By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The depleted Decatur Fire Department is now taking applications for career (full-time) firefighters and paid-on-call (POC) firefighters.
Applications packets for both positions are available at the fire station, 206 S.7th St., between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A packet also may be downloaded from the City of Decatur website: www.cityofdecatur.in.gov
Completed applications should be taken to City Hall in downtown Decatur, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They also may be emailed to: applications@cityofdecatur.in.gov
The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19.
Chief Jeff Sheets said career firefighters work a 24.5-hour shift.
Applicants must be 21 years of age and not have reached 40 years of age at the time of hire (a state requirement).
Lateral applications (from a current firefighter located elsewhere) will be accepted. Those applicants must be 21 and a member of the 1977 Police and Firefighter Pension Fund.
Starting wage for career firefighters is $55,842 and the pension base is $63,104.
Among benefits are a pension; life insurance; medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage; on-the-job personal injury policy; paid vacation, holiday and sick time; PPE provided; annual clothing allowance of $1,000.
ONE-THIRD GONE: The department recently lost three of its nine career firefighters and is operating severely shorthanded.
The three departures leave the department with six regulars, plus Chief Sheets and Deputy Chief Chad Baumann.
Sheets, however, recently told city council that “everything is being covered. We are moving shifts around so we will have everything covered.”
Sheets has one likely addition to the full-time staff: Maddux Hillery of Union City, Indiana. Although he would need local training, it would be a lateral move since he is already on the state’s 1977 Police and Firefighter Pension Fund.
Given the severe loss of numbers, Decatur’s board of works and safety moved to suspend the normal hiring process and gave Sheets the go-ahead to get Hillery on board.
PAID-ON-CALLS: A city ordinance change now allows 18-year-olds to be added to the POC staff.
POCs are paid $18.65 for the first hour of response to an incident, then, $15.22 for each additional hour.
Special responses and scheduled monthly training are compensated at the rate of $15.22.
The POCs receive all personnel protective fire equipment, an on-the-job personal injury policy, and a bi-annual fuel and clothing allowance.
NEEDED; Following are the needed qualifications for both career and POC positions:
• Be a high school graduate or possess a High School Equivalency or GED.
• Possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable (insurable) driving record.
• Live in the townships Decatur serves.
• Have no record of felony convictions.
• Have no misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.
• If prior military, be honorably discharged.
• Hold current certifications in Firefighter I & II, NIMS 100, 200, 700 & 800, Hazmat Operations, EMR (Minimum of Emergency Medical Responder certification is required). Or be willing to obtain these certifications promptly as they become available.
• Be of good moral character and possess a high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Possess an acceptable level of verbal and written skills to execute the essential duties and functions of the job.
• Possess an acceptable level of dexterity to execute the essential duties and functions of the job.
• Possess the ability to interact appropriately with the public, employees, team members, elected officials, and others.
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