Fire Chief
Date Adopted by City Manager
12/01/02
Comp. Code
8810
Public Safety Management
Exempt
Job Title
Fire Chief
Definition
Under general direction of the City Manager, to plan, direct, supervise and coordinate the operations of the Fire Department in preventing and extinguishing fires, delivering emergency medical services, performing rescues, mitigating hazardous materials emergencies, and in protecting life and property; to provide highly responsible and technical staff assistance to the City Manager, City Council and operating departments; to perform related work as required.
Typical Duties
Plan, organize, direct, coordinate and, as necessary, participate in all activities of the Fire Department; develop and maintain rules and procedures for fire prevention and firefighting personnel; direct investigations to determine cause and origin of fires and assist in the prosecution of arsonists; direct the enforcement of Federal, State and local fire codes and regulations; direct the formulation and implementation of in-service training; respond to media as key department spokesperson; confer with agents of other governmental jurisdictions, with the Insurance Services Office, with fire prevention bureaus, and with the office of the State Fire Marshal; provide disaster response coordination; supervise the requisition, maintenance and operation of firefighting equipment; make regular and special reports of departmental activities to the City Manager; keep abreast of new developments in firefighting, fire prevention, training and administration; prepare and administer the department budget; represent the City in the community and at professional meetings as required; direct the maintenance of records of fire calls and fire losses; supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff; operate department computers; perform related assignments as necessary.
Tools and Equipment Used
Command vehicles, fire apparatus, personal protective equipment, and other standard firefighting, hazardous materials response, and rescue equipment, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, sometimes on uneven surfaces; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, sometimes in confined spaces; and taste or smell.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 175 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
Work is performed primarily in office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. Individual is exposed to hearing alarms and hazards associated with fighting fires and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents, and oils and combating hazardous materials emergencies.
The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings, and loud at an emergency scene.
Desired Qualifications
Knowledge of
Principles and practices of modern firefighting and fire prevention practices; laws, ordinances, rules and codes affecting the activities of the Fire Department; principles and practices of organization, administration, budget and personnel management; principles and techniques of modern first aid, rescue and resuscitation; geography, types of building construction, major fire hazards, water supply, fire and building laws and regulations of the City of Chico.
Ability to
Plan, formulate and administer sound departmental policies and procedures; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with subordinates, other City officials and the public; understand and relate fire problems and priorities with overall City objectives; prepare and administer the departmental budget; oversee purchasing; assure inventory control.
Experience
Ten years of increasingly responsible, paid, full-time experience, preferably in all major program areas including administration, suppression, and prevention or training. At least three years of this experience shall be at the Chief Officer level.
Education
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration or other applicable field supplemented by broad and extensive course work in fire science suppression, prevention and administration. A Master's Degree in public administration or related field is desirable. Certification by the State Board of Fire Services as a Fire Chief is desirable.
Additional Requirements
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License. Current first aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification per CCR 1797.182. Certification as a Hazardous Materials First Responder-Operational.