General Definition of Work

Protects life and property by performing firefighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials and fire prevention duties, under the direction of the Brainerd Fire Department command staff. Maintain fire equipment, apparatus and facilities. Performs other duties as apparent or assigned.

Paid on-Call Firefighters must possess a valid MN Driver's License and live within 10 minutes driving time of either the Laurel Street or Mill Avenue Fire Stations.

An information meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 24 at 5:30 pm at the Fire Station located at 23 Laurel Street for all interested applicants. Mandatory testing will be held on Saturday, May 18 at the Laurel Street Fire Station at 8:00 a.m. The testing date will not be rescheduled for another date anytime soon.

Essential Functions

• Maintain individual firefighting skills, including physical condition. Stay abreast of developments in the firefighting field and changes in related laws and ordinances.
• Perform firefighting activities, including driving fire apparatus, operating pumps, and related equipment, laying hose and performing fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks.
• Perform salvage operations such as spreading salvage covers, moving furniture, sweeping water, and removing debris.
• Perform emergency aid activities, including administering first aid and providing other assistance as required.
• Participate in regular and assigned training.
• Operate radio and other communication equipment.
• May participate in the inspection of buildings, hydrants, and other structures in fire prevention programs.
• Maintain fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities. Perform minor repairs to equipment and general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment.
• Present programs to the community on safety, medical, and fire prevention safety.
• Maintain a due regard for safety and welfare of the fire department personnel and the public at all times.
• Provide effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and citizen customers. Positively represent the Brainerd Fire Department at all civic and public venues.
• May assist in developing plans for special assignments; such as emergency preparedness, communications, training programs, firefighting, hazardous materials, and emergency aid activities.
• May assist in establishing annual goals and objectives for the fire department.
• Shall carry out duties in conformance with Federal, State and City laws and ordinances.
• Perform such other related work as the Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, or Fire Chief may direct. Follows oral and written instructions.

Qualifications and Competencies

Education, Experience and Special Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Successfully complete and maintain a Minnesota State Certification as Firefighter I, Firefighter II with Haz Mat Operations and Emergency Medical Responder
• Emergency Vehicles Operation training

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to climb ladders and work at considerable heights
• Ability to perform strenuous work for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme height, intense heat or cold, noise, smoke or obscured vision during firefighting, rescue, hazardous materials, medical response and training.
• Ability to act effectively in emergency and stressful situations.
• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work cooperatively and establish working relationships within the department; and also with City personnel, external vendors, and the public.
• Ability to maintain a team and service-oriented approach to work.
• Ability to be detail oriented and follow through with tasks.
• Ability to perform duties with tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Must have the ability to accept criticism or discipline.
• Handles confidential information appropriately. 
• Must be able to pass an annual medical exam.
• Good geographical knowledge of the service area.
• Maintain positive professional working relationships with all staff levels, other jurisdictions and outside agencies, and the general public.

Other Requirements and Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements

• This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, tasting or smelling and repetitive motions.
• Work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, working with explosives, exposure to vibration, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

The Brainerd Fire Department provides opportunities for an individual hired as a "Trainee" Paid on - call Firefighter to obtain the training and certifications as required for this position. Pay for Trainee Firefighters starts at 60% of the Paid on - call Firefighter rate.

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