Lateral Firefighter

City of Henderson Kentucky; Henderson (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Henderson Kentucky is seeking a Lateral Firefighter to perform firefighting and rescue operations across a wide range of emergencies. The role requires active certification, CPAT card, and current EMT-Basic eligibility.

The position emphasizes rigorous training, equipment maintenance, public fire safety education, and collaboration with law enforcement during incidents.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; fire science training preferred.
• Valid driver's license and current CPAT card.
• Full-time career firefighter with at least 2 years on the job.

Responsibilities

• Responds to all fire and non-fire emergencies and incidents.
• Performs firefighting, rescue, ventilation, and ladder operations.
• Maintains turnout gear, apparatus, and equipment daily.
• Instructs fire safety classes and educates the public on prevention.
• Assists in fire and arson investigations and hydrant inspections.
• Maintains training hours and physical fitness per Kentucky Fire Commission.

Skills

Firefighting

Rescue operations

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or GED

Firefighter I/II (IFSAC or Pro Board)

Hazardous Materials Awareness

Hazardous Materials Operations

EMT-Basic

Job description

YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND CPAT CARD WITH YOUR APPLICATION.

Must be currently employed as a full-time career Firefighter with another fire department and have at least 2 years on the job as a Career Firefighter. Must have a current CPAT card.

Must have successfully completed and maintained the following training and certifications:

• IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter I
• IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter II
• IFSAC or Pro Board Hazardous Materials Awareness
• IFSAC or Pro Board Hazardous Materials Operations
• EMT-Basic and/or ability to reciprocate with Kentucky Board of EMS for EMT-Basic certification.

CITY OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY

CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION

CLASSIFICATION TITLE

LATERAL FIREFIGHTER

PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATION

The purpose of this classification is to perform firefighting and rescue operations in emergency situations, such as structural fires, motor vehicle accidents, aircraft emergencies, medical calls, bomb threats, wild land and brush fires, and hazardous material spills and leaks.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responds to alarms and all fire and non-fire emergencies, such as structural fires, hazardous material spills, bomb threats, building collapse, vehicle accidents, aircraft emergencies, wild land/brush fires, and emergency medical calls.
• Performs a variety of firefighting and rescue tasks; extinguishes fires; chops openings in buildings for ventilation; perform search and rescue operations; performs extrication of victims and performs CPR and basic life support as needed; climbs ladders; performs forcible entry at emergency scene; operates fire stream nozzles; turns fire hydrants on/off at fires; ensures proper connections of fire hose.
• Performs salvage and overhaul operations on fireground; assists law enforcement personnel with traffic and crowd control.
• Inspects and maintains turnout gear, pumping apparatus, aerial apparatus, self-contained breathing apparatus, fire hose, and related equipment; inspects apparatus daily to ensure good working condition; takes inventory of equipment on apparatus daily; cleans apparatus and equipment as outlined in the department manual and after each run; performs routine repairs; notifies supervisor of maintenance needs.
• Utilizes a variety of equipment in the performance of duties, such as radio communications equipment, fire engine pump panel, aerial ladder devices, fire suppression tools, rescue tools, safety equipment, ventilation tools, forcible entry tools, and self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Participates in and instructs fire safety education classes; participates in and instructs the general public on fire prevention; participates in station tours; provides instruction of fire extinguisher usage; counsels juvenile fire setters.
• Assists in conducting scentometer readings; conducts business inspections, installs private smoke detectors; conducts fire hydrant inspection; maintains working knowledge of departmental rules and regulations and standard operating procedures.
• Conducts verification of ownership; pumps water from basements; performs lock in/lock out services.
• Assists police and ambulance personnel as needed.
• Perform routine maintenance work involved in the upkeep of fire department property and equipment.
• Attends training classes in firefighting and related subjects; maintains minimum training hours as required by the Kentucky Fire Commission; maintains physical fitness.
• Prepares fire incident and equipment deficiency reports, and submits as appropriate.
• Assists in fire and arson investigations.
• May perform water rescue, confined space, and rope rescue operations.
• Maintains regular and predictable in person attendance during regular business hours of the fire department and the City of Henderson is required.
• Must undergo and successfully complete drug test and alcohol screening prior to employment and undergo and successfully complete future drug test and/or alcohol screening pursuant to the City’s Drug and Alcohol policy.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts severe weather spotting.
• Drives and operates fire apparatus as needed.
• Performs water rescue operations.
• Performs other related duties as required, necessary, or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by vocational/technical training in fire science preferred; supplemented by little or no previous experience or training; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Must be currently employed as a full-time career Firefighter with another fire department and have at least 2 years on the job as a Career Firefighter. Must have a current CPAT card.

Must have successfully completed and maintained the following training and certifications:

• IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter I
• IFSAC or Pro Board Firefighter II
• IFSAC or Pro Board Hazardous Materials Awareness
• IFSAC or Pro Board Hazardous Materials Operations
• EMT-Basic and/or ability to reciprocate with Kentucky Board of EMS for EMT-Basic certification.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate and control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and rapid adjustments.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in critical and/or unexpected situations involving extreme risk to the organization.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert very heavy physical effort in very heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of heavy objects and materials (up to 100 pounds) and occasionally heavier items (100 pounds or over).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, toxic agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

This job description does not constitute a contract of employment. Any oral or written statements or promises to the contrary are hereby expressly disavowed and should not be relied upon by any prospective or existing employees. This job description is subject to change by the employer (the City of Henderson) at the discretion of the employer, or as the needs of the employer and/or requirements of the job change. The City of Henderson explicitly reserves the right to modify any of the provisions of this job description at any time and without notice. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties or essential functions does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.