Retained Firefighter

The Position Limerick City and County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary and permanent vacancies for Retained Fire-Fighter may be filled throughout the lifetime of the panel. The common image of the Fire & Rescue Service is naturally one of fire-fighters turning out in fire appliances and fighting fires. While some of the work involves attendance at fires, the role of the Fire & Rescue Service is much wider and the needs of the community much more varied. Limerick Fire & Rescue Service responds to all emergency calls from the public for assistance, primarily to protect life and save injury to individuals, but also to prevent and restrict damage to property. Many emergency calls, however, are not to fires, but to incidents where members of the community are trapped in vehicles following road traffic accidents, trapped in machinery, or trapped in less life threatening circumstances, as well as being called to chemical spillages and toxic emissions, river rescues, etc.

To deliver this service to the public, Limerick Fire & Rescue Service has to develop operational plans, including the provision of adequate water supplies for fire fighting; ensure that effective arrangements exist to receive emergency ‘999’ calls and mobilise resources; implement effective operational communication systems throughout the Fire & Rescue Service; enforce, promote and encourage fire safety throughout Limerick by programmes of inspection and publicity; conduct effective training to develop the skills and abilities of personnel; and provide, maintain and repair its premises, vehicles, plant and equipment.

The Fire-Fighter’s working life and training is geared to responding safely and effectively to emergency calls, regardless of weather conditions or the time of day or night. Every time Fire-Fighters are called to the scene of an emergency they must be prepared to deploy each and every skill in which they have been trained. When they arrive at an incident as part of a team under the command of an Officer, they may individually have to absorb a great deal of information rapidly and apply the skills they have learned in conditions which will often be extremely dangerous and confusing. Despite all the training given in preparation for such incidents, however, Fire-Fighters will from time to time be faced with new situations where they may individually be required to provide the answers using previous experiences as a guide. Fire-Fighters wearing breathing apparatus, feeling their way through a smoke filled building with toxic hazards, in order to effect a rescue, cannot ask for instructions.

In order to function effectively in emergencies every fire-fighter’s pre-eminent characteristics must be those of:

• courage
• physical strength
• the capacity for rapid, intense and sustained effort
• an unquestioning acceptance of orders at emergencies
• capacity to use initiative when alone
• the skilled technician’s complete and automatic familiarity with the equipment and tools of the profession (which may range up to major items of plant such as hydraulic platform)
• a practical understanding of the basis of a wide range of subjects necessary to anticipate and overcome hazards\
• sympathy towards victims of emergencies
• ability to carry on in what may occasionally be emotionally harrowing circumstances.

Duties: Retained Fire-Fighters will perform under the control and direction of the Chief Fire Officer or their nominee, such fire-fighting duties including fire prevention duties, station routines, and other emergency duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Retained Fire-Fighters will be expected to carry out the following non-exhaustive list of duties:

• All Retained Fire Fighters are required to both live & work within an agreed distance of the Fire Station
• Be available to respond in accordance with the attendance times to all emergency calls on the brigade being alerted, and remain on duty and undertake such activity as directed by the Officer-in-Charge
• Attend and successfully complete all training courses both within and outside of Limerick City & County as designated by the Chief Fire Officer
• Attend training nights as required
• Attend and complete all Special Duties as required by brigade management
• Drive Fire Brigade vehicles
• Operate Fire Brigade equipment
• Operate within a ranked structure & comply with all lawful commands of management
• Comply with the Safety Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005

The Person 1. Character Candidates shall be of good character and will be required to submit as references the contact details of two responsible persons to whom he/she is well known but not related. 2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Prior to appointment, successful candidates will be required to attend a Recruits Training Course for a 3 week period which will include Work Related Tests consisting of Ladder Climb, Casualty Evacuation, Equipment Carry and Confined Space Tests. 3. Education, Experience, etc. Each candidate should have reached a standard of education sufficient to enable him/her to benefit from training provided and to carry out the duties assigned to them. Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of applications demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Be of good character and prepared at all times to act with a keen and responsible approach to both training and such other duties as may be assigned
• Have reached a standard of education sufficient to enable the applicant to carry out the duties assigned to them satisfactorily
• Possess good communication and interpersonal skills
• Be self-motivated with a record of demonstrating initiative and ability to use judgement in a work place environment
• Have the capacity to contribute to and work well in a team
• Are required to be available for duty at all allocated times, unless approved absence has been previously arranged with the Officer-in-Charge of the brigade

4. Driving Licence Candidates must hold a full driving licence, Category “B”, free from endorsement and provide their own motor vehicle for use in carrying out their duties and their motor insurance policy must indemnify the Council. A current category C licence is desirable. Where a candidate does not hold a C licence on appointment, he/she must obtain same within the first year of appointment.

Terms and Conditions 1. The Post: Subject to the availability of suitably qualified candidates a panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

2. Residence/Employment: Applicants who may be considered for membership are confined to those who reside in the area of the fire brigade and whose ordinary employment does not take them away from the area of the fire brigade.

The Retained Fire Service is an emergency service and requires an immediate turnout – therefore the maximum acceptable time of travel from home and place of employment will be 7 minutes of the Newcastle West, Cappamore, Foynes, Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock & Rathkeale Fire Stations.

3. Annual Leave The successful candidate will have 28 days annual leave.

4. Salary: Salary scale: €11,019 - €14,317 per annum, inclusive of LSIs. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance. Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €11,019). The earnings of a retained fire fighter are variable depending on the level of activity undertaken by each individual. Earnings are made up of an annual retainer, payments for attending training, payments for attending callouts and payments for other duties. Whilst callout numbers cannot be guaranteed, the estimated earnings for an individual in each retained fire station is expected to be between €30,000 and €40,000 per annum. 5. Availability Availability means that a fire fighter is required to both live and work within the maximum time of travel of the fire station at all times while on call for emergencies. A minimum level of staffing is required to be available in all Limerick Retained Fire Stations at all times. Structured time off will be available to all staff, subject to operational requirements, approval of the Station Officer and subject to maintaining minimum staffing levels in the Fire Station at all times.

6. Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

7. Superannuation: The relevant Superannuation Scheme if applicable will be applied.

8. Retirement Age The retirement age for Retained Firefighters is 55 years. However, Firefighters in the Retained Fire Service have the option to continue working up to the age of 60, subject to a formal application process and passing an annual occupational health test.