tasks; may supervise others in absence of supervisor.

Skills

EMT Certification

Firefighter 1

NIMS 100/200/700/800

Driver's license

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Kansas EMT or higher certification

Firefighter 1 certification

Job description

A Firefighter in the City of Andover protects life and property from various emergencies including, but not limited to fires, medical emergencies, rescue situations, and hazardous materials situations. Drives, maintains and operates machinery including technical equipment. Maintains fire station and grounds. Participates in an assortment of training and maintains physical condition. Participates in and provides public education and community risk reduction. Supports the mission and vision of AFR.

The minimum pay for this position is $16.95/hr or $50,681.28/yr

*Pay is determined based on prior experience. Consideration is given to previous relevant experience, as well as honorable military service time served.

This posting will close on November 20th.

Applicants must be available for potential participation in the first round of testing on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF WORK

• 1.* While wearing personal protective ensembles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), performing fire-fightingtasks(e.g., hoseline operations, climbing stairs or ladders, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged periods
• Operating fire apparatus or other vehicles in emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens
• Working in shifts, including during nighttime, that can extend beyond 24hours
• Provides medical care and treatment to the sick and injured
• Provides rescue services
• Maintains apparatus, equipment, station, and station grounds
• Participates in community risk reduction including pre-fire plans, public education, public events, etc.
• Performs administrative and office tasks including report writing (handwritten and computer), organization and etc.
• May supervise others in the absence of or at the direction of the supervisor
• Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of rules, regulations, laws, treatment protocols, and standard operating guidelines
• Knowledge of firefighting equipment and suppression methodology, including building construction
• Knowledge of emergency medical care and treatment
• Knowledge of geography of the fire district and all automatic and mutual aid territories
• Knowledge of a myriad of technical rescue techniques
• Knowledge of and ability to implement and follow NIMS guidelines
• Knowledge of safety rules, policies, devices, and practices
• Ability to understand verbal and written directions
• Ability to remain calm amid chaotic and possibly life‑threatening emergency scenes
• Ability to get along well with others, form and maintain positive relationships, and provide excellent customer service
• Ability to process commands and/or make critical, time‑sensitive decisions using complex problem‑solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, that is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions
• Ability to perform duties professionally and satisfactorily in a full 24‑hour shift.
• Ability to operate large vehicles and other machinery
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, at heights, and in confined spaces
• Ability to speak to and hear fellow Firefighters, Commanders, and victims.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required
  1. Kansas EMT or higher certification preferred, required within 1 year of employment
  2. Firefighter 1 certificate is preferred, required within 1 year of employment
• Kansas Non‑commercial Class B driver’s license
• NIMS 100, 200, 700, 800 preferred, required within 1 year of employment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is subject to annual physical testing per NFPA 1582.

The Fire Personnel are responsible for the skilled and technical work of firefighting entailing the combating, extinguishing, and prevention of fires and the saving of life and property. As a pre‑hospital Emergency Medical Services provider the Firefighter/EMT/EMICT is also responsible for providing treatment and care of the ill and/or injured. Depending on location of the scene, the crew may navigate through rough terrain (in wooded areas), in/out of steep ravines, etc. They may be exposed to all weather conditions, bloodborne pathogens, toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, heated gases and hazardous situations. Due to the nature of the job, the firefighter is required to use considerable independent judgment and action in circumstances where it is not possible to refer to a superior for instructions. The employee must have ability to talk and hear in person & by telephone, as well as specific vision abilities including close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision & depth perception. Near and far acuity essential to perform duties of this position; must be able to see and operate equipment and tools in dark and/or smoky conditions, including monitors and gauges on equipment and apparatus. Vision must be better than or equal to 20/100 in each eye uncorrected; corrected to 20/40 binocular.

The Fire Personnel’s physical job demands require an occasional maximum lift of 100 lbs floor to knuckle; frequent maximum lift 50 lbs floor to shoulder; occasional maximum lift of 38 lbs floor to overhead; occasional maximum carry of 100 lbs 10 ft; occasional maximum carry of 27 lbs 100 feet; occasional maximum vertical pull force of 185 lbs; occasional maximum vertical push force of 60 lb; occasional maximum horizontal pull force of 175 lbs; occasional maximum horizontal push/pull force of 75 lbs; frequent maximum horizontal push/pull force of 20 lbs; occasional maximum grip force of 90 lbs; occasional stair and ladder climb; frequent bend; occasional kneel / crouch; frequent forward reach; occasional overhead reach; occasional crawl; frequent sit; frequent stand and frequent walk. Must be able to climb three or more flights of stairs, or 107’ aerial device while wearing a fire protective ensemble, including SCBA, weighing at least 50lb (22.6kg) or more and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20 to 40lb (9 to 18kg). Personnel may encounter Unpredictable emergency responses requiring prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without the benefit of warm‑up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration.

*A firefighter, while wearing full protective clothing (turnout coat and pants, helmet, boots, and gloves) and SCBA, is required to safely perform a variety of fire‑fighting tasks that require upper body strength and aerobic capacity. For those not familiar with fire suppression, the following specific details inherent to the activities in essential job task 1 are offered:

1. Lifting and carrying tools and equipment (e.g., axe, halligan tool, pike pole, chain saw, circular saw, high‑rise pack, and hose) that weigh between 7lb and 20lb and are used in a chopping motion over the head, extended in front of the body, or in a push/pull motion.
2. Advancing a 1 3∕4in. or a 2 1∕2in. diameter hose line, which requires lifting, carrying, and pulling the hose at grade, below or above grade, or up ladders. In addition to the weight of the hose itself, a 50ft section of charged 1 3∕4in. hose contains approximately 90lb of water, and a 50ft section of 2 1∕2in. hose holds approximately 130lb of water.
3. Performing forcible entry and/or auto extrication while utilizing tools and equipment (e.g., hydraulic cutter, hydraulic spreader, axe, halligan tool, chain saw, circular saw, or rabbet tool) that requires chopping, pulling, or operating these items to open doors, windows, or other barriers to gain access to victims or possible victims or to initiate fire‑fighting operations.
4. Performing ventilation (horizontal or vertical) utilizing tools and equipment (e.g., axe, circular saw, chain saw, pike pole) while operating on a flat or pitched roof or operating off a ground or aerial ladder. This task requires the firefighter to chop or push tools through roofs, walls, or windows.
5. Searching, finding, and rescue‑dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns to adults weighing over 200 lbs (90 kg) to safety.

Other tasks that could be performed can include search and rescue operations and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot and cold environments for prolonged periods.

BENEFITS

• Vacation Leave — Available after the end of the training period. Vacation accrues each pay period (every 2 weeks) and the accrual rate is based on years of service.
• Sick Leave- Accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month, no wait period.
• Holidays- The City provides 11 paid holidays; Firefighters receive 12 hours of holiday pay on the holiday, whether they work the day or not.
• Medical and Dental Insurance – The City covers at least 85% of the premiums of all plans. Available 1st of the month following the date of hire.
• Retirement – Firefighters participate in the Kansas Police & Fireman's Retirement System (KP&F) -City contributes 24% and employee contributes 7.15%.
• YMCA Discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free and Confidential
• Tuition Reimbursement - While employed ($1,000 a year)
• Life Insurance - As part of KP&F
• Disability insurance for employees - After90 days paid by the City

Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Andover.

By submitting your application for any position with the City of Andover, you understand and agree to the following statements:

• I attest that I will only provide true and complete information. No requested information will be concealed. If any information I provide is untrue, or if I conceal material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.
• If selected for employment with the City of Andover, I agree to participate in the appropriate examinations, determined by the position, which would include pre‑employment drug screening, and could include physical examination, polygraph, psychological, and physical endurance examinations as well. These examinations will be paid for entirely by the City of Andover. Costs of transportation and time involved in completing the examinations are the responsibility of the applicant.
• I authorize the City of Andover to contact references provided for employment reference checks.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Andover is an equal‑opportunity employer. The City of Andover does not discriminate in employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

The City shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability unless the City can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity. The City of Andover will not place surcharges on individuals with disabilities to cover the costs involved in making programs accessible. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify the City’s Director of Human Resources.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Drug‑Free Workplace

The City of Andover is committed to a Drug‑Free Workplace. I understand that the City of Andover requires the successful completion of a urinalysis for drug testing purposes as a condition of employment. Completion of an application does not constitute an employment contract or an offer of employment.

At‑Will Employment

Employment with the City of Andover is considered “at‑will.” Consideration for employment has not established any obligation for the City of Andover to hire me. If I am hired, I understand that either the City of Andover or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

Please find more information under the following links:

• https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmain.pdf
• https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
• https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf