Firefighter/Paramedic - Lateral

Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic Incentive Program:  Candidates who are successfully hired, by the City of Alhambra, shall be eligible to receive a $20,000 bonus.

To be considered as a Firefighter/Paramedic Lateral, applicants must be actively employed by another agency in order to transfer.

To qualify for this classification, an individual must possess any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities, and enable the individual to successfully perform the essential job functions of the position.  A typical combination is:

Graduation from high school or attainment of GED or CHSPE certificate is required, California State Basic Fire Academy graduate. Completion of a certified paramedic program is required. Within three (3) months of appointment, employee must be accredited by Los Angeles County. Ability to obtain a firefighter “F” endorsement to drive and operate all emergency fire department apparatus within the first year of employment and to maintain a valid driver’s license with firefighter “F” endorsement are required as conditions of employment. Applicant must be 18 years of age at time of appointment.   A California State Firefighter I certificate, at the time of application is highly desirable.

Medical Standards: 

Must be capable of meeting pre-employment physical standards required for the position. Applicants must be in good physical condition as determined by a City administered medical examination, with weight in proportion to height, far visual acuity shall be at least 20/30 binocular corrected with contact lenses or spectacles, and uncorrected shall be at least 20/100 binocular for wearers of hard contacts or spectacles. Successful long-term soft contact lens wearers shall not be subject to uncorrected criterion. Peripheral visual field performance without correction shall be 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye. Color vision must be adequate to identify red, green, and yellow colors. Hearing deficit in the pure tone thresholds must be no greater than 25db in three of four frequencies, 30db in one of three frequencies, and have an average greater than 30db for four frequencies. Frequencies related to hearing test, 500hz, 1000hz, 2000hz, and 3000hz.

Knowledge of:

Mechanical principles, mathematics, and elementary physics and chemistry, city geography and street layout. 

Ability to:

Learn modern, approved principles, practices, and procedures of firefighting, including applied hydraulics; learn the operation and maintenance of mechanical equipment; use arithmetic and develop manual and physical dexterity; perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions; react quickly and calmly in emergency situations; read, understand, and interpret technical writings, municipal codes and similar documents; follow oral and written directions accurately and completely, use independent judgment and maintain courteous relationships with fellow workers and with the general public.

A current and valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) passage certificate is required. Possession of and ability to maintain the following: A valid Class “C” California Driver’s License and a valid State of California Paramedic License are required as conditions of employment. A Firefighter I Certificate is highly desirable. Ability to obtain Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Certification within thirty-six (36) months of appointment and maintain valid US&R certification while employed with City of Alhambra are required as conditions of employment.

Ability to push, pull, drag, grasp, lift and carry items and work at shoulder level with hoses and other items weighing 75 pounds or less and drag or carry victims as needed.  Position requires ability to sit, stand, walk and run on slippery and uneven surfaces; kneel, crouch, twist, reach; lay dry and charged hoses; carry, raise and lower a variety of ladders; work from ladders while carrying equipment; rappel down elevated areas; climb stairs, ladders and incline while carrying equipment; work on rooftops, multi-story buildings and at various heights; ventilate roofs; rescue injured persons from hazardous areas by assisting, carrying or dragging the victim(s); climb over walls, fences, through windows; crawl through confined spaces and conduct searches.  Additionally, the position requires the ability to use a variety of hand and power tools and equipment such as rotary and chain powered saw, sledge hammer, shovel, pick, hoist, axe, rope, hydraulic rescue tools, pike poke, prying tools, rubbish hooks, hose line and bundle, fire extinguisher, air bottle and breathing apparatus.  Incumbents performing first aid and paramedic tasks may also be exposed to human injury health hazards to include blood and other bodily fluids/products, communicable diseases and human-borne parasites.  When fighting a fire, the incumbent works in a hot, smoky or toxic atmosphere close to flames. Incumbents will also be exposed to extreme noise, wet or damp conditions, grease/oil, fumes, solvents, a variety of chemicals, mechanical and electrical hazards, vehicle hazards and vibration. Incumbents must be able to meet the physical requirements of the class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing, sense of smell, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.  An incumbent drives a fire apparatus and other vehicles on City business and performs physical activity and labor requiring physical strength and endurance.

Employee works indoors and outdoors. When work is performed outdoors there is full exposure to conditions such as extreme heat, smoke, dust, fumes, wet or damp conditions and odors.  Exposure to grease/oil, fumes, solvents, a variety of chemicals, mechanical and electrical hazards, vehicle hazards and vibration and inclement weather.   Incumbents will also be exposed to extreme noise such as sirens, alarms, diesel engines, pumps, power saws and hydraulic tools. 

• High School Diploma or a GED or CHSPE certificate
• California Paramedic License
• California State Basic Fire Academy certificate
• Current Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) passage certificate
• Valid Class "C" California Driver's License