Volunteer Firefighter - Paid per Call

Basic Function:
The primary function of a Volunteer Firefighter is to protect the community from disaster situations, including house and building fires, and promote an environment of public safety within the City of Dunsmuir, Dunsmuir Fire Protection District, Castella Fire Protection District response areas. This position also participates in fire prevention and inspection activities, equipment and quarters maintenance, and training dealing with all phases of fire suppression, prevention, inspection, rescue and emergency operation.

Essential Functions

Essential Functions are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. They are intended to be accurate summaries of what the job classification involves and what is required to perform it. Employees are responsible for all other duties as assigned.

  • Responds to fire alarms and extinguishes fire;
  • Responds to calls for emergency medical services, and renders first aid;
  • Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water and removing debris;
  • Responds to and renders assistance in emergency cases;
  • Cleans and inspects equipment and apparatus after returning from a fire;
  • Inspects equipment and apparatus and notifies superior officer of any defects;
  • Makes minor repairs to equipment and apparatus, performs routine preventative maintenance tasks, and keeps records of such action;
  • Keeps fire station, equipment and grounds in a clean and orderly condition;
  • Participates in training activities and instruction sessions;
  • Acquires and retains a thorough knowledge of the City, including streets, buildings, water supply, unusual hazards and related items;
  • Performs various public information or education tasks;
  • Enters inspection, training and (on occasion) fire and emergency medical service calls into the records management systems;
  • Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies and procedures;
  • Works in a safe manner and reports unsafe activity and conditions. Follows City-wide safety policy and practices and adheres to responsibilities concerning safety prevention, reporting and monitoring as outlined in the City’s Safety Handbook.
  • May respond to emergency calls for specialized service such as hazardous materials, confined spaces rescue, extrication and technical rescues that include high angle, below grade, swift water, trench and collapse rescues;
  • May respond to non-emergency calls for infant car seat installations, africanized bee complaints, fire prevention demos, etc.;
  • Deals with social service related areas of emergency response by assisting victims and relatives of victims of traumatic events. 

Minimum Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED equivalency; and 
  • Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application;
  • Any combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Essential Physical Abilities

The primary duties of this class are performed in a work environment in which the employee is subject to potential personal danger. Therefore, the following physical abilities are deemed essential:

  • Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing and other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate effectively, including during emergency situations which may involve a high degree of noise;
  • Sufficient vision and other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to effectively operate at a fire or related emergency scene;
  • Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate equipment used in fire fighting;
  • Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to perform all duties involved in protecting life and property.