Fire/EMS Recruit – SR-15 Full Time

To fill anticipated vacancies in 2024.

Performs initial emergency care and treatment during emergency calls requiring medical treatment; attends classes and receives training and instruction on advanced life support procedures, practices and techniques; attends classes and receives instruction in the theories, techniques, methods, and procedures used in firefighting and emergency response work.

Special Working Conditions:  Irregular hours, shift and weekend work, and exposure to hazardous and obnoxious conditions as required.  

• Attends classes and receives classroom instruction and training on advanced life support procedures to become a licensed State of Hawai‘i EMT-Paramedic.
• Evaluates and administers first aid, basic life support and life maintenance measures.
• Performs Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT) duties.
• Administers or ensures basic life support (including cardiac pulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation) to stabilize patient conditions.
• Loads and unloads patient on gurney into and from the ambulance.
• Makes rapid and accurate clinical evaluation of the nature and extent of injuries or illness by eliciting information from patients and performing basic emergency medical procedures.
• Keeps abreast of developments in the pre-hospital medical field.
• Continues care by accompanying the patient on the medic unit to the medical facility.
• May contact an authorized base station physician to relay medical information and receive instructions, and to prepare medical facility to receive and treat individuals.
• Attends training classes and receives instruction and training in the various aspects of firefighting and emergency response work.
• Studies firefighting manuals, departmental policies, procedures, fire codes, and regulations.
• Responds to fire alarms and other emergency calls and performs various firefighting and emergency response tasks as directed.
• Administers first aid and emergency life support measures when required.
• Performs salvage and clean up work when fire is under control, such as removing debris, loose beams, flooring, excess water, furnishings, and other property by removing them from buildings or spreading over with protective covering.
• Reloads hoses, ladders, and other firefighting and emergency response tools and equipment for return to station.
• Washes, polishes, and services firefighting and emergency response apparatus and equipment.
• Tests, washes, and hangs hose.
• Attends company drills and training sessions in emergency response, methods, first aid, use and maintenance of station equipment and tools, and on department policies, procedures, fire codes, regulations, and laws.
• Participates in tours of the area being served to study and become familiar with the location of streets, buildings, hydrants, static water supplies, alarm boxes, standpipe connections, sprinkler connections, and fire escapes.
• Assists in fire safety inspections of buildings and premises.
• Performs routine duties in cleaning and maintaining station living and working facilities and grounds.
• Participates in water and mountain rescue work when required.
• May operate fire apparatus, utility trucks, and vehicles as assigned.

Training and Experience:  

A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to:

• graduation from high school, and
• satisfactory completion (with a grade of C or better) of the following courses or equivalent courses as determined by Kapiolani Community College (KCC) from an accredited community college or university at the time of hire:
  • English 100, and
  • Health 125, and
  • Math 103 or higher course, and 
  • Biology 130 or Physiology 141 and Physiology 142 (formerly Zoology 141 and Zoology 142), and
  • Biology 130 Lab or Physiology 141 Lab and Physiology 142 Lab (formerly Zoology 141 Lab and Zoology 142 Lab), and
• current State of Hawai‘i Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) License or higher (attach a copy of your license to your application), and
• possession of a valid State of Hawai‘i Driver License (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver license at the time of filing.  You will be required to submit your valid driver’s license to the Hawai`i Fire Department during their selection process.

Note: Course completion may be substituted with a current State of Hawai‘i Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic License.  (Attach a copy of your license to your application)

Prior to completion of probation, the following licenses/certificates shall be required:

• current State of Hawai‘i EMT-Paramedic License,
• current Hawai‘i Fire Department Medical Certification,
• current American Heart Association Basic Life Support Certificate (CPR),
• possession of a valid Hawai‘i Fire Department (HFD) Driver’s Certificate of Competence to operate HFD Type 1 motor vehicles, and
• current Hawai‘i Fire Department Aquatics Competency Certificate – Awareness Level.

Examination:

Written test administered on the Island of Hawai`i only.
      Hilo:                 Second week of October (test dates/times will be determined based on the number of qualified applicants)
 
Assessment Exercise:

Performance Assessment Exercise (PAE) administered by the Hawai`i Fire Department on the Island of Hawai`i only:
      Hilo:                To be determined 

Knowledge of: basic life support procedures, practices, techniques, protocols, and functions of other public safety agencies and their programs.

Ability to: learn and apply firefighting, lifesaving, and fire prevention principles, practices, techniques, tools, and equipment to actual situations, learn and apply a variety of advanced emergency aid and treatment to injured and ill persons, climb ladders and work at heights, withstand sustained physical exertion and perform arduous work under adverse conditions, swim and learn water rescue techniques, act quickly and effectively in emergencies, read and understand technical materials, apply basic math to practical firefighting and fire prevention situations, understand and follow oral and written instructions, and get along with others.

Physical and Health Requirements: Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.   

Vision Requirement:  Far visual acuity is at least 20/30 binocular, corrected with contact lenses or spectacles. Far visual acuity uncorrected is at least 20/40 binocular for wearers of hard contacts or spectacles. Successful long-term soft contact lens wearers (i.e., 6 months without a problem) are not subject to the uncorrected standard. 

Physical Effort Grouping: Special

Attach a copy of your current State of Hawai‘i Emergency Medical Technician (EMT, EMT-P or higher) License to your application.

Veterans applying for veteran’s preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.

The Hawai`i Fire Department will conduct a comprehensive applicant interview and selection process for the position of Fire/EMS Recruit.  Each component of this process is designed to identify those applicants that are most suitable for the position of Fire/EMS Recruit.

The Hawai`i Fire Department is unique in comparison to many other fire departments across the state and nation in that all Fire Fighters are required to be trained and certified as Emergency Medical Technicians.

In anticipation of the large number of applicants to be tested for this recruitment, it is important for all applicants to recognize that this is a highly sought after profession and the process is very competitive.  Preparation for each component is highly encouraged.

The Hawai`i Fire Department will conduct the performance assessment exercise (PAE) in Hilo, Hawai`i for those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements.  Applicants will be notified through email of the date and time of the PAE.

The PAE consists of four (4) events related to the duties of a Fire Fighter.  Each event is timed and all applicants must pass each of the four events within the specified time to continue on in the selection process:

• Swimming Event:  100 yards in 2 minutes and 15.00 seconds, using any stroke except backstroke.  Within 45.00 seconds after the swim, surface dive to retrieve a 5-pound object submerged in the 10-foot depth of the pool.
• Weight Drag Event:  Run 50 feet; drag a 140-pound weight for 50 feet in 16.00 seconds.
• Hose Bundle Event:  Carry hose bundle over specified course in 40.00 seconds wearing a Fire Department standard turnout jacket and helmet, to be issued at test site.
• Endurance Run Event: 5 Laps around the track (1-1/4 miles) in 12 minutes.

Upon successful completion of the PAE, applicants will be scheduled for the following selection process phases:

1. Brief orientation and Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) – during this orientation, applicants are provided with a PHQ which is to be completed and returned to the Hawai`i Fire Department by a designated deadline.  The PHQ includes questions regarding employment history, military history, personal references, and criminal record.
2. Interview and assessment before an interview panel are then conducted with those applicants who submitted their PHQ by the deadline required by the Hawai`i Fire Department.
3. Conditional job offer to selected applicants.
4. Background check – selected applicant is evaluated for his/her suitability for the position of Fire/EMS Recruit in accordance with the Hawai`i Fire Department Suitability Guidelines for Fire/EMS Recruit (see suitability guidelines section).
5. A pre-employment medical exam, drug screening test, hearing test, two-step Tuberculin Skin test, and back x-ray.
6. Applicants will be required to submit documents verifying satisfactory completion (with a grade of C or better) of the following required courses or equivalent courses as determined by Kapiolani Community College (KCC) from an accredited community college or university:
   • English 100, and
   • Health 125, and
   • Math 103 or higher course, and 
   • Biology 130 or Physiology 141 and Physiology 142 (formerly Zoology 141 and Zoology 142), and
   • Biology 130 Lab or Physiology 141 Lab and Physiology 142 Lab (formerly Zoology 141 Lab and Zoology 142 Lab)

Applicants selected to become Fire/EMS Recruits with the Hawai`i Fire Department will participate in a sixteen (16)-week Fire Fighter I training program followed by a six (6)-week Emergency Medical Technician training program (both programs involve classroom and field training) in Hilo. Training may be conducted island-wide.

During these training programs, all Fire/EMS Recruits are required to meet physical, academic, and performance standards as specified by the Hawai`i Fire Department inclusive of the following:

1. Pass weekly examinations.
2. Complete formal reports and training documentation such as payroll time sheets, incident reports, letters and correspondence, etc.
3. Complete and pass a Driver Competency Certification program.
4. Complete and pass a Water Safety training and certification program.
5. Participate in and meet performance standards with a daily physical fitness training program.
6. Maintain department standards with physical appearance and grooming, uniform and dress codes, attendance and punctuality.

These employment guidelines are used by the Hawai`i Fire Department to determine whether an applicant is suitable for a Fire/EMS Recruit position:

• (Conviction) Any Felony Offense indicating a propensity for violence, lack of trustworthiness, and/or deviant sexual behavior such as Murder/Rape/Arson/Burglary [First Degree Only]/Theft[First Degree Only]/Robbery/Forgery[First Degree Only]/Assault/Terroristic Threatening/Kidnapping/Sexual Assault/Incest/Child Abuse/Abuse of Family or Household Member Lifetime (Unsuitable)

• (Conviction) Sale/Trade/Distribution of any controlled substance delineated under Schedule I-IV of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes as amended. Lifetime (Unsuitable)
• (Conviction) Use of any Controlled Substance delineated under Schedule I-IV of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes as amended, while a sworn law enforcement or prosecutorial position or in a position of high trust such as school teacher, emergency responder, nurse, counselor, athletic coach, social worker, prison guard, etc. Lifetime (Unsuitable) 

 TRAFFIC HISTORY:

• (Conviction) Two (2) or More DUI Offenses Within last 10 years (Unsuitable)
• (Conviction) Single DUI Offense Within last 5 years (Unsuitable)
• (Conviction) Reckless Driving Offense Within last 5 years (Unsuitable)
• (Conviction) Operation of Motor Vehicle while License revoked, surrendered or suspended Within last 5 years (Unsuitable)

• (Arrest) Murder Lifetime
• (Conviction) Felony Burglary [Second Degree Only], Theft [Second Degree Only], and Forgery [Second Degree Only] Within last 5 years
• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) of any Misdemeanor or Petty Misdemeanor Crime of Violence that involves injury or threat of injury to the person of another, such as Assault/Abuse Family Household Member/Terroristic Threatening, etc. Within last 5 years
• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) of any other misdemeanor/petty misdemeanors offenses. Within last 3 years
• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) Contempt of Court Within last 3 years

• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) Any Illegal Drug related offenses Lifetime
• (Arrest/Charge) Sale/Trade/Distribution any Controlled Substance delineated under Schedule I-IV of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes as amended. Lifetime
• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) Excessive use/experimentation of any/or combination of any Controlled Substance delineated under Schedule I-IV of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes as amended Lifetime

 TRAFFIC HISTORY:

• (Arrest/Charge) Reckless Driving Within last 3 years
• (Conviction/Arrest/Charge) Other Traffic Offenses (i.e. driving without a license, driving with a suspended/revoked/surrendered license, consumption or possession of intoxicating liquor while operating vehicle, storage of open container of intoxicating liquor, inattention to driving and operating a vehicle without proper insurance.) Within last 3 years
• (Arrest/Charge) DUI Offense Within last 3 years
• (Citation) Three (3) or more moving violations (i.e. speeding, etc.) and/or parking violations Within last 3 years

Employment guidelines may be revised at the discretion of the Hawai`i Fire Department – [revised 10/28/08]

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