Fire Captain

Chatham County, GA Government; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Chatham County Fire Department in Savannah, GA seeks a Fire Captain to lead a firefighting company, supervise personnel, and manage suppression, EMS, rescue, and hazmat responses. The role shapes daily operations, develops subordinates, and ensures safety and readiness for diverse emergency needs.

The ideal candidate has extensive frontline and leadership experience, holds NFPA/IFSA certifications, and can obtain GA firefighter and EMT-B credentials promptly.

Qualifications

• 6 years of continuous, full-time paid experience in a municipal or county career fire department.
• 6 years of full-time paid experience as a certified front-line structural firefighter.
• 2 years of full-time paid experience as a pumper and aerial driver/operator.
• 2 years as a full-time paid Fire Lieutenant of an operational fire company.
• 2 years of experience instructing fire related topics that demonstrate the required knowledge, abilities, behaviors, and traits to successfully perform the essential function of a lead fire instructor.
• Valid Georgia Class F driver’s license (or equivalent).
• Georgia Certified Firefighter (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Georgia Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) license (or National Registry EMT-B with ability to obtain GA license reciprocity within 30 days).
• Required NPQ or IFSAC certifications: Firefighter 1 and 2; HazMat Awareness and Operations; Fire Instructor 1; Apparatus Driver/Operator – Pumper & Aerial; Fire Officer 2; Incident Safety Officer.
• GFSTC NPQ Evaluator.
• NIMS ICs 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 (current versions).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to Fire Lieutenants, Apparatus Operators, and Firefighters.
• Administer daily station operations, including logs, inspections, training, inventory, and public education.
• Respond to emergency incidents as company officer and assume Incident Command as required.
• Support department goals by managing assigned programs such as emergency medical responder services or community risk reduction.
• Maintain operational readiness of apparatus, equipment, and facilities.
• Perform personnel evaluations, corrective actions, and development planning.
• Uphold departmental values of professionalism, accountability, wellness, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as Division/Group Supervisor during large-scale incidents.
• Foster a culture of safety, service, and teamwork across assigned shifts and programs.

Skills

Leadership

Emergency response

Staff supervision

Public safety

Education

High school diploma or GED

Fire Officer 2 (NPQ) or equivalent

Job description

Posting number: 202300789

Department: CHATHAM COUNTY FIRE

Job classification: Fire Captain

Posting type: General

Categories: Fire & EMS

Summary

Lead from the Front. Serve with Excellence. Make a Lasting Impact.

Lead from the Front. Serve with Excellence. Make a Lasting Impact.

The Chatham County Fire Department (CCFD) is actively seeking qualified, experienced, and leadership-driven candidates to apply for the position of Fire Captain. Located in one of Georgia’s most dynamic and rapidly growing regions, Chatham County offers the opportunity to lead in a department committed to service excellence, public safety innovation, and professional development.

As a Fire Captain, you will have a direct role in shaping operations, guiding personnel, and responding to the diverse emergency needs of our community. If you are ready to take the next step in your fire service career and lead with vision and integrity, we invite you to come join us.

Examples of duties

Reporting to a Battalion Chief, the Fire Captain is responsible for supervising the activities of a firefighting company and managing fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, and community risk reduction initiatives. Captains coordinate daily operations, lead emergency responses, support department-wide initiatives, and develop subordinates to uphold the highest standards of safety and service.

This role is a vital part of CCFD's critical workforce and may be assigned to special projects, administrative tasks, or serve in a command capacity during disaster activations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to Fire Lieutenants, Apparatus Operators, and Firefighters
• Administer daily station operations, including logs, inspections, training, inventory, and public education
• Respond to emergency incidents as company officer and assume Incident Command as required
• Support department goals by managing assigned programs such as emergency medical responder services or community risk reduction
• Maintain operational readiness of apparatus, equipment, and facilities
• Perform personnel evaluations, corrective actions, and development planning
• Uphold departmental values of professionalism, accountability, wellness, and continuous improvement
• Serve as Division/Group Supervisor during large-scale incidents
• Foster a culture of safety, service, and teamwork across assigned shifts and programs

Qualifications

• 6 years of continuous, full-time paid experience in a municipal or county career fire department
• 6 years of full-time paid experience as a certified front-line structural firefighter
• 2 years of full-time paid experience as a pumper and aerial driver/operator
• 2 years as a full-time paid Fire Lieutenant of an operational fire company
• 2 years of experience instructing fire related topics that demonstrate the required knowledge, abilities, behaviors, and traits to successfully perform the essential function of a lead fire instructor
• Valid Georgia Class F driver’s license (or equivalent)
• Georgia Certified Firefighter (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire)
• Georgia Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) license (or National Registry EMT-B with ability to obtain GA license reciprocity within 30 days)
• Required NPQ or IFSAC certifications:
  • Firefighter 1 and 2
  • HazMat Awareness and Operations
  • Fire Instructor 1
  • Apparatus Driver/Operator – Pumper & Aerial
  • Fire Officer 2
  • Incident Safety Officer
• GFSTC NPQ Evaluator
• NIMS ICs 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 (current versions)

• CCFD Company Officer Academy or must successfully pass within 180 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree from an accredited institution in a fire service related field of study
• NFA Managing Officer (MO) and CPSE Fire Officer (FO) designation
• Georgia Certified Fire Investigator
• Georgia Certified Fire Inspector
• Experience serving on an Incident Management Team or in a regional command structure
• Experience with CFAI/CPSE accreditation standards and strategic planning models

Lateral Hire Requirements (If Applicable)

• Must have successfully completed a career fire academy with a minimum of 800 training hours.
• Successful completion of the CCFD lateral academy
• One-year probationary period

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old
• U.S. Citizenship
• High school diploma or GED
• Successful completion of all pre-employment evaluations, including:
  • Written exam
  • Physical agility test
  • Interview
  • NFPA 1582 medical and fitness evaluation
  • Drug screening
  • Background and MVR check
  • Successful completion of the CCFD Captain Assessment Center

Supplemental information

Why Choose CCFD?

• Serve in a leadership role in one of Georgia’s most respected fire departments
• Shape future operations and mentor the next generation of fire service professionals
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Professional environment that values wellness, integrity, and growth
• Be part of a culture that supports innovation and operational excellence

For questions or more information, please contact Chatham County Fire Department administrative office at [phone].