DFPC Fire Resource Specialist

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads preparing and mitigating environmental disasters disaster recovery combating crime school safety and victim recovery.

Youll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

About the Work Unit

The mission of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property resources environment and quality of life in Colorado. The Division achieves this mission through its 5 Sections: Administration Center of Excellence (COE) Fire and Life Safety (FLS) Professional Qualifications and Training (PQTS) and Wildland Fire Management (WFMS).

Colorados structure for managing wildland fire is a cooperative interagency system involving local county state tribal and federal agencies. Wildland fire protection responsibilities on non-federal lands in Colorado follow a hierarchy of local jurisdiction to the county sheriff and finally to the State of Colorado (DFPC). One of the primary roles of WFMS is to assist and support local agencies with a range of fire management programs including administrative technical preparedness planning response and prescribed fire functions. Another primary role of WFMS is to coordinate with external partners and represent Colorado at the Regional (multi-state) and National levels.

Within the WFMS Section the Fire Resources Branch is responsible on a Statewide basis for: coordinating with federal state county and local systems to integrate and streamline mobilization of fire resources (wildfire structure fire EMS etc.); maintaining data and systems for fire service resources; tracking status and availability of fire resources; working with Stakeholders on mobilization plans and maintaining mutual aid agreements; providing training to stakeholders; and mobilizing fire service resources for emergency incidents at the request of fire department County State and Federal incident commanders and/or local dispatch centers.

About the Position

The primary purpose of the Fire Resource Specialist position is to perform State Fire Coordination functions and perform a range of programmatic functions in support of local county State and Federal fire agencies across Colorado. This position coordinates and mobilizes fire resources across the State of Colorado for all types of fire incidents (wildfirestructure fire EMS etc.) as part of the Colorado Coordinated Regional Mutual Aid System (CCRMAS).

The Fire Resource Specialist position also assists with staffing 1 of 3 interagency dispatch centers in Colorado (covering 16 to 28 counties each); supports both short-term initial attack and long-duration extended attack incidents; statuses mobilizes and tracks fire department county State and Federal resources (aviation equipment incident management teams overhead services and supplies) for wildfire incidents; and coordinates within the national dispatch system to mobilize resources into and out of Colorado when needed.

The Fire Resource Specialist independently performs a blend of programmatic support and administrative duties as well as basic fire dispatching mobilization and logistical functions. A Fire Resource Specialist has experience in fire incident management and/or related disciplines but has limited fire dispatch specific experience certifications or specialized qualifications. This position trains and gains experience in more advanced and complex dispatching functions under the oversight of qualified personnel under a cross-staffing model.

• The Fire Resource Specialist is a basic level coordination and dispatching position that performs a variety of duties to prepare for coordinate and implement fire mobilization and dispatching for fire-related incidents across the State of Colorado.
• Bridges the current state mobilization system of systems model of disparate systems from various agencies by maintaining and implementing systems and processes for streamlined statewide mutual aid and mobilization systems for fire resources.
• This Fire Resource Specialist staffs and supports the Emergency Support Function 4 (EFS4) role for the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
• Daily coordination with federal state County and local partner agencies. This requires personnel to build relationships and understand the culture capacity strengths and weaknesses of other agencies.
• Regular communication and coordination with local Public Service Answering Points (PSAP)//911 dispatch centers County Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs) Interagency Dispatch Centers (IADCs) and the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to ensure availability of fire resources to support mutual aid and mobilization efforts in relation to other DFPC and WFMS programs with partner agencies.
• Ensures inventories of fire resources from across the state are current and accurate within the mobilization system(s).
• Assists with development implementation and maintenance of program training sessions and exercises for fire departments County State and federal agencies and personnel from dispatch and emergency operation centers from across the State.
• Identifies and communicates fire dispatch and mobilization issues to supervisors and WFMS Fire Resources Branch leadership.
• Coordination and implementation require independent decision making based upon delegated authorities. Requires a background in the fire service law enforcement and/or resource mobilization in order to ensure an understanding of emergency situations and incidents.

• This position utilizes a variety of systems databases and software in preparation for and response to mobilization of fire-based resources to emergencies and incidents. Performs data entry reviews existing data for accuracy compiles and assesses data and identifies and corrects data errors.
• Verifies that resources are accurately listed in the appropriate systems.
• Receives and processes requests from Incident Management Teams (IMTs) CDPS Fire Billing and Accounting staff and Fire Department County and State customers to obtain the resource and incident documentation orders and reports.
• Assists with management and data entry for preparedness qualification and fire resource systems:
  • This position will assist with management and implementation of the Incident Qualification System (IQS) program. This includes providing technical assistance to requests from internal and external customers generating and analyzing reports managing system reference data troubleshooting issues and errors data entry and managing the records of 10000 individuals and firefighters within the system.
  • Assists with IQS Qualification Compliance Reviews of Fire Department County and State individuals and firefighters by reviewing data and documentation in the IQS system comparing that to national standards and developing summary reports of review findings issues and trends to pass up to DFPC Resources Unit leadership.
  • Assists with instruction of IQS training sessions for internal and external customers across the State.
  • Assists Fire Department County and State personnel with navigating and troubleshooting in the Incident Resource Ordering Capacity (IROC) and other systems.
  • Processes requests for new IQS IROC and other system accounts. Provides account access information and initial training to end users.
  • Position is knowledgeable on NWCG qualification standards and requirements and assists internal and external customers with understanding of those requirements and system data entry to meet requirements.
• Troubleshoots errors and synchronization issues between IROC and other systems such as IQS and Cooperative Resource Rate Form (CRRF) which affects the dispatch centers ability to order those resources. Resolves errors to ensure resources are accurately listed and available within the mobilization systems.

• Performs basic dispatching and mobilization functions for fire resources. Assists with and learns more advanced and complex dispatching functions through on the job training under the direction of experienced qualified dispatchers.
• Performs and assists with fire dispatching and provides dispatching capabilities in multiple functional areas including but not limited to: initial response dispatching extended response and expanded dispatch operations logistical incident support and aircraft dispatching. Manages tracks and dispatches: overhead and personnel incident management teams crews equipment services and supplies.
• Position coordinates with 911/Public Service Answering Points (PSAP) local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) the State EOC and Interagency Dispatch system centers to facilitate movement of fire resources across the State 5-State Rocky Mountain Region and nation.
• Maintains situational awareness of the status and location of fire resources support capabilities current and forecasted weather conditions actual and predicted fire potential and status of active fire incidents.
• Performs or directs standard dispatching functions for ground-based and aviation resources including but not limited to: entering resources status into systems at the start and end of each shift; communicating with resources via radio or other methods to pass on assignment and/or incident needs; tracking resources throughout the day as they move between assignments and locations; providing periodic check-ins to resources; compiling requests from incident commanders and ordering additional resources as requested; and following emergency protocols in the event of accidents unaccounted for resources etc.
• Receives notifications and requests for potential/active fire incidents; compiles and verifies requesting agency/incident needs; determines if available resources meet incident needs and timeframes; contacts potential agencies to send resources and provides them with incident needs and requirements; then either processes or ensures other personnel process orders within established systems; and verifies resources arrive at incident.
• Performs and directs others in receiving fire reports the appropriate response to incidents and coordinates requests from the field. Independently plans and carries out the procedural and technical tasks involved in the dispatching of personnel equipment aircraft services and supplies to respond to and manage fire incidents. Resolves the full range of irregular or problem situations in anticipating resource needs for fire suppression activities. Makes recommendations regarding resource orders or anticipated orders.
• In situations with limited availability of fire resources:
  • Notifies Work Leads Supervisors and agency Duty Officers of the situation and makes recommendations for prioritization of incidents and/or for allocation of available resources between incidents.
  • Utilizes backup and alternate systems in an effort to locate additional resources.
• Coordinates aviation dispatch operations (aircraft capabilities and limitations flight planning aviation safety). Performs flight following and tracking for all federal state and interagency fire aircraft within the Dispatch Area and adjacent Dispatch areas. Facilitates aircraft tracking and dispatch through the use of radios and other technology.
  • Knowledge of aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing) flight planning including but not limited to aircraft apabilities scheduling flights pilots and aircraft duty limitations ordering procedures flight following procurement and cost comparison analysis.
  • Knowledge of aviation safety including incident response search rescue and medevac procedures incident reporting procedures briefing and debriefing pilots chief of party and incident or accident notification.
  • Knowledge of airspace designations and notification procedures for airspace coordination (i.e. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) hazards MSN1 Military Training Route (MTR) Military Operating Airspace (MOA)
• Provides dispatch support to other responses and incident types including search and rescue; medivac; floods avalanches tornados and other natural disasters; hazardous materials spills; vehicle accidents; missing/crashed aircraft; and other all-hazard incidents.
• Works daily with various dispatching tracking and mobilization systems including but not limited to: Incident Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) WildCAD Automated Flight Following (AFF) National Mutual Aid System (NMAS) WebEOC Colorado Wildfire Information Management System (COWIMS) Weather Information Management System (WIMS) National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) SIT-209 and other dispatch systems as appropriate.
  • Must have a strong working knowledge of these systems in order to ensure resources can be tracked and mobilized quickly. Will also provide input to decision makers on database and software program issues and solutions as well as suggest and explore potential new programs operating guidelines solutions and procedures to improve overall program effectiveness and service.
• Reviews internal operating procedures and systems makes recommendations for improvement and updates/develops operating plans and mobilization guides.

• PositionwillassistwithotherWFMSprogramsandmaybeassignedotherdutiestosupportthemissionofDFPC.
• DFPC personnel may be relieved of regular duties and assigned to wildfire and/or all-hazard incidents in a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) or Incident Command System (ICS) position to perform incident management firefighting emergency and incident support activities.

Required Minimum Qualifications and Experiences
This must be specifically documented in your application submission. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application.

• Three (3) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position (ie fire law enforcement emergency management)
  
  

Required Competencies

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills ability to multitask and attention to detail.

• Ability to interface with the public firefighters and fire managers.

• Ability to handle stressful situations.

• Four (4) or more years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to theposition (i.e. fire law enforcement emergency management etc.). Preference for professionalexperience with fire programs firefightingand/or dispatching of fire law enforcement or similarresources.

• Experience with Colorado interagency cooperative fire programs is preferred includingdocumented experience and relationships working with local fire departments and counties.

• Knowledge and experience with certification and qualification systems and/or dispatch andmobilization systems including but not limited to: the Incident Qualification System (IQS) NWCGwildfire qualification standards State of Colorado or equivalent fire certifications CooperativeResource Rate Form (CRRF) management and use Incident Resource Ordering Capability (IROC)WildCAD other CAD systems etc.

• Currently or previously qualified to National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)standards as:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher (ACDP) Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC) Expanded DispatchSupport Dispatcher (EDSD) or Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP).

  • Equivalent dispatch and mobilization qualifications meeting established standards in lawenforcement or other disciplines.

• A complete CDPS Application for announced vacancy (please submit online using the link in this announcement).

• A complete supplemental questionnaire (must submit online as a part oft eh application).

• A copy of your NWCG qualification (IQS or IQCS master record and/or incident qualification card) if applicable.

• Detailed chronological resume of experience.

• Upon initial employment individuals will be required to provide a complete training file to DFPC that contains all necessary qualification documentation (course certificates position task books personnel evaluations and incident experience history) to demonstrate that NWCG and other requirements have been met if applicable.
• Position may be required to attain additional training and/or certifications within a specified period of time per current DFPC qualifications and professional development Standard Operating Guidelines and Policies.
• Shift work may be required when assigned to an incident.
• This position will require on-call and call-back status based on fire conditions incident activity and availability of resources.
• Current valid drivers license at time of hire and must obtain a Colorado-issued drivers license within 1 month of hire. Ability to operate motor vehicles and to travel extensively throughout the state in a variety of weather conditions.
• Must be 18 years of age at time of hire.
• This position is a public safety officer as defined by 42 U.S.C. 3796b Sec. 1204 (9).
• Must be willing to travel to wildfire incidents severity assignments and pre-position assignments throughout Colorado and across the nation at times. Assignments may last for two weeks or longer.
• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam a fingerprint based criminal history search reference checking driving history and drug screen.
• DFPC Fire Resource specialists will be required to work varying shifts including day swing (after 11 am) and on-call/overnight shifts as part of the normal working schedule. DFPC resources in a region may stagger their schedules for 7 day coverage.This means a normal work schedule could include days holidays and extended shifts.