The OCFA Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) periodically opens a recruitment for the position of Part-time Hazardous Materials Technician. Part-time members are utilized for backfill and/or shift trade opportunities in place of full-time members assigned to Stations 20 and 79. This is a highly dynamic and specialized arena. Along with traditional hazmat response, our mission has increasingly focused on the terrorism component and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) response.
The program provides many additional training opportunities such as attendance of out-of-state Department of Homeland Security courses, courses at the National Fire Academy, working with the Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad and local SWAT teams under the Joint Hazard Assessment Team, and the opportunity to participate on CATF-5. The training opportunities and skills acquired as members of the team are highly useful now and as you promote through the ranks.
*All details above are subject to change per concurrent MOU and/or Side Letter Agreement
SCHEDULE & TRAINING
Selected individuals will attend four one-week long courses to earn certification as a Hazardous Materials Technician, if needed. Upon completion, each person will be administratively assigned to either E20, T20 or E79 for a period of six months for continued training. The commitment following this assignment is to complete online quarterly training, attend an annual skills proficiency drill, and maintain reasonable availability for backfill.
*All details above are subject to change per concurrent MOU and/or Side Letter Agreement
Employees who are qualified to perform hazardous materials duties and who are assigned by the Authority to a position designated to perform hazardous materials duties regularly shall be paid--in addition to their regular salary--approximately seven and one-half (7.5%) percent of top step Firefighter base salary per month, prorated on an hourly basis; Such employees who work an overtime shift to cover a designated hazardous materials position, due to the absence of the regularly assigned employee, shall also receive hazardous materials pay on a prorated basis for that overtime shift or portion thereof.
• Hazardous Materials Specialist Incentive Pay (Specialist, Non-Paramedic = 7.5% HazMat Pay + 2.5% HMSI Pay, for a total of 10% combined)*
To be eligible to receive the Hazardous Materials Specialist Incentive (HMSI) pay, employees must be designated as qualified by the OCFA. Qualified is defined as having successfully completed and hold a current certification as a California State Hazardous Materials Specialist and an aggregate of two years assignment (voluntary or administrative) to Engine 20, Truck 20 or Engine 79. Employees designated as "Part-time Haz Mat Team Members" shall be eligible to receive HMSI pay provided that they have been designated as qualified by the OCFA.
• Hazardous Materials and Paramedic Incentive Pay (Technician or Specialist, Paramedic = 15% Paramedic Pay + 2.5% HMPI Pay, for a total 17.5% combined)*
Employees must be designated as qualified by the OCFA to be eligible to receive the Hazardous Materials and Paramedic Incentive (HMPI) pay. Qualified is defined as being an OCFA sponsored paramedic and certified as a Hazardous Materials Technician and/or Specialist. Employees designated as "Part-time Haz Mat Team Members" shall be eligible to receive HMPI pay provided that they have been designated as qualified by the OCFA.
*All details above are subject to change per concurrent MOU and/or Side Letter Agreement
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• No experience or background is required.
• Firefighter, Firefighter Paramedic, or Fire Apparatus Engineer (current OCFA personnel only) Individuals certified at the Hazardous Materials Technician or Specialist level are encouraged to apply
• Supervisor concurrence
• Standard or higher rating on last employee performance reviews
*All details above are subject to change per concurrent MOU and/or Side Letter Agreement
APPLICATION PROCESS
• Recruitment opens
• Online application
• Cover memo of interest (indicate position or positions of interest)
• Resume outlining your education and experience
• Letter of supervisor's concurrence
• Inclusion of related certificates of training or related professional qualifications are also encouraged
DISCLAIMER
Each recruitment is unique and is subject to change, dependent upon organizational needs and concurrent MOUs. The information provided here is based solely on previous recruitments. All OCFA recruitment flyers supersede this historical information provided.
