Sample Expectations of Fire Chief

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Harry Price
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1 Sample Expectations of Fire Chief In order to properly evaluate a Fire Chief, you need to first have told the Fire Chief what is expected. The expectations may prove, in the end, to be unattainable. But you can then evaluate how well the Fire Chief has attempted to reach these goals. Also, the expectations can become moving targets that are revised as needed to bring continued improvement to the District. This list of expectations contains some options (labeled Option A for larger, career Districts and Option B for smaller, unpaid Districts). However the best option will probably be Option C which is written specifically for your District. The Fire Protection District Board and the Fire Chief should jointly write their own list of expectations, and then at least once a year will evaluate how well the District, under the leadership of the Fire Chief, has meet these expectations. 1. Training The Fire Chief shall designate an individual as training officer who shall arrange for substantive training to be provided monthly at a District training meeting. The Fire Chief shall ensure that everyone in the District (including Board Members) has completed National Incident Management System (NIMS) training and can demonstrate their understanding of NIMS. The Fire Chief shall ensure: Option A Larger, Career Fire District 1. Each firefighter is trained to level of Firefighter I before hiring 2. Each firefighter who has been on the District for 12 months or more shall be trained to the level of Firefighter II 3. Each firefighter shall receive 12 hours of specialized training beyond Firefighter II level each year after attaining Firefighter II status 4. All drivers shall receive specialized drivers training that results is a CDL drivers license before they are allowed to drive on a service call. 5. All persons promoted to the rank of Lieutenant shall have completed training before promotion. Missouri Association of 1 Revised by Monte Olsen

2 6. All persons promoted to the rank of Captain, or higher, shall have completed training before promotion. Option B Smaller, Unpaid District 1. Each firefighter shall be trained to Firefighter I level within 12 months of joining the District 2. Each firefighter shall become Firefighter II within 24 months of achieving Firefighter I status. 3. Each driver of a District vehicle shall have a CDL drivers license. 4. Each firefighter shall receive at least 6 hours of specialized training outside the District each year after reaching Firefighter II status. 5. Each firefighter shall attend at least 10 of these training meetings each calendar year. 2. Safety Every firefighter shall stop or slow to a speed of no more than 2 mph at each stop sign or red traffic control signal before proceeding, and will not enter the intersection if there is oncoming traffic. Every firefighter shall use a seat belt and shoulder harness when responding to a call. No firefighter shall appear on a fire scene without wearing all required turn out gear. No firefighter shall enter into a structural fire without the knowledge and consent of the incident commander. Each responder to a medical emergency or to a vehicle collision shall be wearing reflectorized turn out gear adequate to alert motorists of the presence of first responders. All District equipment shall, when arriving at an incident scene, be parked to provide maximum protection to District personnel. For the purposes of improving future District operations, all incidents resulting in injury to District personnel or damage to District equipment shall be reported to the entire Board membership within 72 hours of the incident. In every case, the District shall attempt to determine the party responsible for the injury or damage, and in instances where a third party has caused injury or damage to the District, the District s attorney shall recover that damage from the party responsible. In those instances where the District s attorney Missouri Association of 2 Revised by Monte Olsen

3 concludes that District personnel contributed to the fault, the attorney shall promptly communicate that conclusion to the Fire Chief and the Board. No alcohol or nonprescribed drug shall be located at any fire station, nor within any District vehicle or vehicle parked on District property. No District personnel shall appear for duty or at an incident scene while in an intoxicated or drugged condition. The Fire Chief shall: Option A Larger, Career Fire District a. Ensure each firefighter is equipped with turn out gear with SCBA equipment, and with a PASS device meeting current NFPA standards. The Fire Chief shall not allow firefighters to approach a fire without SCBA equipment and PASS devices in place. b. Conduct an active program to reduce fire risks, by building inspection, public education, promotion of fire safety in school, encourage the use of smoke detectors, etc. c. Subject all District personnel to routine drug and alcohol testing without suspicion or probable cause, and to mandatory testing following each incident resulting in unexpected injury or damage to any person (including the District). d. Ensure all radio traffic at an incident shall be recorded. Option B Smaller, Unpaid District 1. Not allow firefighters to respond to a call driving a vehicle equipped with lights and siren unless they have been issued a signed blue light card permit by the Fire Chief. No such permit shall be issued until (describe training to be required). The blue light permit card remains the property of the District and shall be surrendered when the firefighter ceases to be a District firefighter. 2. Require firefighters to drive their vehicles at a safe rate of speed when responding to a call. The blue light permit card may be revoked by the Fire Chief for unsafe driving. 3. Not allow firefighters to drive a District vehicle unless he possesses a valid CDL license (and describe any other training required). 4. Not allow firefighters to respond to the scene if he or she does not possess a valid Missouri motor vehicle operator s license. Missouri Association of 3 Revised by Monte Olsen

4 5. Schedule, at least times per year, events to promote the reduction of fire risks: either by undertaking building inspections, testing of smoke alarms, children fire safety education or some other program of this sort. 3. Public Support for Fire Service The Fire Chief shall have a newsletter published times per year that is sent to all registered voters within the District, plus any owners of real property within the District and any residents who are not registered voters of whom the District becomes aware. The Fire Chief shall have a public information officer who shall strive to encourage the news media to report favorably upon the activities of the District, and who shall encourage civic groups and groups of children and youth (Boy Scouts, FFA, school groups) to take an interest in the District The Public Information Officer and the Fire Chief shall schedule periodic presentations to civic groups within the District, with a goal of such presentations per month. 4. Work Environment/Personnel The Fire Chief shall maintain a printed policy relating to personnel, which shall include among its provisions (1) a requirement that personnel report any violations of the policy, and indicates that failure to report a violation is itself a violation of the policy, and (2) a requirement that each person associated with the District to act collegially with others in the District, and avoid outbursts of anger or hostility at all times. The Fire Chief shall maintain a work environment that is not hostile toward persons of a different sex, race, or ethnic group. The Fire Chief shall not permit jokes which mock or demean persons because of sex, race, or ethnic group. The Fire Chief shall forbid cartoons or magazines, likely to be offense to persons of a particular sex, racial or ethnic group, on District property or in District vehicles. The Fire Chief should make sure everyone understands that the District may inspect anyplace within any District station, any vehicle located on District real estate, or any vehicle owned by the District. No employee shall have any expectation of privacy with respect to any locker, computer (including any privately owned computer located on District property), communication device (including any privately owned communication Missouri Association of 4 Revised by Monte Olsen

5 device located on District property), video or audio or computer record, or anything else that is located on or within District owned real or personal property. 5. Equipment The Fire Chief shall ensure: Each station has the following apparatus: at least pumper truck(s), tanker(s), first responder truck(s), and truck(s) for wildland or brush fires. Placement of fire hydrants on all public water supply systems within the District. Installation of dry fire hydrants at all lakes or ponds containing more than 2,500 gallons of water. Option A Larger, Career Fire District 1. Firefighters with personally assigned turn out gear are able to store the gear in a locker at the fire station. Firefighters may provide their own locks for these lockers, provided a key or the combination is provided to the District, for use during inspections or searches. 2. Sufficient SCBA gear and PASS devices are provided so that each shift will be fully equipped with these items. 3. Each fire station is staffed with sufficient personnel to always meet NFPA operational standards. 4. Stations are equipped so that each station is prepared to respond to two calls before it is necessary to call for stand by assistance. Option B Smaller, Unpaid District 1. Each firefighter responding to a call in a personal vehicle has equipped the vehicle with lights and siren that meet the standards established by statute and that firefighters use both lights and siren when responding. 2. Each responding firefighter has a PASS device and sufficient turn out and SCBA gear. Although the District attempts to always have gear and equipment that meets current NFPA standards, it is understood that the budget is such that older clothing may have to be provided at certain times. 6. Coverage of Population/Expanded Service Missouri Association of 5 Revised by Monte Olsen

6 The Fire Chief shall ensure: All property within the District is within 5 miles by road of a fire station (describe the plan and timeframes to establish additional stations). A minute average response time for emergency calls. An ambulance is called to fire calls to deal with possible heat exhaustion, stress related problems such as heart attacks, and other possible firefighter injuries. Cooperation with the ambulance provider to locate equipment and personnel at District stations and to improve emergency medical services. The District is increasingly able to respond in cases of natural or man made disaster (flood, earthquake, pandemic etc.). Firefighters are trained and licensed Emergency Medical Technicians. 7. Recruitment/Retention The Fire Chief shall: Have personnel turnover no greater than % per year. Constantly work to prevent firefighter heat stroke. Ensure all candidates are interviewed, including interviews conducted by persons who will not make the final selection. Ensure all candidate interviews are video recorded using the exact same interview questions prepared in advance (except that follow up questions may be asked of each candidate to clarify their answer). Option A Larger, Career Fire District Retain a pool of trained firefighters from whom new firefighters are employed as required. Have candidates available for each vacancy and candidates for each promotion. Missouri Association of 6 Revised by Monte Olsen

7 Promote persons from within the District, but to encourage innovation, at least one of candidate for each promotion that comes from outside the District. Encourage objectivity in selecting new hires and for promotions, by giving a written examination to all candidates (any candidate scoring a failing grade on the written examination shall be disqualified for consideration, even if successfully completing the other parts of application process). Ensure each new hire or promotion candidate shall undergo a practical examination that includes necessary physical strength and agility tests (any candidate scoring a failing grade on the physical strength and agility tests shall be disqualified for consideration, even if successfully completing the other parts of application process). Ensure preference is given to candidates who speak languages fluently spoken by District residents are known to use; that are able to relate to resident minority groups; who are military veterans; and whose employment will help alleviate an identified weakness in the District s operation. Option B Smaller, Unpaid District Recruit new firefighters each year. Conduct annual physical strength and agility tests of all firefighters (including the Fire Chief). Although there will be no failing grade on such tests, each firefighter will be encouraged to maintain such physical stamina as to successfully overcome the stress of operating in an emergency situation. 8. Unit Effectiveness in Firefighting The Fire Chief will garner sufficient respect from firefighters and assert sufficient leadership that firefighter moral and cohesiveness is not compromised and firefighter mutual respect for each other enables them to unite to alleviate an emergency. 9. Financial Management The Fire Chief: Shall work with the Budget Officer to prepare the proposed budget. Shall not be authorized to borrow money or sign agreements without authorization from the Board. Missouri Association of 7 Revised by Monte Olsen

8 Be authorized to approve a non budget expenditure up to $ Shall carry out the approved budget without further authority from the board. OR Shall not carry out the approved budget without further authorization from the Board. Missouri Association of 8 Revised by Monte Olsen

Big Sandy Fire Protection District/Simla Volunteer Fire Department Junior Firefighter Program Guidelines

Big Sandy Fire Protection District/Simla Volunteer Fire Department Junior Firefighter Program Guidelines The Junior Firefighter Program was instituted by the Big Sandy Fire Protection District (Big Sandy