Fire Captain

GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES
COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEW YORK

ANNOUNCES

AN PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATION FOR:

FIRE CAPTAIN, PROM., #74-584
(City of Batavia)


SALARY:  $57,569-$72,245/yr. (2014) City of Batavia


VACANCY: This examination is being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies as they occur.  An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8-26 weeks based on performance of duties. During this probationary period the Department Head has the ability to terminate employment, without cause.

             LAST FILING DATE----------APRIL 30, 2014

                              EXAMINATION DATE----------JUNE 7, 2014

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

Applicants must have one (1) year of permanent, Competitive status as a Fire Lieutenant with the City of Batavia Fire Department having served continuously in such capacity prior to the date of the written examination, and must continue such employment through the period leading to the date of appointment from this Eligible List, [PLEASE INDICATE YOUR EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

NOTE: PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION.

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualifications for this examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $25.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail)APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving   Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance), or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Responds to emergencies and assumes command at the scene as required;
Determines and directs the proper deployment of fire personnel and equipment
     when a fire or other emergency occurs, and arranges for additional equipment if
     necessary;
Investigates probable causes of fires and submits detailed reports on alarms and
     other occurrences during a shift;
Immediately notifies a superior regarding all major fires and unusual occurrences
     involving loss of life, injuries to persons and major damage to property;
Plans, supervises and participates in the training of firefighters, as directed;
Conducts programs for the education and benefit of fire personnel and the general
     public;
Supervises the maintenance of equipment, buildings and property;
Reports and assists in the correction of all defects in equipment and deficiencies in
     the training of firefighters;
Inspects multiple dwellings and buildings for fire hazards in accordance with
     established procedures, and prepares written records and reports as required;
Enforces department rules, regulations and general orders;
Administer terms and conditions of departmental labor agreements;
Reports violations of regulations by subordinates;
Prepares a variety of schedules, reports and logs;
Assists in emergency first-aid procedures;
Prepares reports regarding activities during a shift;
Participates in departmental discipline procedures as outlined by the Fire Chief, in
     accordance with Civil Service Law and other pertinent agreements.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION:
  A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1.         Administrative Supervision;
2.         Fire Prevention;
3.         Firefighting Practices and Equipment;   
4.         Preparing Written Material;
5.         Principles and Practices of Staff Development and Training;
6.         Rescue Techniques and Basic Emergency Medical Response.

USE OF CALCULATORS IS PROHIBITED FOR THIS EXAMINATION.

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION:

Administrative Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

Fire Prevention - These questions test for a knowledge of fire prevention methods, principles, practices, and equipment. The questions cover such areas as the following: alarm systems; automatic smoke/fire detectors; automatic sprinklers; standpipes; dealing with building owners and managers; fire hazards; fire prevention education; and inspection of buildings.

Firefighting Practices and Equipment - These questions test for a knowledge of firefighting methods, principles, practices, and equipment. The questions cover such areas as the following: aspects of the Incident Management System; building materials and construction types; direction of subordinate firefighters; communications at emergency incidents; accountability; fire cause and origin; building inspections; extinguishing agents and application procedures; fire behavior characteristics; fire suppression; hand and power tools; hazardous materials; weapons of mass destruction; hoses, nozzles, and water streams; ladders and elevating platforms; self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); fire scene size-up; and ventilation.

Preparing Written Material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

Principles and Practices of Staff Development and Training - These questions test for the knowledge and abilities used to develop and deliver training. They address topics such as the assessment of training needs; instructional design; training methods and techniques; the use of training aids, materials, and technology; motivation; learning theory; classroom management; the evaluation of learning outcomes; and the usage of training-related data.

Rescue Techniques and Basic Emergency Medical Response - These questions test for a knowledge of rescue techniques and basic emergency medical treatment. You will be presented with brief descriptions of various fire, rescue, and personal injury and illness situations. Each situation will be followed by one or more questions that cover such areas as the following: triage; bleeding; broken bones; burns; respiratory failure; cardiac failure; rescue-related tools; knot tying; rescue and associated EMS equipment.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However ,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm.

CROSS-FILING: If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

NOTE: Religious Accommodations--Handicapped Persons: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination.
Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an
“Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam.  This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.
DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

ADDITIONAL CREDIT AUTHORIZED:  Additional credits shall be allowed for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty, as “child” in this section in competitive examinations for original appointment.  (a) On all eligible lists resulting from competitive examinations, the names of eligible persons shall be entered in the order of their respective final earned ratings on examinations, with the name of the eligible person with the highest final earned ratings at the head of such list, provided, however, that for the purpose of determining final earned ratings, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten (10) points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  (b) Such additional credit shall be added to the final earned rating of such child, as the case may be, after he or she has qualified in the competitive examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of the resulting eligible list.

SENIORITY CREDITS: Candidates who pass the written and qualifying tests will have seniority credits added to their scores as follows:

Less than 1 year                                          0 points
1 year up to 6 yrs.                                        1 point
over 6 yrs. up to 11 yrs.                               2 points
over 11 yrs. up to 16 yrs.                             3 points
over 16 yrs. up to 21 yrs.                             4 points
over 21 yrs. up to 26 yrs.                             5 points

PLACE TO FILE: To get an application, come in or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Genesee County Human Resources, County Building I, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or download from website: www.co.genesee.ny.us. Phone 344-2550, Ext. 2221.

Applications mailed to us must be postmarked with a date no later than the last filing date indicated on this announcement.

All correspondence will be sent only to the address provided on the application for examination. It is your responsibility to inform the Genesee County Human Resources office of any change of address. Correspondence returned for incorrect address will not be forwarded.  All address changes must be submitted to the Genesee County Human Resources office in writing.

APPLICANTS: Please contact this office three days prior to examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with this rating of the examination will apply to this test.

THE COUNTY OF GENESEE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF
AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, VETERANS STATUS, DISABLED VETERANS STATUS, OR STATUS AS A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER PROTECTED GROUP OR ACTIVITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT.