Assistant Fire Chief

Susanville, City of (CA); Susanville (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Susanville, City of (CA) seeks an Assistant Fire Chief to command and coordinate emergency incidents including fire suppression, EMS, hazmat, and prevention. This role reports to the Public Safety Chief and may serve as Acting Chief in their absence.

Responsibilities include directing firefighting forces, planning equipment needs, overseeing training, assisting with the department budget, and supervising fire investigations. Incident coordination with city and external agencies is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, fire administration or closely related field.
• 5 years of municipal fire suppression and prevention experience with at least 3 years at Fire Captain level.
• College teaching credentials desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing department goals, policies and priorities; motivate personnel.
• Direct firefighting forces and determine equipment needs for emergencies.
• Plan and coordinate department-wide training and staff development.
• Assist in budget preparation and administration for the department.
• Investigate fires for cause and environmental crimes; testify in court when required.
• Coordinate department activities with city departments and outside agencies.
• Review building plans and fire protection systems; ensure inspections and permits are completed.

Skills

Emergency incident command

Fire suppression

EMS coordination

Hazardous materials

Fire prevention

Staff training

Budget administration

Code enforcement

Public safety leadership

Investigations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in fire science/ fire administration

Job description

The Assistant Fire Chief performs a variety of responsible management, technical, and administrative work in commanding and coordinating emergency incidents including fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous material services, fire prevention, staff training and apparatus maintenance. This position reports directly to the Public Safety Chief and may serve as Acting Public Safety Chief in his/her absence.

• Assists in the development and implementation of departmentgoals, objectives, policies, priorities and motivates personnel;
• Directs and supervises firefighting forces as required;
• Ascertains the need for and types of additional equipment necessary to counteract the emergency;
• Makes technical decisions as to the best methods of extinguishing fires after observing the fire and receiving oral reports from company officers;
• Makes periodic inspections of staff and the general condition of the equipment, apparatus and fire station;
• Determines needs for new equipment, develops cost estimates, and requests appropriation of funds;
• Plans, develops, directs, organizes and participates in the department-wide training program, provides or coordinates staff training and works with employees to correct deficiencies;
• Assists in the preparation and administration of the department budget;
• Supervises the investigation of fires for cause and origin, and environmental crimes to determine causes, and assess damages;
• Investigates potential fire and safety hazards within the city; conducts drills relating to proper use of fire protection equipment, fire prevention procedures and emergency evacuation in schools, hospitals and other city-wide facilities;
• Apprehends suspects and appears in court to testify as to the origin of suspicious fires and environmental crimes;
• Analyzes, interprets, and enforces applicable fire safety codes and standards;
• Prepares and maintains a variety of technical reports and records;
• Represents the department in the community and at professional meetings as required;
• Coordinates Fire Department activities with other city departments and with outside agencies;
• Conducts routine community fire inspections and coordinates department company inspections/pre-plan program;
• Reviews plans of sprinkler systems, alarm systems, and building construction blueprints as needed;
• Investigates and follows up on complaints and potential hazards to the public;
• Assists Building Official and other departments with code and ordinance violations, hazard abatements and required inspections when requested;
• Oversees writing of necessary permits and collection of fees for the department;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred qualifications:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in fire science, fire administration or a closely related field;
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible municipal fire suppression and prevention experience, including at least three (3) years of command experience at the Fire Captain level;
• College teaching credentials are desirable.

Licenses/Certificates:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent;
• Possession of California Class C driver’s license with Firefighter Endorsement “F” or higher driver’s license class;
• California Chief Fire Officer certification or ability to complete certification coursework within twelve (12) months of appointment and ability to complete certification within eighteen (18) months;
• Possession of California State Fire Training Fire Officer or Company Officer, or its equivalent;
• Current California EMT-B or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment;
• California State P.C. 832 A or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment;