Summary This position is located in the Fire Department at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. Its purpose to provide fire suppression, protection, inspection and emergency medical services to VA Medical Center facilities, Battle Creek, MI. Responsibilities The duties of this position include, but are not limited to: Responds to all medical center alarms, performs such firefighting duties as determining the nature and extent of the fire, the appropriate action required, laying and connecting hoses, directing fire streams, operating firefighting equipment, ventilating burning buildings, performing evacuations and rescues, administering appropriate emergency treatments, etc. Drives and operates multiple fire engines, ambulances, and other Fire Department vehicles to scene of fire following predetermined route or selecting alternate route when necessary. Positions vehicle considering such factors as wind direction, sources of water and hazards from falling structures. Operates pumps, foam generators, nozzles, and other similar equipment. Determines proper pressures for the distances to be pumped and the number of lines being used. Applies principles of hydraulics as they pertain to water flow friction and friction loss. Maintains a constant awareness of water levels in self-contained tanks and warns hand-line and rescue personnel when tanks are close to running dry. Performs checks, tests, and maintenance on pumper and equipment, troubleshoots and corrects problems during actual operations. Operates the Medical Center ambulance for response to medical and code emergencies on the grounds of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center including life threatening emergencies. Will provide non-invasive procedures following State and Federal Emergency Medical Basic Life Support Protocols and in support of the attending Medical center physician or offsite paramedics responding to the campus and will provide on-scene direction to VAFD members with a lower level of emergency medical response training. The Firefighter/EMT will be a member of the Medical Center Emergency Team for emergency medical response involving injuries or illness of patients, staff, and visitors to the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. His or her response will consist of the minimum Basic Life Support (BLS) duties: Employ all sources of information in order to determine the nature of the person's illness or extent of injury. Performs initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination to determine priority of patient care based upon initial findings. Takes, records, and monitors patient's baseline vital signs. Attempts to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems and to obtain a comprehensive drug history from the patient. Manages respiratory and cardiac emergencies to include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and/or automated external defibrillation (AED) Controls external bleeding with direct pressure and treats for shock. Applies oxygen therapy to personnel experiences signs of difficulty breathing by applying a non-rebreather or nasal cannula mask. Splints and immobilizes fractures and dislocations for transport. Establishes communication with the receiving facility, providing all patient information including estimated time of arrival. Employs a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods, and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport as soon as possible. Assists Advanced Life Support staff including physicians and nurses. Prepares appropriate and relevant patient documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met and accurately reported. Incumbent is certified according to the VHA Directive 7718 as a Firefighter II and the Hazardous Materials Operations Level. The incumbent must also possess valid certifications as a Pumper Driver/Operator and Fire Inspector II upon hire. A current National Registry or State of Michigan Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic level certification is also required upon hire. Incumbent is required to possess a valid state driver's license and employee must participate in a drug testing program. Incumbent must pass an annual physical examination in accordance with established medical standards based on NFPA 1500 and 1583. The Firefighter (Basic Life Support) will typically work a 48-hour tour of duty that averages to 72 hours per week, 144 hours per pay period to accomplish the goals and mission of the Medical Center. This schedule may be modified to meet the needs of the medical center. The Firefighter will occasionally work overtime for staffing purposes or when designated by management. Work Schedule: 48 hours on followed by 48/72 hours off Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (Bls/Hmt)/PD91616A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/07/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Certification Requirements: To be eligible for employment as a VA firefighter, each potential employee must have received Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001, and must have received Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, in NFPA 472. Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations;
