Firefighter (BLSHazardous Materials Technician)

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

Fire Suppression

• Responds to fire and emergency incidents; operates fire apparatus pumps hose lines and related firefighting equipment
• Performs fire suppression rescue ventilation salvage overhaul and other emergency operations
• Drives and positions emergency apparatus and maintains equipment in a safe serviceable condition
• Assists with training and provides support to other fire personnel during emergency and non-emergency operations

Fire Prevention (Evaluation/Assessment/Planning)

• Conducts fire inspections and evaluates facilities for compliance with applicable fire safety codes standards and regulations
• Identifies fire hazards and deficiencies and recommends corrective actions to improve life safety and fire protection
• Inspects and evaluates fire alarm sprinkler suppression smoke barrier and other fixed fire protection systems
• Performs pre-fire planning and surveys facilities to identify hazards emergency access and fire protection features
• Completes required inspection compliance and incident documentation; assists with incident debriefings and preliminary origin-and-cause investigations as assigned

Basic Life Support

• Provides emergency medical care and Basic Life Support (BLS) to patients employees visitors and others requiring assistance
• Performs patient assessments CPR AED operation bleeding control splinting shock management and other authorized emergency medical procedures
• Monitors and documents patient condition and vital signs and provides appropriate care until relieved by a higher level of medical authority
• Maintains inspects and prepares emergency medical equipment and supplies for use

Hazardous Materials and Technical Operations/Other Duties

• Responds to hazardous materials incidents and potential releases in accordance with applicable policies procedures and regulations
• Establishes and operates within designated hazardous-material control zones and assists with containment mitigation emergency decontamination and related operations
• Participates in technical rescue operations including confined-space and entrapment rescues using appropriate equipment and established procedures
• Assists with hazardous operations including confined-space entry hot work demolition and other activities requiring fire department support
• Performs other fire emergency response safety and facility support duties as assigned

Work Schedule: 72 hours per week
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Required Documents below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a BLS/Hazardous Materials Technician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which all applicants must meet.

• Specialized Experience (GS-07): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least next lower grade level (i.e. GS-06). Specialized experience is defined as experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military industrial volunteer or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection reduction or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing implementing or providing training in fire protection and prevention. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry such as beginning and ending dates of employment duties performed and/or total hours worked per week.)

AND

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill knowledge ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirement for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. (NOTE: COPIES OF YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSE(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE CLOSING DATE TO RECEIVE CREDIT.) The Selective Placement Factors for this position are:

• Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 AND
• Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5 Core Competencies of in NFPA 472 AND
• Certification as Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator in accordance with NFPA 1002 AND
• Emergency Medical Technician certification in the state in which the VA fire department is located (i.e. New York) or the National Registry certification AND

AND

DRIVERS LICENSE: You must possess a current valid Drivers License from a State. (NOTE: We cannot accept photographs therefore; please do not submit a copy of your drivers license with your application package. If an interview is requested you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued drivers license.)

AND

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

AND

MAXIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: This position requires a maximum entry age for an initial appointment; applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the date of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit but who have previously served as a Federal employee in a covered position may be eligible to re-enter the fire service provided that they: (1) meet all applicable qualifications for the position and (2) will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time the firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicants age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age.

Medical Requirements: Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the medical standards described at: Since individual positions may not include all such duties a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled. Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous physical exertion may be subject to periodic (e.g. annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position. (See 5 CFR 339.) Any serious deviation from sound medical condition may be grounds for rejection regardless of whether the condition is named below. Remediable defects or curable diseases will not exclude a person from consideration but proof that such defects have been remedied or the disease cured must be received during the life of the eligible register before persons otherwise qualified may be considered for appointment under civil service rules.

NOTE: Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment.

Physical Requirements: The Firefighter (BLS/ Hazardous Materials Technician) may be required to lift and carry heavy objects including equipment over 75 pounds and victims of fires or other emergencies. Working conditions may include heavy physical exertion extreme heat smoke and dust in enclosed smoke-filled places in all types of weather. The Firefighter (BLS/ Hazardous Materials Technician) will maintain their fitness for duty by participation in the Fire Departments Health and Wellness program as outline in Departmental Policy SOGs and VA directive 7718.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title duties month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Education

IMPORTANT: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Required Experience:

IC