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What is a Reserve
Firefighter?
All of Intermountain's Firefighters are Volunteer Reserves.
Reserve Firefighters perform many of the same types of work as full time, career
firefighters do. Intermountain Reserve Firefighters do their job for the
satisfaction of providing community services and do not receive a pay check.
Similar to full-time, Reserve Firefighters also work 24-hour shifts. This
ensures the district is always covered and membership participation is
equitable. Reserve Firefighters train an average of 20 hours per month.
The
socialization within a reserve fire Department provides its members with a
strong sense of community, solidarity and identity. Teamwork, personal
investment, and self-sacrifice are the basis of the social framework of a
reserve fire Department. Each member knows they may someday put their life in
the hands of a Department brother or sister. Espirit de corps and brotherhood
lies within every firefighter whether expressed verbally or not.
What
are the duties of a Reserve
Firefighter?
Firefighting requires each individual member to perform a variety of duties and
are responsible for responding to calls within the District. This can
range from structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, removing severely
injured people from auto accidents, treating people who have been victims of
crimes, to delivering babies. The conditions that you work under vary
greatly and are often adverse in nature. During firefighting and rescue
operations, firefighters must wear personal protective equipment which weighs
approximately 40 lbs. The physical and mental demands of firefighting are
rigorous. Providing emergency medical services is another major role for
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department. As a Reserve Firefighter you will
frequently experience emergency medical service activity. Reserve
Firefighters are trained as an Emergency Medical First Responders or Emergency
Medical Technicians. As a First Responder you will administer varying
degrees of emergency medical aid to injured people under extreme conditions
involving trauma, illness, and personal tragedy.
What are the physical and mental
functions of a Reserve Firefighter?
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Ability to carry a ladder weighing approximately 75 pounds; to raise and
extend the ladder.
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Ability
to assist victims down ladders; and to carry fire hose
and other heavy equipment up and down ladders or stairs.
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Ability to move and advance a charged hose line, into a burning building,
while standing or crawling on the floor.
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Ability to hold a flowing hose line for long periods of time and to shut
off a flowing line while maintaining control of the hose line.
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Ability to enter a building under adverse fire conditions, which might
include smoke, extreme heat, and no visibility, in full protective clothing
including air pack with face piece.
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Ability to search for fire victims (sometimes searching by feel only),
walking or crawling; and if a victim is found, to drag or carry the victim to
safety.
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Ability to work in high places, open places and confined places.
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Ability to operate a power saw in awkward positions, such as cutting on a
sloping roof, and cutting from a ladder.
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Ability to use a variety of tools to remove walls and ceilings, requiring
pulling and pushing motions with arms extending overhead for long periods
of time, or to force entry into a building.
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Ability to perform fire and emergency medical duties while exposed to
extreme cold and/or wet environmental elements.
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Ability to operate power extrication equipment to assist in patient
removal from motor vehicles.
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Ability
to lift and carry patients over rough or uneven terrain for considerable
distances.
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Ability to bend, strain, stretch, contort, push, pull, twist, carry, walk
with weight, or lift to remove a victim from a motor vehicle and place the
victim on a stretcher.
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Ability to drive light duty vehicles and large fire apparatus during both
the day and night, using depth perception and peripheral vision in
emergency situations, in congested traffic and in unsafe road conditions
caused by factors such as fog, smoke, rain, ice and snow.
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Ability to complete firefighter emergency rescue functions and tasks which
are very physically demanding over a period of time without breaks,
recovering quickly when given a short break.
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Ability to respond to an alarm, wake, and go from a sound sleep to full
activity and exertion in a matter of minutes.
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Ability to perform basic emergency medical functions, once trained, such
as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation for extended periods of time.
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Ability to provide emergency medical response, remain calm, and be exposed
to various diseases.
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Ability to hear and orally respond to verbal orders, calls for assistance,
and radio communications, as well as the ability to hear, identify and
appropriately respond to various sounds in an environment of substantial
background noises, such as sounds produced by structural collapses,
back draft, flashover, breaking glass, other Firefighters, sirens, traffic
and victims.
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Ability to shout orders, warnings and responses when
necessary.
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Ability to maintain composure and confront stressful situations, and
withstand the effects of repeated exposure to traumatic situations.
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Ability to read, learn and remember new and updated detailed complex
information, such as hazardous materials information, medical information,
or changes in policy or procedures, and the ability to apply information
in a logical manner.
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Ability to identify hazardous materials codes by color.
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Ability to communicate with a diverse range of people and deal with verbal
and physical confrontations.
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Ability to interview people and to gather information on their medical
history or circumstances surrounding an incident.
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Ability to prepare incident reports, inspection reports and medical
reports either by hand or computer, using proper, detailed descriptions
and appropriate grammar.
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Other duties as required of the position.
What are the minimum qualifications to become a Reserve Firefighter?
Individuals who wish to apply as a Reserve Firefighter with Intermountain
Fire Department must have the following qualifications:
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High school graduate or have passed the GED Requirements.
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Possess or obtain a valid driver’s license and show an acceptable driving record.
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At least 18 years of age by the date of appointment.
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Successfully pass a comprehensive background check.
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Successfully complete a medical, physical and drug screen.
Do I need to live in Ramona to join Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department?
No. We have
Reserve Firefighters that live in Orange County, Oceanside, and Chula Vista.
Since
Reserve Firefighters do shifts and respond directly from the station, there
is no need to live in or near the covered district.
How are Reserve Firefighters selected?
There are number of criteria used in the selection of Reserve Firefighters.
Some of these criteria are applied on a Pass/No Pass basis and others are
applied on a weighted basis (providing preference based on specific
applicant characteristics). The components of the evaluation process are as
follows:
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Minimum Qualifications: Pass/No Pass
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Physical Abilities Exercise: Pass/No Pass
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Oral Interview: 75 points passing/100 possible. Ranked and selected according to score.
Do I need any fire fighting experience to apply as a Reserve Firefighter?
No.
While pervious fire fighting experience can be helpful, it is not required.
During the Intermountain Basic Firefighter Academy you will receive all the
necessary training you'll need to be a Reserve Fire Fighter.
What is the Physical Ability
Test?
The physical ability test is a continual test designed to assess a
person’s endurance and ability to perform basic strenuous tasks that
Firefighters must perform. The exercise is a series of eight tasks, which are
simulations of actual tasks that are performed on the job. This is a timed
event, and the applicant will have a total of 12 minutes to complete the
exercise. The only exception will be the ladder climb, which is not
timed. The physical ability exercise is scored on pass/no pass basis.
Any of the following can disqualify and applicant:
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Not completing all tasks.
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Not following directions.
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Inability to complete an individual station and/or stopping or resting.
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Running during or in between stations. (Only exception is on #8 Hose
Advance)
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Taking
longer than 12 minutes to complete tasks #2 though #8
Applicants must perform the tasks wearing a firefighter’s turnout coat,
gloves, helmet and self-contained breathing apparatus (backpack and cylinder).
The total weight of the protective equipment worn during the exercise is
approximately 44 pounds. You will greatly increase your chances of passing the
exercise if you have done adequate preparatory physical training. Physical
training should emphasize cardio-respiratory (heart-lung) fitness, strength, and
muscular endurance. Most people can improve their level of physical fitness
though an intensive training program that includes running (or other aerobic
exercise). and weight training to improve muscular strength and endurance.
Following is a description of the eight tasks that applicants must perform
in order to complete the physical ability test:
TASK #1: LADDER CLIMB This station simulates climbing a 35’
extension ladder for rescue or firefighting operations. In this task, the
applicant will climb up a 35’ ladder, touch the top rung, and return to the
ground. The applicant must keep at least three points of contact on the
ladder rungs at all times. This event is not timed.
TASK #2: JOIST WALK TOOL CARRY As a firefighter your job will
many times involve walking on uneven surfaces while carrying a variety of
different tools and equipment. To begin the test you are to pick-up the
rescue saw provided (the 12 minute timer starts at this point) and straddling a 14’ ladder walk down the outside beams
of the ladder. At the end of the ladder you are to turn around (without
touching the ground) and walk back to the stating point stepping on each
rung. Place saw on the ground.
TASK #3: SIMULATED LADDER EXTENSION
This task simulates the firefighting activity of raising the fly section of
a 35’ extension ladder. A horizontal bar mounted in a stationary position
equipped with a pulley, rope halyard and locking device are used to simulate
a ladder halyard assembly. With thumbs pointed downward, employing a
continual hand over hand motion, hoist a rolled 2-½ section of fire hose
upward until the roll strikes the top of the pulley assembly. Then using a
controlled motion without allowing the rope to slide through the hands lower
the hose roll to the ground. This shall be repeated a total of (5) times.
TASK #4: STAIR CLIMB The stair
climb activity tests your ability to climb stairs while carrying
firefighting hand tools or their equivalents. From a standing position pick
up and shoulder load a hose bundle weighing approximately 44 pounds (two 50’
sections of 1 ¾" attack line) walk up a 25’ stairwell and place it in a
designated point as directed by a proctor.
TASK #5: HOSE HOIST The hose hoist
is used to measure your ability to pull a hose up the outside of a building
to an upper floor or to a roof. After dropping the shoulder load in the
last task, from a standing position, grasp rope with thumbs up; pull upward
24 vertical feet (2) pre-connected 50’ sections of 2 ½ inch hose with nozzle.
Pull nozzle over hand railing. Using hand-over hand method, pull remaining
hose up and over railing.
TASK #6: ROOF VENTILATION The chopping activity measures your
ability to use a weighted tool with a downward force for a series of
approximately 50 strokes. The chopping activity simulates the firefighter’s
activity of cutting a hole in a roof or floor to vent heat and smoke as
would be experienced in a ventilation operation. Grasp the sledgehammer and
straddle a 3’ section of rolled fire hose. With feet spread shoulder length
apart strike the side of the hose roll marked "X" 35 consecutive times
within 90 seconds.
TASK #7: VICTIM RESCUE The dummy
drag measures your ability to pull/drag a victim weighing approximately
170-lbs a distance of 75 feet. Grasp the handles of the harness and draw
them toward you chest. Using your body as a counter balance, drag the
simulated victim using your legs, and not your back. The task is complete
when the end of the prop crosses the finish line.
TASK #8: HOSE ADVANCE The hose advance is used to measure
your ability to drag a 150’ dry uncharged 2-½ inch attack line. Grasp the
loop end of a 50’ uncharged 2-½ inch hose line (prop) and drag it 200 feet
to the line indicated. Once the candidate crosses the line the final task is
complete and the timer is stopped. The test is over.
This information regarding the physical ability test will be made available to
each test candidate prior to the event.
How many Reserve Firefighters will the Department select in this process?
The Department will select up to 25 applicants for participation in the
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department Basic Firefighter Academy.
What type of training will I receive as a
Reserve Firefighter?
This Intermountain Basic Firefighter Academy covers fire behavior, firefighting, hazardous materials, self-contained breathing apparatus, hose lines,
water streams, ladders, basic knots, wildland firefighting, communications, and
emergency vehicle operations. Instructors will evaluate trainees, through manipulative skills
evaluations and multiple-choice written examinations, on a regular basis
throughout the program. Successful completion of the Basic Firefighter
Academy is required for service as a Reserve Firefighter. All of your
academy training will go toward a 'Firefighter I' certification.
How
long is the Intermountain Reserve Firefighter Academy?
The Academy is approximately 5 months long and includes 400+
hours of training. Academy classes are held Monday and Thursday evenings
6PM-10PM, every Saturday 8AM-5PM. There are a couple special
event days, such as live Fire Control 3 scheduled on Sunday's. The Academy
has a break during Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays. The Academy Starts
February, 2009.
Where are the
Academy Classes held at?
Most classes are held at the Poway Unified School District Transportation
Facility in Poway Ca. Some classes are held at the Intermountain Fire and
Rescue Department Fire Station. Still other classes are held at specific
locations around San Diego as determined by the class schedule.
Will I
receive my 'Firefighter I' from Intermountain?
After completion of the Basic Firefighter Academy, successfully passing
the Skills Assessment Tests, and have logged the appropriate amount of on shift
time (usually one year), you can apply for a Firefighter I state certificate
from the Fire Chief.
When
does the next Intermountain Basic Fire Academy Start?
The next Academy is scheduled to start February 2009. We are always accepting applications for
our academy.
What are
the
costs associated with being a Reserve Firefighter?
The only costs associated with becoming a Reserve Firefighter with the
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department is the cost of your initial
physical examination, DMV printout, training manual, and uniform. The Department
will provide all other equipment such as personal protective clothing.
The active members of the department have elected to have a $10 per month
station dues to pay for station luxuries - these include Satellite TV, and
station food supplies. Items purchased by this station dues fund are voted
on by station members.
What are the medical training requirements of Reserve Firefighters?
All Reserve Firefighters must maintain a current CPR card. Also within
6 months of joining the Department Reserve Firefighters must receive
and stay current as a First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician. The
Department has staff instructors who often do Department classes for CPR and
First Responder certifications.
Where can I get an Intermountain Reserve Firefighter Application?
You can download an
application by clicking on this link:
Application
Packet. This form
requires
Adobe PDF viewer .
You can also request an application be
emailed to you by sending an email to
info@intermountainfire.org
and make a application request.
Applications can also be requested by
mail, by sending a request to:
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department
Attention: Personnel Officer
P.O. Box 1362
Ramona, CA 92065
When is the
deadline to send in an application for the next academy?
We must have received your
application ASAP for the
February
2009 academy.
What is the step-by-step
application procedure?
1. Please read the information on this
Web Site.
The
information here
is designed to answer many of your questions
and give you an idea of what to expect as a member of the Intermountain Fire
and Rescue Department.
2. Make sure you meet all the
minimum Reserve
Fire Fighter Requirements.
3.
Print an Application
Packet, fill it out completely.
(Adobe PDF viewer required)
4. Obtain your DMV print out (driving record)
valid within one month of the date of application.
5.
Mail your application form accompanied by your
DMV printout to:
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department
Attention: Personnel Officer
P.O. Box 1362
Ramona, CA 92065
Once received, the application will be kept
on file for six months. The applicant will be responsible to update the
Department with changes as necessary. When an opening occurs, a member of
the Recruitment Committee will contact you to advise you of the date, time
and location of the physical ability test.
6. Background Investigation
Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department
will obtain background information on each applicant in several ways. First,
the applicants driving record will be checked; second, the applicants credit will be checked;
and third, the applicant will be required to complete a criminal background
check through a designated law-enforcement agency as approved by the
Department, In addition, personal references as well as employment
information will also be verified.
7.
Physical
Ability Test -
Currently
scheduled for Janurary 2009
The physical ability
test is a continual test designed to assess a
person’s endurance and ability to perform basic strenuous tasks that
Firefighters must perform. For more information see:
What is the Physical Ability
Test?
8. Oral Board Interview
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Currently scheduled
for Jan-Feb 2009
The Department will invite candidates who meet the minimum qualifications,
and pass the physical ability test, to an oral board
interview. This oral board is a structured interview process with a panel of
raters. The Department will conduct the interviews to determine the
candidate’s technical knowledge, oral communications skills, interpersonal
sensitivity, judgment, decision-making skills and adaptability. If you are
among the group of candidates invited to the oral board interview, the
Department will contact you and give you all the necessary details
regarding the date, time, and location of your interview.
9. Physical
Each Firefighter candidate approved by the
Interview Committee will be required to complete a medical and physical
evaluation to determine if the candidate can perform the essential functions
of the position. Cost for the physical examination will be at the expense of
the applicant and can be done by a doctor of your choice. Appointment as a Reserve Firefighter is contingent upon
passing this physical. The physical evaluation is to be completed by a
Licensed Physician and returned within two weeks notification of passing the
oral interview.
10. Acceptance as an Intermountain Fire and
Rescue Firefighter!
Upon successful completion of the above items, you will be scheduled for the
next Intermountain
Academy. The Reserve Academy is typically held over a four-month period
(depending on scheduling). The Academy is designed as an informative process
providing basic training in the field of fire suppression, rescue, and
emergency medical aid. Our goal is to create an environment for you to succeed.
Applicants who have already completed a
State Certified Firefighter I program may not be required to attend the
entire Reserve Academy. Candidates can apply for a "skills challenge" to
demonstrate their fire fighting, EMS, and other skills. Upon passing
the challenge, candidates may bypass certain academy classes. However,
State Certified Firefighter I applicants will be mandated to attend all
"Department specific" classes in order to learn Departmental policies and
procedures.
After completing the Academy or passing a
"skills challenge", Reserves are
assigned to a shift under the supervision of a company officer. Reserves
typically work an average of four shifts a month.
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