Hiring Process Entry Level Firefighter

Hiring Process Entry Level Firefighter 101.30 Purpose To establish uniform employment policies and procedures for selecting qualified and competent Firefighters. Policy The City of Hewitt is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin or disability. Job Announcement Procedure A job announcement will be advertised on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection website and City of Hewitt website under employment at minimum. Minimum Eligibility Requirements An applicant for firefighter shall meet the following criteria in order to be considered for an entrylevel position: 1. Possess a valid Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structural Firefighter Certification at time of application. 2. Possess a valid Texas Department of State Health Services EMT-B Certification at time of application. 3. Possess a High school diploma or GED at time of application. 4. Possess a valid class B Texas driver s license or able to obtain a class B within 6 months of date of hire. 5. Must pass a complete driving and criminal history, and background investigation prior to employment. 6. Must pass a physical and drug screen prior to employment. 7. Be at least 18 years of age at time of application. 8. Be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization 9. Be able to read, write, and speak the English language fluently. 10. Be of good moral character. 11. Achieve a minimum passing score of 70 percent on the written examination. 12. Successfully complete the physical ability test as prescribed. 13. Successfully pass oral interview as determined by the Fire Chief. 1

Applicants must submit a completed application in the manner prescribed in the notice of examination in order to be eligible to test. A candidate must also include copies of the following documents: Resume (optional) Texas Driver License Texas Department of State Health Services certificate EMT-B (min.) Texas Commission on Fire Protection certificate structural (min.) High School Diploma or G.E.D. Process Written Examination: The written examination will be purchased from a professional company for purposes of testing a candidates basic knowledge of fire fighting. Applicants will be ranked by scores and those passing with a minimum of 70 will move forward to the physical evaluation. Any ties will be determined by the Tie Breakers (Attachment A) Physical Ability Evaluation: This is designed to examine an applicant s strength, stamina, and overall physical ability to perform the duties of a firefighter. There are seven tasks that must be performed within a specific time limit. An additional un-timed task tests the applicant s ability to work at heights. The physical ability evaluation is pass/fail. (Attachment B) Candidate Ranking: Candidates will be ranked according to the written exam scores. Tie breakers will apply if necessary. Background check: Background Packets will be provided to all candidates who are listed on the Eligibility List. Candidates will also be given a deadline for the return of the completed Background Packets. The top 6 candidates will undergo a complete criminal history, driving history and background check. (Attachment C) Oral Review Board: Successful applicants in the above areas will participate in an oral review board. Board members are chosen from Fire Department personnel by Fire Administration. The Oral Review Board will score the candidates and move the top 6 candidates to the Chief s interview. Chief s Interview: The final step will be an interview with the Fire Chief. Pre-Employment & Post-Offer Test: All job offers must be in writing and are made contingent upon the passing of a pre-employment drug test and physical. Eligibility List The Eligibility List shall be in effect for one (1) year, unless exhausted before one year. The list will be posted on the bulletin board outside City Hall and on the City s website for a period of 14 days after being created. Each person on an Eligibility List shall notify the Fire Department at ewhite@cityofhewitt.com of any change in address, phone number, and email address. A notice sent to a person s last known mailing address shall be considered sufficient notice. 2

Attachment A Tie Breakers Whenever two or more competitors for an entry-level position attain the same grade, the tie should be broken in the order listed below prior to the Physical Ability Examination and posting of the Eligibility List. 1. Years of Experience If a tie exists, the persons shall be ranked in the order according to which person has the most number of years active paid full-time experience as a certified Firefighter through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. 2. Higher Certification If a tie still exists, the persons shall be ranked in the order according to which person has the higher certification level as a Firefighter through TCFP. 3. Bachelor s Degree If a tie still exists, the persons shall be ranked in the order according to which person possesses a Bachelor s degree. 4. Associate s Degree If no person possesses a Bachelor s degree, and if a tie still exists, the persons shall be ranked in the order according to which person possesses an Associate s degree. 5. Quickest time on agility test If a tie still exists, the person shall be ranked in order by who has the lowest time on the Agility test. 6. By Lot - If a tie still exists, the persons shall be ranked in the order by lot as determined by a neutral person. 3

Attachment B Physical Ability Examination The physical ability examination will consist of 8 stations, (1) non-timed station and (7) timed stations. The timed stations are to be performed consecutively. This is designed to simulate the action performed during the initial phases of fire ground attack and rescue operations. Candidates must follow performance instructions for each examination station. Failure to follow performance instructions will result in failure of the test. Each candidate will wear: SCBA- excluding face piece Helmet Gloves Closed toe shoes NON-TIMED STATION Aerial Ladder Climb: Candidate will ascend the 50-foot Aerial ladder in one (1) continuous motion, ring the bell and descend in one (1) continuous motion. Failure to follow performance instruction, exhibiting fear, or stopping on the ladder will result in the failure of the agility examination. Job Skill Association: The station is designed to examine the candidate s ability to work at various heights; it examines the candidate s ability to climb ladders and is designed to ascertain the absence of acrophobia (the fear of height). Firefighters are required to perform firefighting and rescue work above ground levels. TIMED STATIONS RULES The timed stations are to be performed consecutively, and within the allotted time frame. Passing time limit for the (7) timed stations is 5 Minutes and 30 Seconds, a time greater than the allotted time will result in failure of the agility examination. The chief examiner will use two (2) stop watches to record each candidate s time. The chief examiner s stop watch is the primary time, if the primary stop watch malfunctions then the second stop watch will become primary. The time will begin when the candidate makes contact with the hose at station #2 for the charged hose drag. When candidate completes all (7) timed stations and crosses the finish line, time(s) will end and the examination is over. The candidate will verify their time(s) with the chief examiner and sign the examination form. 4

TIMED STATIONS Charged Hose Drag Candidate will advance a 150 charged 1 ¾ -in. hose line (with the nozzle closed) to a marked point 100 feet away and place the nozzle on the ground. Job Skill Association: This event simulates the deployment of a standard fire attack hose line that is typical on the first line suppression apparatus. Rope Pull Candidate will pull a rope with a section of 3in. hose line attached, for distance of 50 feet using the hand over hand method. Job Skill Association: This simulates an actual fire ground situation requiring a firefighter to hoist a hose using a rope. Foam Bucket Carry Candidate will pick up 2 foam buckets and carry them to a marked point 50 feet away, turn around and return to the starting point of the station. Job Skill Association: This duplicates an actual fire ground situation requiring a firefighter to retrieve foam supply for attack operations. Sledge Hammer Using a sledge hammer the candidate will strike the railroad tie in a short chopping motion and move it 10 feet. Job Skill Association: This exercise duplicates the actual fire ground situations required whenever necessary to use an axe or other tool to ventilate or to forcibly gain entry. Hose Stack Candidate will stack 3 sections of 3-in. hose line from the ground on to a barrel top and place all 3 sections back to the ground (2) times. Job Skill Association: This exercise simulates the critical task of moving and handling rolled sections of hose at a fire scene. Hose Drag Candidate must extend 150 feet of 3in. hose line from an apparatus to a marked point 150 feet away, cross the line and return 50 feet, place hose coupling in marked box, clamp hose line, retrieve ground monitor from apparatus, attach hose line to monitor, unclamp. 5

Job Skill Association: 3" hose line is carried on the fire apparatus and at time may be the responsibility of a single firefighter to place a hose line into operation. Rescue Drag Candidate will drag a 165-pound device, 70 feet to a marked point. Job Skill Association: This exercise uses a weighted device equipped with a strap for pulling to simulate the critical task of removing a victim or injured firefighter from a dangerous area. 6

Attachment C Causes for Rejection The City may reject an applicant for one or more of the following reasons listed below. Time calculations for an action that constitutes rejection for a specified period of time shall be calculated from the date the application for employment is received. 1. Applicant fails to meet any of the minimum eligibility requirements. 2. Applicant intentionally provides false information related to the selection process or fails any part of background investigation. 3. Applicant fails to return a completed Background Packets at a time designated by the Chief. 4. Applicant has more than 3 moving traffic violations within any 12 month period during the last 3 years. 5. Applicant has a conviction of DWI/BWI/FWI within the past ten (10) years or DUI within the past five (5) years or violations exceeding four (4) events (moving violations or preventable accidents) within the past three (3) years. An applicant shall be temporarily disqualified until he/she can meet the above standards. Lesser, but more severe, violations which tend to indicate driving habits that are not compatible with the operation of emergency vehicles and present potential liabilities to the City shall be temporary disqualifications. Reapplication shall be permitted when the applicant can meet the above standards. 6. Applicant has been dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal from any employment for inefficiency, delinquency, or misconduct. Said dismissal or termination shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. Rejection under this provision shall be considered permanent. 7. Applicant has exercised poor judgment skills within the past five (5) years. The applicant has demonstrated either immaturity or poor judgment in the applicant s decision-making process. Examples of such conduct would include, but is not limited to: attendance at a party or social function at which controlled substances or dangerous drugs are consumed, and such activity is known or should have been known by the applicant; silent acceptance of known illegal conduct by others in his/her presence; workplace behavior/decisions that adversely affect the business or associates, with little or no objectively justifiable need for such behavior. Rejection for this cause shall be temporary until the applicant can demonstrate that his/her judgment skills have developed. 8. Applicant has a history of unstable work, i.e., including short terms of employment over his/her employment history; a history of employment in an illegal occupation. Rejection under this provision shall be temporary in nature and an applicant shall be eligible for reapplication after a five (5) year period. Due to the variables involved, each situation shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. Rejection for employment in an illegal occupation shall be permanent in nature. 9. Applicant has been convicted of: Any felony offense Any Class A misdemeanor or equivalent Any Class B misdemeanor within the previous 12 months Any offense involving Family Violence as defined by the Texas Penal Code. Any Class C misdemeanor (except minor traffic violations) within 6 months 7

An applicant may be temporarily or permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that, or he/she has admitted to, conduct which constitutes excessive and/or recent use of illicit substance(s) or excessive use of intoxicants, under the following guidelines: Consumption of marijuana within the last 5 years. Consumption of paints, gases or other abusable chemicals. Unlawful consumption of any Texas Health and Safety Code Penalty Groups I and II drugs (excluding Marijuana). Unlawful consumption of any Texas Health and Safety Code Penalty Groups III, IV, or V drugs within the last 10 years. Conduct involving excessive and/or recent use of illicit substance or excessive use of intoxicants shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency. An applicant may be temporarily or permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that he/she has admitted to, conduct which constitutes abuse of legally obtained prescription medication(s), or illegal use of the prescription medication(s) of another person. Conduct involving the abuse and/or misuse of prescription medication(s) shall be considered on a case-bycase basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency. An applicant shall be permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that, or he/she has admitted to, conduct which constitutes illegal use of felony grade substances as defined in the Texas Penal Code. The Fire Chief may recommend, and the City Manager may authorize, a variance of the above standards on a case-by-case basis. 8