Fire Chief - South Tongass

Ketchikan Gateway Borough•Ketchikan, AK

About The Position

The Fire Chief leads the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, serving the South Tongass Service Area with career and volunteer personnel. The Chief plans, directs, and evaluates fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, fire prevention, and training in accordance with Borough and Service Area Board policy. The Chief serves as incident commander at emergency scenes and represents the department to the Service Area Board, the Borough, the public, and partner agencies. The role supervises Service Area personnel, including career staff and volunteers; sets department goals; manages budgets, grants, apparatus, equipment, and facilities; and ensures personnel training and certification meet applicable requirements. The Chief serves as the Service Area Emergency Management Coordinator and maintains mutual aid and working relationships with local, state, and federal partners. The Chief also oversees fire prevention, community risk reduction, public education, incident reporting, and compliance with applicable laws and policies. Work takes place in an office and in the field, including emergency scenes where exposure to fire, smoke, hazardous materials, heights, and severe weather may occur. The Chief will work extended and irregular hours, attend evening and weekend meetings, and be available for emergency callouts at any time. Stations are not staffed after hours, so the Chief must be able to respond as needed. The position requires performing firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical tasks, including use of protective gear and SCBA, power saws and extrication tools, emergency vehicles, CPR, and patient movement. Physical tasks include walking, climbing, crawling over rough terrain and debris, standing, stooping, kneeling, climbing ladders, and lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

Eight years of experience with a recognized fire department, including four years of supervisory fire or EMS experience; additional supervisory experience with administrative responsibilities may be substituted.
Experience leading and coordinating both volunteer and career personnel.
Knowledge of fire service and EMS management, fire prevention and suppression, incident command, budgeting, and local government operations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively with the service area board, the public, and other agencies, including in complex or adversarial situations.
Ability to make sound decisions quickly under hazardous and stressful conditions.
Thorough understanding of the layout and hazards of the service area, or ability to gain it quickly.
Must pass a background check as required by the Borough.
Valid State of Alaska driver’s license, or ability to obtain one within 30 days, with a driving record acceptable to the Borough’s insurance carrier.
State of Alaska EMT I certification at hire, or National Registry EMT certification with Alaska reciprocity obtained within six months.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be available to respond as needed because stations are not staffed after hours.
Ability to perform firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical tasks; use protective gear and SCBA, power saws and extrication tools; drive emergency vehicles; perform CPR; and move patients.
Ability to walk, climb, and crawl over rough terrain and debris; stand, stoop, kneel, climb ladders, and lift and carry up to 50 pounds; sufficient vision, hearing, and manual dexterity to perform essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Firefighter II certification preferred.
State of Alaska Fire Officer certification or equivalent, and Fire Instructor certification; must be obtained within one year.
Associate or bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency services administration, public administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
Completion of National Fire Academy leadership or management coursework, including the Executive Fire Officer Program, or Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Any combination of related education and/or related experience may be considered if the candidate demonstrates the required ability.

Responsibilities

Supervise all Service Area career personnel and volunteers; plan, assign, and monitor work and complete or approve performance evaluations.
Recruit, train, equip, and retain volunteer firefighters and EMTs, and develop programs that support volunteer participation.
Set short- and long-range department goals consistent with Service Area Board and Borough Manager direction, and report on department performance.
Prepare and manage the department budget, plan for apparatus, equipment, and facility replacement, and pursue and administer grant funding.
Ensure training meets State of Alaska certification requirements, applicable NFPA standards, and Borough requirements; maintain training and certification records.
Direct emergency operations using NIMS and the Incident Command System; assume command from first-arriving officers, delegate authority as appropriate, and perform firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical tasks.
Promote firefighter health and safety, including exposure reduction, behavioral health, and physical fitness.
Lead fire prevention, community risk reduction, and public education programs.
Coordinate fire cause investigations with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and law enforcement; prepare incident and after-action reports, including required state and federal reporting.
Serve as Emergency Management Coordinator for the Service Area and maintain mutual aid and working relationships with Borough departments, other fire and EMS agencies, and state and federal partners.
Oversee maintenance of apparatus, equipment, and facilities.
Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and Borough policies.
Instruct staff and volunteers within the Chief’s certifications, attend evening and weekend meetings, give public presentations, and perform other duties as assigned.
Respond to emergency callouts as needed and work extended and irregular hours.