Firefighter-EMT

City of Deerfield Beach; Deerfield Beach (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Deerfield Beach is building a new Fire Rescue Department and seeks Firefighter EMTs to help lay the foundation, culture, traditions, and teamwork from day one. You will respond to emergencies, deliver patient care, and support fire suppression with a strong commitment to service.

Founding members will shape the department's standards, safety culture, and operational excellence while advancing to future milestones in public safety. Shift work includes nights, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, Certificate of Statutory Compliance, or Certificate of Training.
• Current State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification.
• Valid State of Florida driver license with any endorsement required by the City or Fire Rescue Department and an acceptable driving record.
• Current Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) certification, or equivalent training acceptable to Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue.
• Must meet all physical, medical, background, and other employment requirements established by the City and applicable law.
• Must maintain all required licenses and certifications as a condition of employment.
• Candidates with less than three (3) years of career firefighting experience must possess CPAT certification within one year; those with three years or more are exempt.
• CPAT and Swim Certification requirements are mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Responds to fires, alarms, EMS incidents, rescues, hazmat, and other emergencies.
• Performs fire suppression operations and assists with fire attack.
• Conducts search and rescue in hazardous environments and extrication as needed.
• Provides emergency medical care within Florida EMT scope (assessment, bleeding control, CPR, BLS).
• Serves on a Rescue unit and progresses toward Paramedic certification.
• Performs forcible entry, ventilation, ladder work, salvage, and other fireground duties.
• Inspects and maintains PPE, equipment, and apparatus readiness.
• Participates in training, drills, physical fitness, and continuing education.
• Assists with prevention, public education, and community engagement.
• Completes reports, records, patient care documentation, and equipment checks accurately.
• Maintains knowledge of response areas, hydrants, and EMS protocols.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Skills

Integrity

Judgment

Compassion

Initiative

Public service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Don't just join a department. Help build one.

We're looking for motivated, service-driven Firefighter EMTs who want to be part of something from the beginning.

This is more than an opportunity to continue your career in the fire service. Its an opportunity to become a founding member of a new Fire Rescue Department and help establish the culture, traditions, standards, and sense of teamwork that will define it for years to come.

Why join us from the start?

• Be a Founding Team Member - Join during a defining moment and help build the foundation of a new Fire Rescue Department.
• Help Shape the Culture - Be part of a team built around service, safety, professionalism, accountability, and teamwork.
• Make an Immediate Impact - Provide emergency services that directly affect the lives and well-being of the people in our community.
• Build Something That Lasts - Help establish the traditions, expectations, and standards future members will inherit.
• Learn and Grow - Develop your skills, take on new challenges, and grow professionally as the department grows.
• Be Part of the Team From Day One - Work alongside professionals who share a commitment to serving the community and building a strong department together.

What You'll Do

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to:

• As a Firefighter EMT, you'll be on the front line of our mission to protect lives, property, and the community.
• You’ll respond to emergencies, provide patient care, support fire suppression and rescue operations, and work closely with your crew to ensure the department is always ready to respond.
• As a founding member, you’ll also have something most firefighters never experience - the opportunity to help establish the traditions, teamwork, and culture of a new Fire Rescue Department.

What We’re Looking For

We're looking for Firefighter EMTs who are ready to work hard, serve others, and be part of a team.
The ideal candidate brings integrity, sound judgment, compassion, initiative, and a strong commitment to safety and public service. We're looking for professionals who communicate effectively, remain composed in challenging situations, support their crew, and take pride in being prepared when the community needs them.
Joining a new Fire Rescue Department also requires flexibility and a willingness to contribute. There may not always be an established tradition or a familiar way of doing things. Founding members will have the opportunity—and responsibility—to help create them.

Salary/Step Placement: The salary range listed for this position reflects the full range of the applicable salary step schedule. The starting salary and step placement for the selected candidate will be determined based on verification of the candidate’s current salary step, relevant experience, education, certifications, qualifications, and other applicable factors. Placement within the salary range is not guaranteed and may vary based on the selected candidate’s verified qualifications.

Essential Functions

• Responds to fires, fire alarms, emergency medical incidents, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, natural disasters, and other emergency situations as assigned.
• Performs fire suppression operations, including advancing and operating hose lines, connecting to water supplies, operating nozzles and appliances, and assisting with fire attack.
• Performs search and rescue operations in hazardous environments, including removing or assisting victims from structures, vehicles, waterways, and other emergency situations.
• Provides emergency medical care within the scope of practice of a State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), including patient assessment, bleeding control, CPR, basic life support, and other authorized treatment.
• Firefighter EMTs shall be assigned to staff a Rescue unit and perform emergency medical duties within the scope of their State of Florida EMT certification. Assignment to a Rescue unit shall continue until the employee obtains State of Florida Paramedic certification and successfully completes all Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue requirements for functioning as a Paramedic. Firefighter EMTs shall not be eligible for promotion to a higher rank until State of Florida Paramedic certification and all applicable departmental credentialing requirements have been successfully completed.
• Performs forcible entry, ventilation, ladder operations, salvage, overhaul, and other fireground functions using appropriate tools and equipment.
• Responds to hazardous materials incidents and performs assigned functions consistent with training, certification, and departmental procedures.
• Inspects, cleans, maintains, and ensures the operational readiness of firefighting, rescue, EMS, and personal protective equipment.
• Participates in company, station, and departmental training, drills, critiques, physical fitness activities, and continuing education.

• Assists with fire prevention activities, public education, community engagement, pre-incident planning, and station tours as assigned.
• Performs station duties, including cleaning and maintaining apparatus, equipment, tools, work areas, and living quarters.
• Completes required reports, records, patient care documentation, equipment checks, and other departmental documentation accurately and timely.
• Maintains knowledge of response areas, streets, hydrants, target hazards, departmental policies, operational procedures, and EMS protocols.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, Certificate of Statutory Compliance, or Certificate of Training.
• Current State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification.
• Valid State of Florida driver license with any endorsement required by the City or Fire Rescue Department and an acceptable driving record.
• Current Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) certification, or equivalent training acceptable to Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue.
• Must meet all physical, medical, background, and other employment requirements established by the City and applicable law.
• Must maintain all required licenses and certifications as a condition of employment.
  • Candidates with less than three (3) years of career firefighting experience must possess a current and valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification/card, completed within one (1) year of the application date, from a recognized testing agency or fire academy, in accordance with City and Fire Rescue Department requirements. Candidates with three (3) or more years of career firefighting experience are exempt from the CPAT requirement.
  • Candidates with less than three (3) years of career firefighting experience must possess a current and valid Broward County Swim Test certification/card at the time of application. Candidates with three (3) or more years of career firefighting experience are exempt from this requirement.

Important Notice – CPAT and Swim Certification Requirements

Applicable to Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic applicants with less than three (3) years of professional firefighting experience.

Due to limited testing availability, the City of Deerfield Beach has adjusted the submission deadline for the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) and swim certifications.

Please note:

• Both the CPAT and swim certifications remain mandatory requirements.
• Applicants must successfully complete and submit both certifications before they can proceed to an in-person interview.
• This adjustment applies only to the certification submission deadline and does not waive either requirement.

Preferred Education and Experience Requirements:

• Previous fire rescue, EMS, emergency response, or related public safety experience preferred.
• Additional fire service, rescue, hazardous materials, EMS, or technical certifications and training preferred.
• National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of modern firefighting, rescue, fire prevention, salvage, and basic life support emergency medical principles, practices, equipment, and tools.
• Knowledge of hazardous materials awareness and emergency response safety practices.
• Knowledge of departmental policies, procedures, EMS protocols, safety practices, and Incident Command System principles.
• Ability to safely use, inspect, and maintain firefighting, rescue, EMS, and personal protective equipment.
• Ability to act quickly, calmly, safely, and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and communicate effectively by radio, verbally, and in writing.
• Ability to observe, evaluate, and report potentially dangerous conditions clearly and accurately.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks for extended periods under adverse and hazardous environmental conditions.
• Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, lift, carry, push, and pull persons, equipment, tools, hose, and other materials.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, City officials, partner agencies, and the public.

Physical Demands

• Performs very heavy and strenuous physical work requiring strength, stamina, agility, and coordination. Duties may require prolonged standing, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling persons and equipment while wearing full personal protective equipment and SCBA.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in fire stations, emergency vehicles, training environments, community settings, and emergency scenes. The employee may be exposed to fire, heat, smoke, hazardous materials, infectious materials, extreme weather, noise, confined spaces, unstable structures, traffic, water hazards, and other hazardous or potentially life‑threatening conditions.

Work Hours

Shift work is required, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Employees may be required to work overtime, emergency callbacks, declared emergencies, training assignments, and other hours necessary to meet the operational needs of the City.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The City of Deerfield Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities.

Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Essential Safety Functions

It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures and safe work practices. Each employee must follow safety training and instructions provided by their supervisor. Each employee must also properly wear and maintain all personal protective equipment required for their job. Finally, each employee must immediately report any unsafe work practices or unsafe conditions as well as any on-the-job injury or illnesses.

Every manager/supervisor is responsible for enforcing all safety rules and regulations. In addition, they are responsible for ensuring that a safe work environment is maintained, safe work practices are followed and employees are properly trained.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

Note: During emergency conditions, all City employees are automatically considered emergency service workers. City employees are subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, or other emergency situations and are expected to perform emergency service duties as assigned.

The City of Deerfield Beach values the service veterans and their family members have given to our country and supports the hiring of returning service members and military spouses.