Requirements
Advertised Salary
Starting Salary ? $45,213.00
Salary Upon Completion of the 2022 Academy ? $50,326.00
Job Description
A CAREER IN FIREFIGHTING: THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
The Chesapeake Fire Department is a ?family? promoting teamwork, innovation and compassion. We are committed to fairness, honesty and respect. We are motivated by an environment of trust and driven by the desire to help others. Our mission is to protect and improve the quality of life by providing responsive and caring service to the citizens of and visitors to the City of Chesapeake. Our services include, but are not limited to:
Providing emergency medical care and transportation
Extinguishing fires
Providing code enforcement inspections
Providing public education programs
Providing assistance in other hazardous situations
Protection of the City?s environments through code enforcement
WHO IS A FIREFIGHTER?
A person interested in a career as a firefighter should possess the following qualities:
A desire to help others
Physical stamina
The ability to work well under pressure
The capacity to function as a cooperative and effective team member
TRAINING:
All successful applicants, upon employment, must attend a 9 month recruit school. Some of the many skills taught during this training program include driving and operation of a fire engine, search and rescue techniques, use of ladders, structural fire fighting, handling hazardous material incidents, and basic investigation of fire and arson. Each recruit must qualify as a state certified emergency medical technician. During the recruit school, instruction in emergency medical procedures is also provided.
THE WORK SCHEDULE:
Each firefighter works an average of ten, 24-hour shifts each month. The shift begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 a.m. the following day. During a typical 21-day work cycle, a firefighter will be on-duty for seven shifts and off-duty for fourteen with one, two, three or five days off between shifts.
A FIREFIGHTER?S DUTIES:
The firefighter reports for duty at the assigned station at 7 a.m. Each station is equipped with all the necessities of home as well as some of the luxuries of home.
The day typically begins with an inspection of equipment and fire apparatus to ensure that all equipment is ready to perform its function or task.
Remaining hours of the shift are devoted to a combination of tasks: training, inspections, public education, pre-fire planning, emergency response to fire, medical and emergencies as well as the routine chores associated with life at the fire station.
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE:
Several levels of responsibility create the rank structure of the Chesapeake Fire Department. As training and required in-service time is acquired, the firefighter can advance by either of two paths:
the Command Ranks (Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief) or Career Path (Senior Firefighter or Master Firefighter). For a complete list of our competitive benefits, click on the link to the left of this posting ?Benefits at a Glance?.
Required Qualifications
VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: Requires high school diploma or GED and any combination of education and experience equivalent to satisfactory completion of one year of college education.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES: Requires a valid driver?s license and a driving record in compliance with City Driving Standards. Special skills or equipment certification such as Firefighter, CPR and EMT will be required.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: None Required
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Emergency operations support work and work locations may be outside of normal job duties.
Preferred Qualifications
Virginia Certified Firefighter or Virginia Certified EMT-B or higher is preferred but not required.
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