HomeMy WebLinkAboutFirefighterUpdated: March 2025
CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Firefighter
Department: Fire
Division: Fire
Supervisor: Fire Lieutenant
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Civil Service: Yes
Pay Grade: 35
Job Number: 3501
Job Summary
Under general supervision, performs work of routine difficulty in fire suppression, emergency
medical care, fire prevention, the maintenance of department property and equipment and
performs other related work as required. May be assigned as Shift Bureau Inspector.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive
or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Responds to alarms of fire and other emergencies with a pumper, ladder or rescue
company, drives fire engines and other vehicles.
• Responds to a variety of calls of an emergency nature requiring the performance of light-
to heavy-duty rescue activities, such as administering oxygen, performing CPR, and
operating various equipment used in rescue and emergency medical operations.
• Lays and connects hoses; holds nozzles and directs water streams; raises and climbs
ladders; uses chemical extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines and other equipment; ventilates
burning buildings by opening windows or by chopping holes in roofs or floors; removes
persons from danger and administers emergency medical care as outlined in the scope
of practice pertaining to an Emergency Medical Technician.
• Performs salvage operations, such as dwelling salvage covers, sweeping water and
removing debris.
• Participates in fire drills and attends regular in-house meetings on firefighting,
emergency medical care, technical rescue, fire prevention, equipment maintenance and
related subjects; studies assigned materials.
• Attends required training for emergency medical certification, hazmat certification,
Firefighter certification, technical rescue and other required training as necessary.
• Performs fire prevention inspection of residential and business buildings and contents.
• May inspect the operations of fire hydrants.
• Performs general maintenance and cleaning work in the upkeep of departmental
apparatus, equipment, furnishings and structures; washes, hangs and dries hoses;
washes, cleans and polishes apparatus.
• Answers general questions from the public.
• Acts in the absence of a Lieutenant as required.
Updated: March 2025
• May operate radio equipment, mobile data computers and computer equipment.
• May be assigned to special assignments, i.e., Fire Prevention Bureau, Public Education,
Hazmat Tech, EMS Coordinator and Rescue Tech.
• Conducts self in a manner which promotes and supports diversity and inclusivity in the
workplace and community.
• Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Iowa or National EMT certification and Firefighter certification within one year of hire.
Valid State of Iowa driver's license with satisfactory driving record. Must be 18 years of
age. Must pass criminal background check. Must live within 25 miles of the corporate
limits of Iowa City, Iowa within one year of appointment to the position.
Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• High school diploma or G.E.D. and one-year of related experience or training; or
equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area,
circumference, and volume.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or
schedule form.
• Ability to learn a wide variety of fire-fighting, emergency medical services, incident
management system, technical rescue, and inspection techniques, and methods within a
reasonable period, performing heavy physical labor under adverse conditions, driving
fire equipment carefully and safely in accordance with local traffic laws, thinking and
acting quickly in emergency situations, and utilization of tools and handling of ropes and
equipment.
• Ability to participate in physical requirements, must be in good physical condition and
participates in the department physical fitness program.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance
instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in
situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to write routine reports.
• Knowledge of elementary mechanics, physics, and chemistry.
• Skill in performance of routine mechanical maintenance tasks.
• Skill in understanding both oral and written instructions.
• Skill in using computers at a basic level and applicable software applications (Microsoft
Office – Word, Excel, Outlook).
Updated: March 2025
Supervision
No supervision of direct reports.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
the essential duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use
hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally
required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee
must push, pull or lift varying amounts. The employee regularly lifts and/or moves 10 pounds,
occasionally will lift and/or move 25 pounds, and will occasionally lift and/or move up to and
excess of 100 pounds with or without assistance. Participates in the department physical fitness
program. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color
vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving
mechanical parts, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, smoke, toxic or caustic
chemicals, risk of electrical shock, vibration, traffic hazards, and blood/body fluids. The
employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, dampness, direct sunlight,
dust, pollen, insect stings, and animals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
Employee may be exposed to dangerous situations, dangerous fumes while engaged in
firefighting or cause determination activities, exposed to atmospheric conditions that affect the
respiratory system, and use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. Involves some exposure to
stress due to the work environment and/or crisis situations.
Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with
disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential
accommodations with the employer.
Reviewed/Approved by: Scott Lyon, Fire Chief (3/2025)
Updated: March 2025
I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I
agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable
accommodation.
Employee Date
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