City of Fullerton Class Specification
February 2023
City of Fullerton Class Specification
April 2017
FIRE CAPTAIN
Definition:
Under general supervision performs a variety of supervisory and technical work involved in fire suppression, medical care, hazardous materials abatement and related activities; directs and participates in all phases of emergency operations to include fire suppression, medical care and hazardous materials abatement; performs fire prevention inspection, participates in and presents public education programs; plans, directs and participates in training activities, station and equipment maintenance and performs related work as required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The following responsibilities and essential duties are performed on a frequent and recurring basis by an incumbent. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all- inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
The responsibilities and essential duties performed on a frequent and recurring basis by an incumbent include the following:
Responds as a team leader and member on an assigned company for emergency and non-emergency operations.
Supervises and trains assigned staff and assists with their evaluation.
Gives detailed directions to assigned staff; determines methods of fire suppression; supervises laying of hose lines, directing of water streams, placing of ladders, ventilation of buildings and rescuing of persons.
Supervises maintenance of station equipment, supplies and facilities and maintains discipline and order on calls and in company quarters.
Performs fire fighting activities to include laying hose, setting ladders, rescues, ventilation, fire combat/containment/extinguishment tasks and salvage operations.
Follows the instructions of the Fire Battalion Chief in charge as appropriate or standard procedures while performing all duties.
Plans and participates in all station activities to include fire suppression, drills, hose evolutions, laddering, use of special equipment, hazardous materials abatement, medical aid and fire prevention.
Fire Captain
Oversees station usage of equipment and supplies, assists in budget preparation and monitors station expenditures.
Resolves grievances and/or participates in the grievance resolution process.
Operates a personal computer and uses applicable software to record station activities, prepare a variety of reports and enter data.
Participates in and presents educational and public relations programs to the community on safety, fire prevention and other topics.
Participates in routine non-emergency activities to include fire prevention inspections and code enforcement and enforces fire safety codes via the issuance of notices, warnings and written evaluations.
Operates a variety of hand and power tools.
Directs and participates in the performance of in-station activities to include cleaning and maintaining living areas and grounds, making minor repairs to the station, requisitioning supplies and assisting with meal preparation.
Washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment, makes minor repairs to apparatus/equipment and writes up and submits repair requests.
Drives/operates a fire engine as needed and other vehicles and equipment.
Lifts and moves objects weighing 75 pounds or less on a regular basis, performs strenuous physical activities and in an emergency drags or carries victims.
Responds to emergency incidents alarms off- duty when requestedcalled.
May perform Pparamedic duties as assigned.
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Performs other projec ts/tasks as assigned.
Class Characteristics:
Fire Captain is a multi-incumbent safety class with duties related specifically to the protection of life and property under emergency situations.
Contacts and Relationships:
A Fire Captain has substantial and continuing contact with Fire Department staff, non- emergency public relations contact with a variety of individuals, emergency contact with the public and additional contact with other City staff and other fire service agencies.
Qualification Guidelines:
Fire Captain
The knowledge and abilities which are required to perform the duties and responsibilities of this class are as follows:
Knowledge of:
Effective and extensive suppression techniques, fire equipment, fire apparatus and firefighting principles.
Safe fire apparatus driving techniques and effective fire suppression pump operation practices and methods.
Local, county, state and federal laws and regulations related to fire suppression and prevention.
English usage and grammar.
City geography, local hazards and the location of fire hydrants.
Basic supervisory techniques to include performance evaluation methods, grievance handling and staff counseling.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service.
Budgeting methods applicable to the area assigned.
Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
Computer applications related to area assigned.
AND
Ability to:
Perform activities requiring good physical condition.
Supervise and direct a full range of fire fighting activities.
Work independently, understand, and follow verbal and written directions, use independent judgment and initiative and make sound decisions in accordance with established procedures and policies.
Understand and carry out oral and written instructions independently.
Organize work, adhere to multiple deadlines and handle multiple projects.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing and prepare reports.
Read and write at the level required for successful job performance.
Fire Captain
Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work and live cooperatively with peers and supervisors.
Handle job stress and e Exercise self-control and good judgment in emergency/hazardous situations.
Meet the public with courtesy and tact.
Maintain discipline and order on calls and in company quarters.
Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and applicable and specialized software.
Operate a personal computer and use applicable software.
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities is as follows:
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position can be considered as qualifying. A typical combination includes:
Graduation from high school
AND Ggraduation from a State of California accreditedapproved fire academy with at least 400 hours of training. The 400 hours of training shall not include EMT or medical training.
California State Fire Marshal Rescue Systems I and Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations at time of application are highly desirable.
AND
Experience:
Five years of paid fire fighting experience, three of which must be as a Firefighter or Fire Engineer with the Fullerton Fire Department or comparable organization.
An Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in fire science, fire administration, management, public administration, or a related field in management, business administration, public administration or a related field from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.
Special Requirements iInclude: one of the following:
Either:
Fire Captain
Status as a current City of Fullerton employee AND completion of Fullerton Fire Department Acting Fire Captain Task Book at time of appointment
OR
Proof of completion of all educational requirements for Company Officer certification by California State Fire Training at time of appointment.
AND one Either of the following:
1. At time of application, proof of completion of educational curriculum for certification as a Company Officer by the California State Fire Training and receipt of said certification prior to the completion of probation.
1.2. Certification as a Fire Officer by the California State Fire Training State of California at the time of application.
2.3. Certification as a Company Officer by the California State Fire TrainingState of California at the time of application.
3. At time of application, proof of completion of educational curriculum for certification as a Company Officer by the California State Fire Training State of California and receipt of said certification prior to the completion of probation.
4. Designation as a Acting Captain qQualified Acting Fire Captain by the Fullerton Fire Department at time of application.
5. AndIn addition to the above, the following are also required:
Valid and appropriate California Driver’s License with the necessary California Department of Motor Vehicle Endorsement/Restriction required for operating firefighting equipment and acceptable driving record at time of application and maintenance of such throughout employment in this position. Note: A driving permit is not acceptable. Employees in this classification will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles Government Employer Pull Notice Program.
Valid Fullerton Fire Department Engineer Driver/Operator Certification at the time of application or current status as a full time, regular Fire Engineer for the City of Fullerton Fire Department or a comparable agency.
Successful completion of a City-approved physical ability test within the six (6) 12 months prior to appointment. This requirement will be waived for current City of Fullerton suppression personnel.
Eyesight not less than uncorrected 20/100, correctable to 20/30 with contacts or glasses.
Must have color vision sufficient to recognize red, green and yellow colors.
Fire Captain
Must be able to work a variety of shifts and a flexible schedule to include 40-hour, 56- hour and other workweeks, consecutive 24-hour shifts, overtime, emergency call back, holidays and weekends to accommodate City needs.
Valid and appropriate Red Cross or American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification at time of application and throughout employment in this position.
Completion of 15 or more units from an accredited college or university in fFire sScience, fFire aAdministration or a related field beyond the Basic Fire Academy.
Valid State of California approved Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) 1 or EMT Fire Service Certificate at time of application and throughout employment in this position.
Per California Government Code §3100 - 3109, all public employees are declared to be Disaster Service Workers and must take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation as required.
Other:
An Associates or Bachelors Degree in Management, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required.
Physical Tasks and Working Conditions Include the Following:
Work is performed indoors and outdoors. When work is performed outdoors there is full exposure to the elements. An incumbent drives a vehicle on City business and performs physical activity and labor requiring physical strength and endurance. An incumbent sits, stands, walks and runs on slippery and uneven surfaces, kneels, crouches, twists, reaches, lays dry and charged hoses, carries, raises and lowers a variety of ladders; works from ladders while carrying equipment; rappels down elevated areas; climbs stairs, ladders and inclines while carrying equipment; works on rooftops, multi-story buildings and at various heights; ventilates roofs, rescues injured persons from hazardous areas by assisting, carrying or dragging the victim(s); climbs over walls, fences, through windows; crawls through confined spaces and conducts searches. An incumbent uses a variety of hand and power tools and equipment to include rotary and chain powered saws, sledge hammers, shovels, picks, hoists, axes, ropes, hydraulic rescue tools, pike pokes, prying tools, rubbish hooks, hose lines and bundles, fire extinguishers, air bottles and breathing apparatus. An incumbent pushes, pulls, drags, grasps, lifts and carries items and works at shoulder level with hoses and other items weighing 75 pounds or less and drags or carries victims as needed. Incumbents performing first aid and paramedic tasks may also be exposed to human injury health hazards to include blood and other bodily fluids/products, communicable diseases and human-borne parasites. When fighting a fire, incumbents work in a hot, smoky or toxic atmosphere close to flames. Incumbents will also be exposed to extreme noise, wet or damp conditions, grease/oil, fumes, solvents, a variety of chemicals, mechanical and electrical hazards, vehicle hazards and vibration. Incumbents must be able to meet the physical requirements of the class and have mobility, balance, Fire Captain
coordination, vision, hearing, sense of smell, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.
Fair Labor Standards Act Designation: Exempt.
Revised February 2023
Revised April 2017
Revised February 2017
Revised August 2014
Revised December 2008
Revised February 2005