Job description Fire Chief in British Columbia

Find out what work is like for a fire chief in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers (NOC 40041).

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers

Description

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate firefighting operations and fire prevention activities in fire departments. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and by industrial establishments with firefighting services.

Work week duration

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Develop, implement and evaluate policies and procedures for the operation of a municipal fire department, a district fire region or an industrial firefighting service
  • Plan, direct and co-ordinate firefighting strategies for fire departments
  • Evaluate the type of fire, the extent of damage to buildings and the danger to nearby establishments
  • Direct activities at the scene of a fire
  • Determine damage estimates and investigate the potential causes of a fire after extinguished
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of security and fire prevention campaigns
  • Represent the fire department in communications with government, the media and the public
  • Direct the training of personnel in firefighting methods
  • Co-ordinate and monitor budget and departmental resources.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually
  • Walking and running
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Municipal governments
  • Federal government
  • Industrial establishments with firefighting services

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • High places
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Extremely bright or inadequate lighting

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 40041), and a list of similar occupations:

  • deputy fire chief
  • district fire chief
  • fire chief

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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