FIREFIGHTER I (ENTRANCE) (CLASS CODE 7210)

City of New Orleans; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New Orleans is seeking candidates for Firefighter I to respond to emergencies, extinguish fires, provide medical care, and participate in prevention programs. Recruits will train in hazardous materials handling and emergency management while maintaining equipment and participating in drills.

The role involves physical tasks under challenging conditions, with a one-year probation and domicile considerations for Orleans Parish. A valid EMT certification is advantageous.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1 year of firefighting experience in a professional department.
• IFSAC/Pro Board certifications required (Haz-Mat, Firefighter I/II).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass medical and background checks.

Responsibilities

• Extinguish fires and render medical care as needed.
• Rescue operations and forcible entry when required.
• Perform inspections, install smoke alarms, and provide fire safety education.
• Operate and maintain firefighting equipment and quarters.

Skills

Haz-Mat Awareness

Haz-Mat Operations

Firefighter I

Firefighter II

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Skilled work involving the response to emergency situations in the City of New Orleans for the protection of life and property, reducing the incidence of fire and the loss of life to civilians and fire personnel. Involves work in Emergency Medical Response, Extinguishment and Prevention of fires, Public Safety and Emergency Management related work as required; semi-skilled work in maintaining equipment, apparatus, and quarters in good condition. Work involves an element of personal danger.

Functions of the position are preventing, responding to and mitigating emergencies i.e. extinguishing fires, rendering medical care, conducting inspections, installing smoke alarms, presenting fire safety and public education programs, working in shelters during emergencies, emergency management and public safety duties and related work as required.

Work involves the performance of tasks requiring considerable physical exertion, often under emergency and hazardous conditions. Employee must execute orders from commanding officers in a prompt, efficient manner according to appropriate methods and techniques. Duties also include forcible entry; ventilation; the search for, and rescue of fire victims; salvage; overhaul; and the proper response to medical emergencies or hazardous materials incidents. Employee must keep abreast of new developments in firefighting and prevention techniques through training. All duties are to be performed in compliance with the rules and regulations, policies and procedures of the NOFD. Upon hire to the classification of Firefighter I candidates will serve a one (1) year probationary period in that classification.

1. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application.
   Applicants must present a valid picture identification, issued by a state or other governmental agency, within two weeks of application.
   NOTE: Applicants must present a valid Driver's License to the New Orleans Fire Department prior to being given a conditional offer of employment.
2. A High School Diploma or G.E.D. Proof of graduation (either original High School Diploma, official high school transcript or original G.E.D.) must be presented to the New Orleans Civil Service Department within two weeks of application.
3. One (1) year of firefighting experience in a professional/paid fire department.
4. Good physical and psychological condition to perform the essential functions of the job of Firefighter I.
5. Arrests and convictions for felonies or numerous misdemeanors are disqualifying.
6. Applicants must have a valid picture identification, issued by a state or other governmental agency, on their person during all phases of application and examination.
7. Applicants must prove certification in the following areas. All certifications must be IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation) and/or Pro Board (International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations) sealed. Proof of certifications must be submitted to the Civil Service Department within two weeks of application.

• Haz-Mat Awareness
• Haz-Mat Operations
• Firefighter I
• Firefighter II

This position requires a one (1) year probationary period. No probationary period may last longer than one (1) year.

NOTE: Hiring considerations will be given for applicants domiciled in the City of New Orleans.

NOTE: Hiring considerations will be given for applicants who possess an Emergency Medical Technician Certification (EMT) or a higher level of medical training.

a) A written multiple-choice test, weighted 100%.

b) A qualifying physical agility test.

The written test may include some or all of the following:

• Observational Skills
• Verbal Comprehension/Listening Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Mechanical Comprehension
• Basic Tools
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Analysis & Decision Making
• Written Communication
• Arithmetic Skills

ALL APPLICANTS are required to assist and cooperate with the Civil Service Department, and the New Orleans Fire Department in obtaining past employment records, medical records, or personal history information. Failure to comply may be considered cause for disqualification.

Applicants who pass the written and agility tests will be scheduled to undergo and pass a criminal background investigation.

If given a conditional offer of employment, a qualifying medical test including a chest x-ray, lumbar spine x-ray, and psychological/psychiatric evaluation will be administered. A stress EKG may be given.

This is an original entrance examination.

Domicile requirements are waived for this position.

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CREED, CULTURE, OR ANCESTRY. REQUESTS FOR ALTERNATE FORMAT OR ACCOMMODATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SHANA PARKER AT [phone] OR TTY/VOICE AT [phone] or [phone].

DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. However, all new full-time employees hired into this classification on or after January 1, 2013, must be domiciled in Orleans Parish within 180 days of hire. Public safety employees such as commissioned law enforcement officers hired by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), firefighters hired by the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), emergency medical technicians hired by the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the recruits for these positions hired by these departments are excluded from this provision. Airport employees are excluded from this provision if the actual domicile of the employee is nearer to the employee’s job site than the distance from the job site to the nearest point of Orleans Parish.

Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT (SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD) Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. Residency requirements are waived for all Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans positions vacant and advertised for at least 90 days. Employees hired under this waiver remain exempt from the city's residency requirement for the duration of their employment at the Sewerage and Water Board. (La R.S. 33:4076). Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

BACKGROUND CHECK: The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant’s criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.

WORKING TEST PERIOD: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing. Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period. For further information, see Civil Service Rule V, Section 9.

A MEDICAL EXAMINATION is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to ACTIVE classifications, and may be required for re-employment, promotions and/or transfers.

A MEDICAL SCREENING, which may result in a medical examination, is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to non-active classifications.

GOOD MORAL CHARACTER is required of all applicants. Any applicant may be disqualified if