Firefighter (BLS / Hazmat Tech)
This position is assigned to the Facility Management / Fire Department provision of fire protection and suppression services at the 88-acre VA Medical Center complex in Butler, PA. The firefighters will also routinely respond to calls for mutual aid in the surrounding area.
Certifications Required :
- Firefighter II
- BLS, CPR (all grades)
- Hazardous Materials, Operations Level (grades 5 / 6 / 7)
- Fire Apparatus Driver Operator-Pumper (grades 6 / 7)
- Hazardous Materials Technician (grades 7)
Responsibilities :
Work Schedule : Rotating 24 hour shifts, any day of the week, including holidays
Position Description / PD# : Firefighter (BLS / Hazmat Tech) / PD0344A
Major Duties Include but not limited to :
Firefighting : Establishes water supply connections to hydrants, sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire apparatus. Operates fire attack lines and applies fire streams for fire control and extinguishment. Places and climbs ground ladders with equipment for fire control, ventilation, rescue, or other fireground work. Makes forcible entry into locked and concealed areas, i.e. prying open doors, removing windows, etc. Ventilates structures by opening doors, windows, floors, and walls using specialized tools and equipment. Enters hazardous environments for rescue and fire extinguishing purposes. Conducts salvage and overhaul work to protect undamaged property and preserve the scene for fire investigation. Uses protective firefighting equipment that includes self-contained breathing apparatus. Uses communication equipment (i.e. portable radios). Provides Basic Life Support CPR at medical emergencies that involve patients, employees, or members of the public on medical center grounds. Safely drives and operates emergency vehicles to include fire engines of 1000 gallons per minute or greater pump capacity and ambulances. Operates fire pumps and determines pump pressures for hose lines and sprinkler standpipe systems. Operates fire alarm panels.Emergency Medical Services : Independently assists the injured by applying knowledge and training for such purposes to use direct pressure and tourniquets to stop bleeding, check the airway for obstructions, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or immobilize for safe transport. Drives an ambulance under non-emergency and emergency conditions. Assists basic / intermediate life support or paramedic staff. Performs initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination. Determines priority of patient care based on assessment findings. Takes, records, and monitors patient's baseline vital signs. Manages respiratory and cardiac emergencies to include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bag-valve-mask ventilations, and using an automatic external defibrillation (AED). Controls external bleeding with direct pressure and treats shock by approved methods. Splints and immobilizes fractures and dislocation for transport. Attempts to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems and to obtain a comprehensive drug history from the patient that includes the names, strength, and dosage of drugs taken by the patient. Assists patients in taking emergency medications for certain complaints, e.g., Nitroglycerin tablets for chest pain, Epinephrine auto-injections for allergic reactions, or Albuterol inhalers for asthma patients, under the direction of standing orders or of a Physician. Establishes communication with the receiving facility, providing all patient information including estimated time of arrival. Employs a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods, and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport as soon as possible to the receiving facility.Hazardous Materials : Hazardous Material Technicians respond to the presence or potential release of hazardous materials for the purpose of stopping or controlling the release using specialized protective equipment. Response to the incident is more aggressive in that the technician will approach the point of release to cool, plug, patch, dilute, neutralize, or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance. The technician will utilize dams, dikes, or channel diversions to control the release of a hazardous substances. Employs hazard and risk assessment techniques to complete incident analysis. Assists in the development of strategy for the Incident Action Plan to mitigate the hazardous release. Develops an appropriate strategy for approaching the release site and containing the release. Implements the response by performing advanced mitigation, control, and confinement operations within the capabilities of the available resources and personal protective equipment available to control leaks or releases using a variety of methods to include offensive and defensive measures. Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the situational response and recommends potential alternative or supplementary actions. Maintains and decontaminates hazardous material response equipment and supplies.Promotion Potential : The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Virtual : This is not a virtual position.
Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Nor Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized
Requirements Conditions of Employment :
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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, driver's 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)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
In 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 period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications :
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11 / 19 / 2025. This position includes Selective Placement Factors (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 requirements for a position.
Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.
The Selective Placement Factors for this position are :
Copies of certifications must be submitted at the time of application.Firefighter II Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).AHA Basic Life Support Provider - CPR (required at grades 4,5,6,7)Hazardous Materials Operations Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 5,6,7)State or national registry Emergency Medical Technician certification (required at grades 5,6,7)Fire Apparatus Driver / Operator-Pumper Certification from the from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 6,7)Hazardous Materials Technician Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 7)Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification (required at grades 4,5,6,7)Must possess and maintain current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification (required at grades 4,5,6,7)You may qualify based on your experience and / or education as described below :
To qualify at the GS-4 you must meet one of the following requirements :
Specialized Experience : You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-3) in the federal service that has given me the knowledge, skills