Creation of arduous duty EMT Fireline positions

EMTThe National Wildfire Coordination Group’s Risk Management Committee has distributed a memo announcing that new positions have been created — Line Emergency Medical Technicians with the requirement of passing the Pack Test at the arduous level. The three positions are, EMT Fireline, Advanced EMT Fireline, and Paramedic Fireline.

Below are the first two pages of the memo. Details about the qualifications can be found at the NIFC site.

****

“Safety Advisory

Date: May 28, 2013

Subject: Creation of Arduous Duty Line Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Positions

Issue: The Risk Management Committee has agreed that the creation of these new positions is in the best interest of the wildland fire community. Federal members have worked with agency Training and Qualifications staff to incorporate them into the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) as Technical Specialists.

Consideration was given to the need for these positions to maintain an Arduous Fitness level:

1. Line going emergency care providers will carry all the prescribed medical equipment and their line gear to sustain them through a work shift requiring above average endurance and superior conditioning.

2. The very purpose of providing emergency medical care to an employee in the fire environment means they may be called upon to respond on foot at a rapid pace in adverse environmental conditions. The pace of this work is set by the emergency.

3. Once on scene, the EMS resource will provide for patient care. The physical action of transporting the patient will typically be carried out by fireline resources on scene; however the physical demands of maintaining patient care may last for an extended period of time in adverse environmental conditions while carrying fireline gear.


Required Action: These positions were effective May 1, 2013 and are available in IQCS. Agencies using other qualification systems of record, such as the Incident Qualification System (IQS), may choose to adopt these minimum standards and incorporate them into their system of record and place on employee Incident Qualification Cards. These positions do not require completion of a position task book.

Recommended Action: The Arduous Duty EMT positions are new positions; however firefighters who currently meet state or National Park Service medical licensure and fire training requirements are eligible for these new qualifications. The new position competencies may be added to a responder’s IQCS record when that individual meets all qualification requirements of the position. No qualifications at the trainee level should be added; the competency should only be added to individuals who currently meet all position requirements (see attached).

Discussion/Background: In the past when an Incident Management Team (IMT) or local unit needed an arduous duty EMT a resource order would be placed with a notation in the remarks section requesting additional qualification as a firefighter. This often led to confusion or incorrect resource order filling. These new positions allow the ordering unit to place a resource order for the actual resource needed.

Additional Information: Employees who currently hold existing IQCS/IQS Technical Specialist EMT qualifications (EMTB, EMTI or EMTP) may continue to take non-fireline assignments with no additional requirements. They may also conduct work on the fireline if they fulfill their agency’s standards for visits to the fireline. These new

positions do not convey state or National Park Service licensing/certification at any level as an emergency medical care provider but uses state or National Park Service licensing/certification as a portion of incident response qualification criteria. Responders crossing jurisdictional boundaries should continue to use the Limited Recognition processes found on the Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee’s website.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group Incident Business Committee (IBC) recognizes the potential for extensive use of these positions as Administratively Determined (AD) Pay Plan hires for the remainder of 2013 and has determined the need to assign an appropriate pay rate nationally rather than individual hiring units completing the exception rate process. Further guidance is forthcoming from the IBC. However, the following rates will be applied:

  • Emergency Medical Technician, Fireline (EMTF): AD-G
  • Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Fireline (AEMF): AD-H
  • Paramedic, Fireline (EMPF): AD-J

Questions regarding use of the new fireline EMT positions should be directed to your RMC representative. Questions regarding AD Pay Plan use of these positions should be directed to your IBC representative.”

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

6 thoughts on “Creation of arduous duty EMT Fireline positions”

  1. I now work for a structural fire department and am looking to get back on the fireline as a paramedic. I was wondering how others on structural fire departments manage it with going on details as ADs. My quals when I left the US Forest Service were up to Engine Boss. If anyone know please let me know. Thankyou!

    0
    0
    1. It should be fairly easy, depending on the State in which you work. Your department should have an agreement (CERF) with your State Forest Service on pay rates. Then, you just need to update your local Federal dispatch center with your current ROSS/IQS certifications.

      0
      0
  2. Maintaining certification across multiple States is going to be problematic at best. There is also the issue of varying protocols between States.

    0
    0
  3. While this clears up the issue with
    quals in the line, it still does nothing for EMTs on home units. In order to have licensed EMTs on the fireline, you need to keep up with training, licensing and experience at home. If Agency Administrators and FMOs can’t support fire mgt personnel being EMTs, these quals will only be used by ADs and contractors.

    0
    0
  4. Finally, progress being made forward for EMT / Paramedic! Now if we can move forward on recognition across State boundaries.

    0
    0

Comments are closed.