Fire Captain
Purpose Of Classification
The Fire Captain is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing daily operations, personnel, and emergency response activities within an assigned shift. Serving as the second in command under the Battalion Chief, the Captain ensures the effective delivery of fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services while maintaining operational readiness and compliance with departmental policies. This role also includes training personnel, managing station operations, and providing leadership to ensure the safety of both firefighters and the community.
Essential Functions
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Assists with leadership duties associated with fire suppression, emergency medical response, and rescue operations during assigned shifts or incidents, ensuring public and personnel safety.
Assists with directing and supervising personnel in assigned shifts or divisions, including scheduling, training, performance evaluation, and discipline. Provides administrative support by maintaining records and preparing reports; assists with administering new hire and promotional testing; additional administrative tasks as assigned.
Responds as part of a unit/team to emergency scenes, natural disasters or other critical incidents Including, but not limited to, fire suppression, medical emergencies, bomb threats, downed power lines, hazardous materials spills, automotive accidents, building collapses, civil disturbances, explosions, water incidents, aircraft crashes, etc.: responds to instructions from dispatcher; and contacts appropriate related agencies as needed.
Provides strategic and tactical command in the absence of a superior officer: supervises the transport of fire services, evaluates incident conditions, and requests additional resources as needed; oversees strategic placement of equipment to best address and emergency incident or fire attack; and ensures overall safety of personnel.
Supervises and maintains unit equipment: manages and ensures the routine maintenance of assigned unit's equipment/apparatus according to established standards and industry best practices.
Supervises and participates in routine station tasks to maintain the unit's state of operational readiness: inspects and tests unit equipment and personal protection equipment, supplies, and materials; oversees and participates in proper stocking and inventory of materials and supplies; and conducts and participates in ongoing training according to established protocols.
Performs public relations and education duties: provides fire safety and prevention information, education and training , and pre-fire planning to the community; conducts fire safety programs, apparatus displays and skills demonstrations; conducts tours of fire station and fire trucks; conducts safety inspections at schools and businesses; inspects hoses and hydrants; and participates in community events.
Represents the department to City administrators and elected officials, other government agencies, and the public, as needed: responds to complex questions, complaints, and requests for information; attends and participates in various committees, hearings, official functions, City Council meetings and other community meetings.
Regular Attendance: Consistent and reliable in-person attendance to ensure effective teamwork, collaboration, and communication with colleagues, clients, and community members. This includes but is not limited to attending scheduled meetings, participating in on-site or off-site events, and being available during standard work hours. The City will attempt to accommodate any reasonable adjustments as outlined by the ADA .
Additional Functions
Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate degree in Fire Science or a related field preferred; Five (5) years of progressively responsible firefighting experience, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or command role; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Certification as a Fire Officer II
National Incident Management System (NIMS) certifications: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400, IS-700, and IS-800.
Valid South Carolina Class E Driver’s License or equivalent. EMT or Paramedic certification (past or current) preferred.
May be required to obtain and maintain additional certifications as deemed necessary.
Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities : Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position. Extensive knowledge of modern fire suppression and prevention principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment. Working knowledge of first aid and resuscitation techniques and their application. Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, departmental standard operating procedures and regulations. Considerable knowledge of the treatment of communicable disease and hazmat procedures. Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under high-pressure situations.
Performance Aptitudes
Data Utilization : Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
Human Interaction : Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit; includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization : Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, technology and/or materials used in performing essential functions in fire service.
Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of references, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information, such as shift reports, operational reports, inspection reports, employee performance appraisals, budget and financial documentation, codes and ordinances, etc.
Mathematical Aptitude : Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
Situational Reasoning : Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in critical and/or unexpected situations involving moderate risk to the organization.
Special Requirements
Employee will be required to respond to emergency matters 24/7/365, such as major fire scenes and evacuations for severe storm events, etc.
ADA Compliance
Physical Ability : The work requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and up to 30 pounds of force regularly as required to move objects and the following physical abilities and the following physical abilities: balancing, crouching, typing, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking.
Sensory Requirements : Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
Environmental Factors : The work is typically performed in an office but may also be performed outdoors and at the scene of emergency incidents. The employee may be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, machinery with moving parts, contagious or infectious diseases, irritating chemicals, inclement weather conditions, fire, heat, and toxic gases. The work requires the use of protective devices, such as masks, goggles, or gloves. Employee is frequently outdoors exposed to all types of weather.
The City of Fountain Inn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
The City reserves the right to revise this position description at any time.
Government Administration
Other, Information Technology, and Management
Full-time