Firefighter Recruit

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

ON-LINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

to apply visit - www.jobaps.com/alameda

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (ACFD) provides all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview), the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Newark and Union City and Emeryville, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 29 fire stations and 35 companies serving a population of 394,000, the ACFD serves densely populated urban areas, waterways, industrialized centers, extensive urban interface, agricultural and wildland regions. Over 400 personnel and 100 Reserve Firefighters provide a wide variety of services to an ever expanding, dynamic and diverse community of roughly 508 square miles. These services include:  

• Advanced Life Support
• Fire Suppression
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Urban Search & Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Community Outreach & Education
• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Prevention and Code Compliance
• Regional Dispatch  

The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was formed on July 1, 1993 as a dependent special district with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as its governing body. This consolidation brought together into a single jurisdiction the Castro Valley Fire Department, Eden Fire Department and County Fire Patrol (each a dependent special district under the Board of Supervisors).  

Prior to 1993 Unincorporated Fire Protection:  

• Castro Valley FPD
• Eden Consolidated FPD
• County Fire Patrol
• July 1, 1993 Alameda County Fire Department  

 Subsequently, the following communities have consolidated with the ACFD:  

• July 1, 1995 City of San Leandro
• July 1, 1997 City of Dublin
• August 1, 2002 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• October 1, 2007 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• January 20, 2008 Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC)
• May 1, 2010 City of Newark
• July 1, 2010 City of Union City
• July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville  

The ACFD is also responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and regional communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton. ACRECC is also the Dispatch/System Status Management Center for Paramedics Plus ambulance service.

THE POSITION
Firefighter Recruit is the entry-level fire suppression, prevention and emergency response position for Alameda County. This classification exists solely for those who are completing their initial Fire Department Training in the Alameda County Fire Department Training Academy.

Please click here to view the complete recruitment brochure.

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Attends the assigned Alameda County Fire Recruit Training Program by participating in classroom training and manipulative exercises and drills;
2. Undergoes classroom training and manipulative exercises and drills to develop an awareness of the functions and responsibilities of Firefighter and how they relate to firefighting operations; 
3. Studies and completes homework assignments; 
4. Successfully completes periodic quizzes and examinations; 
5. Satisfactorily completes other training as assigned by the Fire Department prior to being promoted to a line Firefighter, such as maintaining the fire station and equipment and participating in drills and training classes to assure proper state of emergency readiness.
   

Education:  
Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency certificate, such as the General Educational Development Certificate (State of California)  

AND

1. Valid California Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-1 or EMT-FS) Certificate or paramedic license (EMT-P); valid as of the last day for filing of the application.   National registry is acceptable.  
2. Possession of a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate issued within the last twelve months from the last day of filing.  
3. Possession of a valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.  

• Successful completion of a California State Fire Marshal approved Firefighter I course by last day for filing.  
• Current experience in the Alameda County Fire Department Reserve program or in a similar program sponsored by a municipal fire agency.  

1. Minimum 18 years of age.  
2. Being able to successfully pass a thorough background investigation, medical examination (NFPA 1582) and psychological examinations.  
3. Must be eligible to obtain a Department of Energy security clearance.  
4. Those hired as firefighter-paramedics must be able to successfully obtain Alameda County Paramedic accreditation (EMSA Policy 2000).    

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the ability to:

• Comprehend, remember, interpret and apply written materials which may be of a complex and technical nature.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Work effectively and cooperatively with the public.
• Work as a member of an organized team.
• Use good judgment in emergency or critical situations.
• Remain calm and work effectively in stressful situations.
• Adapt to changes in work assignments and duties.
• Perform physical tasks that require coordination, strength, dexterity and stamina.
• Work at various heights, confined areas and low visibility conditions.
• Climb ladders. Learn the use of specialized tools and equipment.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of the applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire to determine qualification for participation in the next step in the examination process; 
2. A written test, weighted as pass/fail. 
3. Those candidates who pass the written test will be required to submit verification of their possession of the required certification and licensure.  Those who submit and possess valid, current certification and licensure will be invited to participate in the last step of the examination process;
4. An oral panel interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.  

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.  

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

 Updated dates*                       

 Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.  

Gizelle Huynh, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-6472

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer