Fire Engineer (Promotional)

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (ACFD) provides all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview), the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Newark, Union City and Emeryville, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 4 Battalions, 30 Fire Stations, 26 Engine Companies, 7 Ladder Truck Companies and 1 Heavy Rescue serving a population of 394,000, the ACFD serves densely populated urban areas, waterways, industrialized centers, extensive urban interface, agricultural and wildland regions. Over 450 personnel and 100 Reserve Firefighters provide a wide variety of services to an ever expanding, dynamic and diverse community of roughly 508 square miles. These services include:  

• Advanced Life Support Rescue
• Fire Suppression
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Urban Search & Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Community Outreach & Education
• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Prevention and Code Compliance
• Regional Dispatch

ACFD is also responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks RFTA, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton.

ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION:  To provide the highest level of service to our communities by valuing our members, promoting positive leadership, and dedicating ourselves to excellence.  For more information about the Alameda County Fire Department, please visit their website at www.acgov.org\fire. 

 

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THIS IS A NEW PROMOTIONAL ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Qualified applicants must be a current Alameda County Fire Department Firefighter with the equivalent of three years' experience as a Firefighter in the Alameda County Fire Department, successful completion of the Alameda County Fire Department Engineer's Task Book and completion of the Alameda County Fire Department's Engineer Promotional Preparation Workshop within two years from the last day for filing and successful completion of CSFM Driver Operator 1A & 1B.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing, Monday, February 9, 2015. 

 

ON-LINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

to apply visit - www.jobaps.com\alameda

 

THE POSITION:  Under supervision, to drive, operate and maintain fire engines and trucks; perform a variety of pumping operations; assist in the suppression of fires; and perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:  This class is distinguished from the next higher level class of Fire Captain in that the latter directs the activities of an engine or truck company. It is further distinguished from the lower class of Firefighter in that the latter's primary function is that of fighting fires and providing emergency medical service.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

1. Responds to fire and other emergency alarms by driving assigned vehicle to fire scenes and other locations.

2. Performs preventive and minor maintenance on assigned vehicles.

3. Spots the equipment; sets up for pumping or drafting; sets and adjusts controls on the pumper to deliver required water pressures and flow.

4. Lays hose lines and supply lines; may operate aerial ladders as assigned.

5. Assists in the inspection of public buildings and multiple residential units to determine and enforce compliance with safety laws and ordinances.

6. Compiles and submits information and reports on equipment runs, accidents, gas and oil usage, and apparatus inspections.

7. Assists in the maintenance of fire station and surrounding grounds.

8. Operates pumper equipment and otherwise assists in the suppression of fires.

9. Performs related duties as required.

- Experience:

The equivalent of three years’ experience as a firefighter in the Alameda County Fire Department, successful completion of the Alameda County Fire Department Engineer’s Task Book, successful completion of the Alameda County Fire Department’s Engineer’s Promotional Preparation Workshop within two years from the last day for filing, February 9, 2015, and successful completion of CSFM Driver Operator 1A & 1B.

- License:

Possession and maintenance of a valid California Motor Vehicle license with a Firefighter’s endorsement.

- Security Clearance: 

As an employee within a safety classification, if hired/promoted after January 1, 2009, employees must maintain a Department of Energy security clearance unless otherwise approved by the Fire Chief.

Please Note:  The Alameda County Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The Ideal Candidate will possess the following competencies:

- Knowledge of:

• Operation and maintenance of fire pumping equipment and related apparatus.
• Technical fire fighting techniques and the principles of hydraulics as applied to fire suppression.
• Working knowledge of modern fire fighting methods.
• Fire prevention and safety principles and methods.
• General knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, policies and codes and ordinances; modern first aid techniques.

- Ability to:

• Administer first aid as required.
• Perform maintenance and minor mechanical repairs to fire equipment and other apparatus.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Function as a firefighter when necessary.
• Memorize the names of streets and locations of water mains and fire hydrants.

Pre- Test Modules/Workshops:

100% attendance at the 2013 or 2015 workshop is a prerequisite requirement for participating in the 2015 promotional process for Fire Engineer. 

 

Test Dates:

Written Test:

March 9, 2015 and March 10, 2015

 

 Performance Test:

Week of April 13 - April 17, 2015 

 

 

Fire Engineer Test Resource List:

o  IFSTA essentials, 5th edition

o  Driver Apparatus Operator, 2nd edition

o  Aerial Operations, 1st edition

o  ACFD OAG's and SOG's

o  ACFD Hydraulics Manual

The selection process for this examination will consist of the following:

1.    A review of competitor's applications to verify possession of the minimum qualifications.

2.    Those competitors who possess the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the required pre-examination workshop then a written examination, weighted 20%. The written examination will measure the applicant's knowledge in such areas as fire apparatus operations and maintenance, essentials of firefighting, water supplies and fire stream practices, hydraulic principles and calculations and ACFD’s policies and practices.

3.    All competitors who participate in the written examination will be invited to participate in the performance portion of the process. The performance portion will consist of an aerial ladder performance test, a pumping operations performance test, a drafting operations performance test, and a driving performance test. Each of the four components of the performance portion will be weighted at 20%.

***Competitors must achieve at least 70% in each of the following four components: Aerial Ladder, Pumping Operations, Drafting Operations and Driving Operations and 70% overall in order to obtain an overall qualifying score in the entire examination process.

 

 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO ANNOUNCED

EXAMINATION STEPS.

*** For benefit information, please refer to the recruitment brochure.