One of the most Dynamic Counties in the Nation
$10,000 Sign-on BONUS*
Fairfax County is home to diverse communities covering urban, suburban, and rural areas. With a population of over 1.1 million residents, the county boasts a nationally recognized school system, safe neighborhoods, extensive parklands, and bustling town centers. This urban county has a history of engagement and outstanding fire and rescue service delivery.
About the Department
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) received a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) in 2014 and was accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) in 2018. 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. Approximately 2,000 uniformed, professional, and volunteer staff work across 39 strategically placed fire and rescue stations and administrative offices. FCFRD field personnel work one of three rotating 24-hour shifts. The FCFRD has 38 ALS engines, 13 ALS trucks/towers, five ALS rescue squads, four ALS chase vehicles, three tankers, a hazardous materials unit, and 43 emergency medical transport units. Several other types of apparatus, such as brush trucks, boats, and support vehicles supplement the department. FCFRD is also home to VATF-1/USA-1, an internationally recognized urban search and rescue team that can deploy throughout the world to assist in times of crisis. The department has been accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) since 2018.
Duties include:
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Conducts patient assessment (e.g., evaluates the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems)
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Provides basic and advanced emergency medical care to stabilize the condition of the critically ill or injured prior to transport to a medical facility
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Confers with the supervising physician or hospital via radio or telephone, providing the patient's medical history and condition.
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Administers medication via intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraosseous, or sublingual routes
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Administers advanced emergency medical procedures (e.g., inserting airways, interpreting, and treating cardiac arrhythmias, performing defibrillation, electronic pacing)
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Participates in multi-disciplinary cutting-edge training to prepare for tasks such as tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) and Field-Available Component Transfusion Response (FACT*R)
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Responds to emergency calls to protect life and property
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Combats, extinguishes, and prevents fires
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Participates in rescue extrication operations and provides emergency medical care to the sick and injured
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Drives emergency apparatus, including, but not limited to transport units, engines, trucks, rescue squads, and tankers
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Performs related work as required under direct supervision
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Participate in Community Risk Reduction and Community Outreach activities
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Work as part of a team and embody the department's Core Values (Download PDF reader)
Note: Following the successful completion of the recruit school, incumbents will serve a 12-month probationary period. During their probationary period, they shall complete an ALS internship to become FCFRD-authorized ALS providers. The FCFRD also provides continuing education to personnel with paramedic certification during and following the probationary period. Following successful completion of ALS internship, paramedics are eligible for ALS incentive pay ($6,948) and additional ALS riding pay of $2-3/hour depending on apparatus assigned.
If unsuccessful in completing the ALS internship, candidates will be moved to a firefighter position, and their pay will be reduced by two steps.
Learn more about the Fire and Rescue Department by visiting our website, and by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and our YouTube channel.
- Effective 7/1/2023, this position includes a signing bonus for fully qualified new county employees in the amount of $10,000.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
High school graduation or possession of a GED issued by a state department of education.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED:
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Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license at the time of application, and at all times during employment in the uniformed service.
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Certified as a Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services EMT-P and/or a National Registry Paramedic at the time of application.
Following successful completion of Fire and Rescue recruit training:
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Certification in Hazardous Materials Operations-Mission specific in accordance with Fairfax County training standards;
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Certification in the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) in accordance with Fairfax County training standards;
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Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Basic Life Support Provider;
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Certification as a full Advanced Life Support provider in Fairfax County and in full accordance with all current County training standards;
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Successful Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 100;
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Successful Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 700.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:-
Regardless of area of assignment, all uniformed fire and rescue personnel that are medically qualified for field duties as a firefighter must maintain a level of fitness sufficient to enable them to participate in fire suppression and rescue activities when the need arises, as demonstrated by successful completion of the Fitness Measurement and Assessment Program (unless granted light duty due to illness or injury);
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Must successfully complete a criminal background investigation, a polygraph examination, and a physical ability test prior to appointment;
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Must be 18 years old at the time of application;
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Must be tobacco-free and nicotine-free at the time of appointment, and be willing to sign a Conditions of Employment Agreement to not use tobacco or tobacco products on- or off-duty;
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Personnel must maintain a Class "A" medical rating in the assigned medical group prior to starting work;
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For Class "B" and "C" medical ratings, an accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
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A Class "D" medical rating will not be considered.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The employee must be able to:
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Reach above shoulder;
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Work with body, bend over at the waist, kneel, crawl, climb stairs & ladders
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Work with arms extended, work with arms above shoulder level, stand, sit, push, and stoop;
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All duties are performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Successfully pass the following evaluation steps:
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Application review
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Personal History Statement
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Written exam
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FCFRD Physical Abilities Test (PAT)
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Polygraph evaluation
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Medical examination
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Psychological profile evaluation
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Must complete fingerprints or background check with VA OEMS for eligibility to hold an EMS certification
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314.
[email protected] EEO/AA/TTY.
