Fire Lieutenant

County of Chester, South Carolina; Chester (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Chester, South Carolina seeks a Fire Lieutenant to supervise the day-to-day activities of the assigned shift and crew. You will report to a Fire Captain and ensure safety, efficiency, and readiness during emergencies, training, and station duties.

You will mentor firefighters, develop skills, and enforce department policies while coordinating drills, inspections, and documentation. The position follows a 48/96 shift schedule and requires leadership and strong communication.

Qualifications

• Education and experience: HS diploma or GED required; AS degree in Fire Science preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years firefighting experience; supervisory experience preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License; NFA PICO/STICO/DMICO certifications listed in job requirements.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead assigned personnel during emergencies and non-emergency activities.
• Ensure daily shift and incident reports, training records, and personnel documentation are accurate and submitted.
• Conduct daily briefings, equipment checks, and readiness inspections at shift start.
• Direct response efforts at emergencies until relieved by a higher-ranking officer.
• Mentor and evaluate firefighters and provide skill development guidance.
• Coordinate and conduct regular training drills, inspections, and continuing education.
• Enforce station policies, safety standards, and SOPs.
• Maintain knowledge of fire suppression, EMS protocols, and hazardous materials response.
• Communicate effectively with dispatch, command staff, and mutual aid partners.
• Oversee station maintenance, apparatus readiness, and cleanliness.

Skills

Leadership under pressure

Written and verbal communication

Discipline and morale management

Incident management systems

SOPs and safety protocols

48/96 shift understanding

Physical fitness and PPE

Hazard awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associates degree in Fire Science

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Summary The Fire Lieutenant is a supervisory role responsible for the day-to-day oversight of their assigned shift and crew. Working under the direction of a Fire Captain, the Lieutenant ensures that all personnel operate safely and efficiently during emergency responses, training, and station duties. This position plays a key role in leadership, accountability, and mentoring firefighters, and is instrumental in maintaining operational readiness throughout the 48-hour shift.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.

• Supervise and lead assigned personnel during emergency and non-emergency activities.
• Ensure daily shift reports, incident reports, training records, and personnel documentation are accurate and submitted in a timely manner.
• Conduct daily briefings, equipment checks, and readiness inspections at the start of each shift.
• Direct response efforts at emergency scenes until relieved by a higher-ranking officer.
• Mentor, evaluate, and provide guidance to firefighters; assist in developing their skills and ensuring adherence to department policies.
• Coordinate and conduct regular training drills, inspections, and continuing education.
• Enforce station policies, safety standards, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Maintain knowledge of current fire suppression, EMS protocols, rescue techniques, and hazardous materials response.
• Communicate effectively with dispatch, command staff, and mutual aid partners during operations.
• Oversee station maintenance, apparatus readiness, and cleanliness throughout the shift.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience: High school diploma or GED required, associate’s degree in Fire Science or related field preferred. Minimum of 5 years of firefighting experience; prior supervisory experience strongly preferred.

Special Qualifications:

• Valid Driver’s License
• NFA Preparation for Initial Company Operations (PICO)
• NFA Strategies and Tactics for Initial Company Operations (STICO)
• NFA Decision Making for Initial Company Operations (DMICO)

All Job Requirements of Chester County Firefighter II Position in addition to:

• Valid Driver’s License
• NFA Preparation for Initial Company Operations (PICO)
• NFA Strategies and Tactics for Initial Company Operations (STICO)
• NFA Decision Making for Initial Company Operations (DMICO)

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong leadership and decision-making abilities under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain discipline, morale, and high performance within the crew.
• Competence in using incident management systems and report-writing software.
• Thorough knowledge of department protocols, firefighting strategy/tactics, and emergency scene safety.
• Works a 48/96 shift schedule (48 hours on-duty, 96 hours off-duty).
• Exposure to extreme temperatures, hazardous environments, and physically demanding tasks.
• Required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintain physical fitness.

Evaluation:

• Performance is evaluated by the Fire Captain through observation, review of reports, training outcomes, and overall shift effectiveness.