Position: Firefighter (Firefighter/EMT)

About the Department

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) is a premier all‑hazards fire and rescue department providing basic and advanced life support (BLS and ALS) emergency medical services (EMS), fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue, life safety education, fire prevention, and arson investigation services. The department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and received a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Approximately 2,000 staff serve across 39 stations and administrative offices.

Duties Include

• Respond to emergency calls to protect life and property.
• Combat, extinguish, and prevent fires.
• Participate in rescue extrication operations and provide emergency medical care to the sick and injured.
• Provide basic and advanced emergency medical care to stabilize critically ill or injured patients prior to transport to a medical facility.
• Drive emergency apparatus, including transport units, engines, trucks, rescue squads, and tankers.
• Conduct patient assessment.
• Perform related work as required under direct supervision.
• Participate in community risk reduction and outreach activities.
• Work as part of a team and embody the department’s core values.

Fire Suppression

• Respond to fire alarms and a variety of emergency calls.
• Connect hose to hydrant and deploy pre‑connected hose lines.
• Enter burning buildings with self‑contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing.
• Operate nozzles and master stream appliances from aerial ladders or elevating platforms.
• Ventilate burning buildings by opening windows, skylights, or roof/floor holes.
• Position ventilation fans to inject fresh air and exhaust heat, smoke, and gases.
• Perform salvage operations, remove fire debris, locate hidden fires, and operate shut‑off valves.
• Operate chemical and hand extinguishers.
• Raise, lower, and climb ladders.
• Use radio and computer‑aided dispatch equipment.
• Drive motorized apparatus in emergency and non‑emergency conditions.
• Operate fire pumps at proper pressures and flows.
• Search for victims in burning or other hazardous environments.
• Remove persons from danger and perform heavy rescue operations.
• Administer first aid, take vital signs, and stabilize patients.
• Collect pertinent information for patient assessment.
• Conduct assessment for treatment of trauma‑induced injuries.
• Perform water rescues from land and boats; assist in search and recovery of drowned victims.
• Operate emergency lighting appliances.
• Operate self‑contained breathing apparatus in hazardous environments and confined spaces.
• Identify and protect flammable or hazardous materials at a fire scene.
• Restore apparatus and equipment to service after use; refuel breathing cylinders.
• Maintain specialized fire equipment and protective gear.
• Study area geography, street names, locations, target hazards, pre‑plans, water supply, and other firefighting resources.
• Study building construction to identify structural weaknesses and fire behavior.
• Instruct citizens in fire prevention and life safety techniques.
• Examine building plans for pre‑fire planning purposes.
• Pre‑plan for fires in residential, industrial, and commercial areas.
• Participate in inspection of businesses and public places for fire and life safety hazards.
• Inspect wiring, heating systems, basements, attics, and storage of hazardous materials.
• Prepare inspection reports and recognize evidence on causes of fires.
• Perform public relations duties.

Emergency Medical Services

• Drive a Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support unit in response to emergency calls.
• Conduct primary and secondary patient survey.
• Provide and assist in rendering emergency care: airway management, ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemorrhage control, shock treatment, fracture immobilization, bandaging, childbirth assistance, poison and burn treatments.
• Perform triage assessment in a multi‑casualty incident.
• Assess poisoning or drug overdose scenes, identify antidotes, and determine treatment procedures.
• Treat injuries within the scope of an EMT.
• Assist in extrication of entrapped victims using prescribed techniques.
• Communicate medical situation and…