South Jordan Fire

Overview
Over the past several decades the role of the South Jordan Fire Department has changed drastically. Today, the department provides a wide variety of services to the community including fire suppression, emergency medical quick response, ground ambulance service, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, fire prevention, community education, health and wellness services and disaster preparedness programs. The South Jordan Fire Department is an advanced, diverse, and progressive fire department that offers exceptional career opportunities for men and women seeking professional and personal satisfaction.

As is the case in many career fire departments, firefighters in South Jordan City are scheduled to work twenty-four consecutive hours and then are off for twenty-four hours. They repeat this cycle until they have worked three twenty-four hour shifts. Following this, the firefighter has four days off. Since firefighters literally live together for 24-hours, the firehouse becomes a combination of work and home, and coworkers are generally considered a second family. As a result, you will find a very strong bond exists between firefighters.

While on duty, firefighters always maintain a state of readiness so they may quickly respond to any emergency that arises. Mitigation of emergencies is dangerous and complex, it requires organization and teamwork. At every emergency scene, firefighters perform specific duties as assigned by the Incident Commander. As an example, at fires they may be assigned to attack the fire, connect hose lines to fire hydrants, operate a pump to send water to the attack lines, or position ladders. They also search for victims, ventilate smoke filled areas, provide medical care to the injured, attempt to salvage the contents of the building, or standby to rescue an injured, lost, or trapped firefighter. Their duties may change several times while at the emergency and the tasks vary widely depending on the type of emergency.

When not responding to emergencies, firefighters clean and maintain equipment, apparatus and the fire station, deliver training to community members, conduct life safety inspections of businesses and homes, test fire hydrants, attend in-service training, develop pre-incident plans, participate in physical fitness activities, provide tours of the fire station, and perform a variety of other related duties. They are also required to conduct research and develop proposals, prepare written reports, and keep abreast of technological developments and changing operating guides and administrative practices and policies.

Firefighting isn't for everyone. People who are afraid of heights or confined spaces, who don't function well in a crisis, or who in general would prefer not to introduce elements of danger into their lives, are not well suited for this career. Additionally, individuals should consider a different career if they prefer a typical business schedule to working 24-hour shifts, are not willing to be away from their families on holidays and other special occasions, are not committed to continuing their education and maintaining a high level of health and fitness throughout their career, and/or do not work well in a team environment.

If you do not see these aspects of the job as a deterrent, firefighting is an exciting, ever-changing and highly rewarding career. You will find most firefighters enjoy the strong camaraderie among the crew, the challenge of providing technical and critical emergency services for others, the 24-hour work schedule, job security, good pay and excellent benefits.

If this sounds appealing to you, I encourage you to explore a challenging career opportunity in one of the most progressive fire departments in Utah, the South Jordan City Fire Department.

Training/Certification
Employment candidates are required to hold a Utah Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations Certification.

In Utah, the Emergency Medical Services program includes several levels of certification including Emergency Medical Dispatcher, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic. During our hiring process, preference is generally given to individuals who are certified at the EMT-Intermediate or Paramedic level.

EMT and Paramedic courses are offered by a variety of educational institutions and other organizations throughout the State of Utah. All EMT and Paramedic training courses are regulated by the Utah Health Department, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Additional information and a course schedule can be found at http://health.utah.gov/ems.

The Utah Fire Service Certification System is a nationally recognized program that is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Standards (NPQS). Being internationally accredited ensures that the certification firefighters receive in Utah will be recognized in other states and countries.

Unfortunately fire training courses are not as widely available as EMT courses. Some fire departments still offer training and certification courses for new firefighters yet others, such as the South Jordan Fire Department, require candidates to obtain the training and certification prior to applying for a job.

Employment candidates are strongly encouraged to complete the Recruit Training Academy offered by the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Upon successful completion of this course, graduates will have the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform many of the essential job functions required of an entry level firefighter in this organization. Additionally, the individual will hold a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations Certification.

Additional information on the Recruit Training Academy and/or other fire service related training programs can be found at http://ufra.uvsc.edu/ufra-training/training.html.

Job Descriptions
To review the current job description for positions within the South Jordan Fire Department, please select from the following:

Salary/Benefits
Firefighters are generally hired at the level of Firefighter EMT-I or Firefighter Paramedic. The Senior Firefighter, Firefighter Engineer, Fire Captain, Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief positions are generally filled from qualified incumbents.

As of May 1, 2009, the salary range for non-supervisory positions in the South Jordan City Fire Department is as follows:

Position	Minimum Salary	Maximum Salary
Firefighter EMT-I	$33,196.80	$47,132.80
Senior Firefighter EMT-I	$36,524.80	$51,875.20
Firefighter Engineer	$40,185.60	$57,054.40
Firefighter Paramedic	$44,200.00	$62,774.40
Fire Captain	$48,630.40	$69,056.00

Additionally, South Jordan City Employees have an excellent benefit package that includes:

Health insurance
Life insurance
Dental and vision options
Flexible health spending program
Long term disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid vacation, holiday and sick leave
Defined benefit retirement
Defined contribution retirement options
Tuition assistance (as department budget allows)

Hiring Process
The minimum requirements to apply for the position of Firefighter EMT-I are as follows:

At least 18 years old;
High school diploma or GED;
Valid Utah Drivers License and good driving record;
Utah EMT-B Certification (EMT-I Certification preferred);
Utah Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness & Hazardous Materials Operations Certification;
Possess the knowledge, skills and abilities as outlined in the position job description;
In good physical condition and capable of meeting the department's health and physical ability standard;
No serious medical conditions (as outlined in NFPA 1582 and other applicable standards);
No severely limiting handicaps or psychological problems that would prevent you from safely performing the essential job functions;
No criminal history (felonies, history of drug problems, violence, etc); and
An excellent work history.

The hiring process generally consists of the following steps:

Job Application and Resume: Candidates are required to submit an application, resume and copies of required certifications. Individuals who do not meet the minimum job requirements or submit an incomplete application will not be considered for employment.
Written Exam: Measures reading comprehension, mechanical aptitude, mathematics and the ability to comprehend and learn firefighting material from written instructions. It is similar to a civil service exam. It may also include fire and EMS related questions consistent with the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position.
Physical Ability Test: All candidates are required to successfully complete the departments validated physical ability test. It is a pass/fail test. No adjustments will be made for age or gender. The department will host at least one practice session for candidates prior to the official test date. To review a description of the test, click here.
Assessment Center: May include an oral interview, skills exam, and/or other related tests.
Chief's Interview: A maximum of three candidates per position are generally interviewed by the Chief.
Conditional Job Offer: A representative from Human Resource will meet with successful candidates to extend a conditional job offer. The candidate will receive a letter indicating the starting salary, benefits to be provided and additional steps that must be taken prior to receiving a final job offer.
Drug Screen
Background Investigation: Following the conditional offer but prior to receiving a final offer, the department will conduct a comprehensive background investigation. You will be required to fill out a background packet and supply additional records to the department. A fire department investigator will review the packet, verify its accuracy, interview previous employers, relatives and friends and review all information obtained.
Truth Verification Test: Candidates will meet with a detective from the South Jordan Police Department who will administer a truth verification test. Prior to the test, the Detective will spend some time with the candidate reviewing the background packet and formulating the questions that will be asked during the test.
Medical and Health Assessment: A comprehensive medical and health assessment will be conducted by the Departments Designated Physician. All costs associated with this assessment will be borne by the City.
Final Job Offer: After reviewing all information obtained during the hiring process, a final job offer will be extended to successful candidates.

New employees may be required to complete a three to four week orientation prior to beginning shift work. Regardless, you will be assigned a mentor that will assist you with completing a firefighter development program during your first year of employment.

South Jordan City Fire Department does not maintain a job interest list. We only accept applications during open recruitment periods. Openings will be posted at http://www.sjc.utah.gov/opps.asp. During open recruitment periods, applications can be submitted online or in person at South Jordan City Hall, Human Resource Department. For additional information please contact the South Jordan City Human Resources Department at (801) 254-3742.