FIRE DEPARTMENT

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

EXAM NUMBER:

33772N

FILING DATES:

November 25, 2024, 8:00 a.m., (PT) through December 10, 2024, 5:00 p.m., PT.

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE:

Out-of-Class experience will not be accepted for this examination.

DEFINITION:
Under close supervision, performs professional fire protection engineering work involving review and approval of moderately difficult construction plans, and inspection of building sites for compliance with fire protection codes and regulations.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this entry-level fire prevention engineering class are located in the Prevention Bureau of the Fire Department. Positions work under immediate administrative and technical supervision of a higher-level fire prevention engineer and are engaged in the performance of professional engineering assignments of limited scope such as review and approval of construction plans, review of water supply systems, inspection of hydrant accessibility, and fire access for the purpose of safeguarding life and property against loss from fire, panic, explosions and related hazards. Incumbents must have a knowledge of basic engineering principles; fire codes and regulations; fire hazardous materials; knowledge of mathematics sufficient to perform related engineering calculations and the ability to read building plans, legal land maps and parcels.

• Conducts plan reviews and issues approvals for moderately difficult architectural building plans, (e.g. small public assemblies, business/mercantile occupancies, single family and multi-family dwellings, non-high piled storage commercial industrial buildings, schools, etc.) for fire life safety requirements (e.g. fire flow, hydrant location, and vehicular access) by reviewing applicable codes (e.g. building, fire, residential, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards, etc.) and comparing submitted plans (paper and computerized) using applicable software programs (e.g. EPIC LA, etc.) to be in compliance with building codes.
• Interacts with and assists members of the public, private businesses, and government agencies in a professional/effective manner to inform applicants of code requirements and/or facilitate the permit process in person or using electronic communications.
• Reviews proposed tract and parcel maps to determine fire hydrant locations; reflect new hydrant installations; and verify Land Development Unit’s fire hydrant and fire department vehicular access requirements by using maps (e.g. Departmental GIS maps, online maps, etc.) and applicable software programs.
• Explains and interprets fire prevention engineering requirements imposed on projects submitted for review by the architects, engineers, developers or owner by communicating with applicants and providing a list of corrections to ensure compliance with applicable codes (e.g. building plans, tract and parcel maps, occupancy change of use, conditional use permits, zone changes, etc.).
• Attends meetings with higher level Fire Department staff with local government officials (e.g. County/City, Water Departments, Building/Planning Department officials, etc.) and applicants (e.g. owners, developers, architects, engineers, etc.) who possess varying degrees of responsibilities relative to the building plan and land development approval to respond to inquiries or disputes by briefing parties on department requirements.
• Consults with supervisor or higher-level staff for guidance on difficult or challenging projects or alternative methods of code compliance in order for the supervisor to facilitate resolutions by written and/or verbal communication.
• Prepares reports and maintains project files (e.g. building plans, land development files, and maps) by inputting data and information from electronic and paper sources for each project to maintain accurate records.
• Conducts field inspections (e.g. flow tests, site verifications, etc.) by visiting project sites, witnessing or performing flow tests, and verifying test results to confirm project requirements are being met.
• Performs mathematical calculations to determine building area justifications, tank sizes, occupant load, available fire flow for public and private fire protection systems, etc. using calculators, architectural/engineering scales, and software programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Option I: An Associate's degree from an accredited* college, with completion of at least 15 semester units or 23 quarter units of fire protection related courses**.

Option II: Completion of two years of a four year program in an accredited* college or university with specialization in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture, fire protection engineering, fire protection administration or fire technology related field**.

Option III: Two years experience performing fire protection engineering work***.

Note: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part time experience is credited on a part time ratio, such as 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
3 - Moderate: Requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

**In order to receive credit for any college course work, or any type of college degree, such as Associate's or higher, or for completion of a certificate program, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization; or official certificates with your application. Applicants must either upload required documents as attachments, e-mail documents as attachments to Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days of submitting online application.

***Experience performing fire protection engineering work is defined as performing design of fire protection systems or conducting building plan reviews for an authority having jurisdiction for compliance with fire protection codes and regulations.

NOTE: If credit is given for course work, transcripts must indicate completion of required course work. All transcripts/degrees may be reviewed for content and curriculum emphasis.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of an evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted 100%, assessing:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge of:
  • Government regulatory fire codes
  • Building construction design, standards, and materials
  • General engineering terminology

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the Training and Experience Evaluation in order to be placed on the eligible list.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

• Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.
• This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.

• pui.yau@fire.lacounty.gov
• Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov
• Alexander.Javaherdashti@fire.lacounty.gov
• Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• Noreply@governmentjobs.com

• Domain:@fire.lacounty.gov

• Domain:@hr.lacounty.gov

It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or re-scheduling of a test component.

Notice of Non-acceptance and Final Result letters will be sent via email. Test scores cannot be given over the phone.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible list in order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation.

TEST PREPARATION:

Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

• An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find a Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
• Additional practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests.

VACANCY INFORMATION:

The resulting eligible list for this examination will be used to fill FIRE PREVENTION ENGINEERING ASSISTANT I, vacancies within the Los Angeles County Fire Department as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:

Any Shift-Appointees must be willing to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

PASSING THIS EXAMINATION AND BEING PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application BEFORE 5:00 p.m. PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 P.M., (PT) on the last day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address. If you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by signing into your profile and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

You can also track the status of your application using the website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty and signing in to your profile.

NOTE: The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Please check your application to ensure that your documents are uploaded by signing into your profile and reviewing your submitted application. Applicants must submit all required documents to be considered (official diplomas, official transcripts, license, certificates, etc.) during or within five (15) calendar days of application submission. All documents must be clear and legible. Although resumes may be uploaded as attachments to the online application, resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. If you are unable to attach documents, you may e-mail them to Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days of submitting your online application. All emails must clearly identify the applicant's name and the subject line must include the exam title FIRE PREVENTION ENGINEERING ASSISTANT I and exam number 33772N. Failure to provide the documentation will result in application rejection.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY PRIOR TO CLICKING THE "SUBMIT" BUTTON.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSTION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

Acceptance of your application depends on whether you clearly show that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out the online application completely and correctly in order to receive full credit for any related education, training, and job experience. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, and description of work performed. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specification and/or Minimum Requirements will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and disqualification. All information supplied is subject to verification. APPLICATIONS MAY BE REJECTED AT ANY STAGE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes.

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

LA County public libraries have reopened with limited access hours and may require prior reservation to use their computers. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person services at https://lacountylibrary.org/.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record and is subject to disqualification from this examination.

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed, with the exam name FIRE PREVENTION ENGINEERING ASSISTANT I and exam number 33772N in the subject line, to Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov.

Testing Accommodations Information and Coordinator Contact Information:

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, let us know by contacting Testing Coordinator at Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov or (213) 466-5500. You will be required to complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form as well as provide supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the requested accommodation(s). The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process.

Department Contact Name: Fire Examination Section

Department Contact Phone: (213) 466-5500

Department Contact Email: Fire-Examination@fire.lacounty.gov

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

Your Responsibilities:

1. Completing Your Application:

a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.

c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.

2. Requirements on Job Posting:

a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.

b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.

c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.

3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.

4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on www.governmentjobs.com and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.

5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:

a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.

Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.

You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.

The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.

The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.

NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.

By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.

Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.

Veteran’s Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran’s credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.

A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.

This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran’s credit. More information available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/

Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_AC E_Resource_Guide.pdf

Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at https://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov/#/.

Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a “new member” of the County’s defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) – unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.

Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.

Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.

COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.

Updated February 2024