Description
Lead a fire company as a Captain, directing station operations, training, and emergency response; supervise personnel, ensure safety and compliance, and coordinate firefighting, rescue, EMS, and prevention activities.
- • Assign crews and apparatus to strategic positions to support rescue and effective fire attack.
- • Provide or oversee emergency medical care and direct light to heavy rescue operations.
- • Perform incident size-up to determine hazards, resource needs, and operational tactics.
- • Establish command and communicate incident details via radio with dispatch, superiors, and mutual-aid partners.
- • Serve as company officer for an engine, truck, or rescue company of three or more firefighters.
- • Instruct, drill, and mentor personnel in firefighting, EMS, hazmat response, and fire prevention.
- • Ensure readiness and maintenance of apparatus, tools, SCBA, and PPE through regular inspections.
- • Evaluate and document the performance of assigned firefighters.
- • Plan and coordinate company training, assign instructors, and report progress to battalion leadership.
- • Oversee minor maintenance and repairs; submit requests and justifications for equipment replacement or modification.
- • Prepare schedules, assign daily work, and set operational priorities for the company.
- • Monitor station and company expenditures and ensure cost-effective use of resources.
- • Develop and review pre-incident plans, evacuation schemes, and target hazard strategies.
- • Maintain required reports, records, maps, preplans, and training documentation.
- • Oversee safe apparatus response, route selection, and accountability en route and on scene.
- • Inspect station facilities, uniforms, and equipment for safety and policy compliance; take corrective action.
- • Review and refine station procedures to improve efficiency and enforce departmental regulations.
- • Direct and participate in station upkeep, housekeeping, and minor facility maintenance.
- • Recommend personnel actions on discipline, performance, leave, and grievances.
- • Complete administrative tasks, including incident reports, logs, correspondence, and data entry.
- • Conduct or direct initial investigations of fires, hazards, and false alarms; submit findings.
- • Recommend equipment specifications, modifications, and purchases based on operational needs.
- • Supervise and participate in occupancy inspections for compliance with fire codes and ordinances.
- • Inspect and test fire protection and detection systems during company inspections.
- • Interpret fire codes and hazardous materials regulations; advise on permits and compliance.
- • Lead post-incident critiques and after-action reviews; prepare post-incident analyses.
- • Continually assess fire conditions and structural stability during operations.
- • Maintain current knowledge of laws, tactics, building construction, and fire prevention practices.
- • Coordinate mutual-aid resources and interagency operations as needed.
- • Participate in recruiting, hiring processes, and community fire and life safety education.
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Public Service & Safety
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
