Fire Department Ranks and Structure EXPLAINED

Weekly Newsletter: geni.us/mpertz_newsletter_yt While every department is different, many departments are structured the same. In this video I give a basic idea of how most fire departments are structured and the ranks of firefighters from rookie to chief.
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[@treyvisbush5918]

Just talked to the Chief at the fire department I’ve been in the process with since October! He said I have officially made the final cut and will get a call soon for my physical and psych eval! This channel has been the single most valuable resource I’ve used through this process (and I’ve looked a lot of places). Thanks for all you do.

[@jordans1917]

Congrats man. I’m so happy for you

[@Unknown-hp6dr]

How you doing with the process now?

[@treyvisbush5918]

@@Unknown-hp6dr actually just took my drug test and psych Eval a couple days ago! Start date September 15th.

[@Unknown-hp6dr]

@@treyvisbush5918 nice. Hope you like it

[@Unknown-hp6dr]

@@treyvisbush5918 how was the psych eval? What exactly was the test

[@ffcook90]

Just became a Probie!

[@matthiassampler-wright6993]

Hey man, love your videos! I'm in high school and just got into a fire science class which gives me multiple certifications. To name a few, I get my: firefighter 1&2, engineering certificate, and EMT(if I pass the state test). Your videos help me know what to expect in the fire service. Thanks!

[@nathanfregoso9763]

lucky my school dosent offer anything :(

[@davidgarrett5868]

Love your videos man. Helped me get prepared! (still helping). I start the academy April 19th. ✊

[@davidgarrett5868]

@Homer M. in TN

[@itdaclownvevo4475]

How’s it going now

[@lennartdidriksson4863]

Here in Sweden the colors of the helmets are white for regular firefighters, yellow for LT and Caps and red for BC. Knowing the colors for your local disrict is a major help at major scenes.

[@davep4610]

A few months ago I started working in a support role (a senior IT position) in fire department headquarters. Your videos help me learn about the fire service and this great organization I'm part of now. In our department, anyway, I see a big difference between battalion chiefs who work 24 hour shifts, so are responsible only during their shift, compared to assistant chiefs and deputy chiefs who work "days" plus on-call.

[@mikefargo4339]

With regards to those asking about Deputy, Assistant Chiefs and Commissioners. A Deputy Chief serves as the #2 man in charge (much like a VP) and assumes the roll of Chief in his/her absence. Deputy Chief's serve in administrative functions and usually oversee several different functions within the department, such as training, public education, facility maintenance, equipment purchase, shops, human resources, etc. These duties can also fall to an Assistant Chief in smaller depts. The typical roll of an Assistant Chief is to oversee a particular program or function... i.e. training, repair shops, public education, EMS, etc. A Commissioner is a civilian and member of a board (usually appointed by a mayor or council) to oversee the operations of the department and report back to the city or county. Some departments, the board of county supervisors takes the roll of a Commissioner's functions.

[@walteralter1686]

Good clear exposition on personnel ranking. I'll check out your other videos.

[@wxvyd9653]

Can u make a video on how to prepare for the academy. Like what to expect when you walk into the simulated fires or what it’s like breathing on air for the first time.

[@timetravelingoldman6839]

Very helpful! Thank you

[@mike_pertz]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ianclarkkk]

I start fire fighting school in September. And then I think it’s the actual academy after. For like the city I think. But I have to apply. Your channel is the best. It’s been very informative. And I’m from Canada.

[@matthewquinn8596]

Senior Man is an important unwritten rank as well

[@jonathanfenoff1409]

It’s so ironic that you made this video when you did, literally yesterday I was thinking about asking you to make a video like this

[@thirdgear75]

Thanks for the knowledge

[@connorfarley1153]

Thanks for the help, Mike. Thanks to you I just got hired on a full time career department here in MA! Keep up the good work!

[@mike_pertz]

Congratulations Connor! Best of luck man!

[@adammansfield8250]

Just registered for my fire academy that starts in the fall, taking my EMT this summer! I’m excited to start this process !

[@ripgoose27]

are you in California like I am? I’m taking my EMT next month before I join the army but I wanna come back and do firefighting

[@adammansfield8250]

@@ripgoose27 I’m in Colorado

[@Yinyang1277]

Did you make it?!?!?

[@gagedemarco9102]

The Department I worked for, we also had District Chiefs, and our assist and deputy chief were Two chief ranks.

[@drenalintherapy]

Very helpful . I start fire academy may 17th 2021 💥🤘🏾🔥

[@rileywerner3141]

Super useful thanks

[@Chasqui4021]

My husband was a volly when he was younger. He made lieutenant in three years but I’m not sure if that was because he was eager to train on everything, more than the people he worked with who really didn’t want to learn different roles/jobs. Interesting enough, his last helmet was white. Curious to know on average how long it would take to go between ranks?

[@moniquemcpherson6927]

My dad was a captain when he volunteered for his community from 1981- reired in 2011. I remember a photograph of four of them. My dad (a Capt.), a BC (now Deputy Chief), a deputy chief now the chief, last the chief himself. My memories of this are a quiet family life until the tones sounded. My mom and I wouldn't see him for awhile or the next morning, depending on the call. My "helmet" is tipped to the men and women volunteers of Redwood Meadows (RMES) 120!!

[@metadrew3652]

I’m the first one in my family seeking a career in the fire service and I gotta say your videos have been awesome man thank you!

[@romanmejia8836]

can you make a video about the reality of being a firefighter. like things you will go through and see often. phycological stuff that firefighter often endure?

[@johnnymartinez478]

A lot of wake up and dead calls

[@JanuszPea]

The local county department here has an engineer promotion. Like you said it’s the in between firefighter/EMT and Lt. But from what I understand their Captains and Lieutenants are at the same promotion level but captains are more administrative while the Lt. Is the field guy. At the department I just got picked up for though (one county to the west) we don’t have an engineer position. It’s basically just based on seniority. We do have Lt and captains although I’m not too sure yet what the difference is, I start orientation next week so I’ll definitely have a better understanding of the structure then! But we do have Battalion chiefs, but no deputy chief. Just the fire chief. We are a decent sized county department though. 25 stations, 20 are ALS, three squads one tower and a few other specialty teams. I’m excited to start and once I start getting through orientation I’ll be able to talk more to the actual structure of my particular department!

[@f4rdestiny67]

10K gang!!!

[@hufnasty]

How do you suggest preparing for academy? What good gear/clothes could I buy? Workouts I should focus on, etc

[@hhh-ug1tz]

How is the command chain on scene? Is Sqaud the highest? How is the chain when a truck co. ordering the squad?

[@jauneilbrooksphotography8707]

Do a video on Explorers

[@praefectusvigilum6997]

In the german volunteer fire departments we have different ranks. It depends on for how long you are a member of the department or the station as well. It depends also on what educations you've been thru. The best educated firefighter under the charge of a leader is the "allround firefighter". A guy, who can do evereithing on scene what the leader or officer need. For a example: The guy is able to serve as a engineer as a hazmat squad member, as a firefighter with breathing apparatus or whatever. Or he or she can do the job of an officer at times, there is not a officer on scene yet. For the moment in a situation that is not usual. The next question is, is the firefighter able to work as a specialist who is responsible for all the technical stuff of the engine, ladder or whatever. Can he repair breathing apparatus systems. But it's a different ranks system, regarding on the federal organisation of germany. Similar but not the same in all of the federal states of germany. There are probies, line firefighters, senior firefighters, Corporals, Sergeants, lieutenants, Captains, chiefs and so on. The next step to move forward is to become a officer or the next high ranking officer. To show the leading officer on scene who is leader, line firefighter or in what actual charge, there are signs and symbols on the helmets. Or vests they can wear on the bunker gear. in the career departments there are also ranks. But not so many. You have always the same officers on shift, but the firefighters must be able to do all the firefighting jobs on station. There are industrial fire depoartments for huge plants and industrial companies, too. They can be organised as a career or a volunteer fire department or something between.

[@nhbiker1961]

Captains and Lieutenants on our dept wear a black helmet but a white shield.

[@BritishSocialite]

With an Assistant Chief and Fire Chief will they be in an office building/HQ, and what is their a difference with a Fire Chief and Fire Commissioner?

[@jerrysimms4717]

Every dept is different. Here in NY we have 4 groups as we work 42 hours a week not 56 . 3 groups have a Louie in charge the 4th has a Capt , the Capt is in charge of his co while he’s working same as a LT . But the Capt oversees the house , making sure the Lts are up to date on training and inspections. Driver is not an additional rank nor more $ . I had a six man crew on my truck co. 1 main driver and a couple back ups . Toss a new guy in there for experience from time to time

[@nashiamamun8]

What about the Assistant, Deputy or the Commissioner themselves? Do they serve more of a political role of representing the cities fire department?

[@Phoenix411th]

What do you have to do to become a volunteer firefighter

[@eriksand9262]

Would a district chief be basically an assistant chief?? Most large departments have their areas broken up into battalions, then also districts. Might have 40 stations, broken up into 4-6 batalions, then 2 district chiefs.

[@doctorbomba5718]

Excellent video always learning from you , Current Fire Science student Chula Vista CA at South Western Jr College thank you Semper Fidelis U.S.M.C.

[@timmays8388]

Does the Fire engineer or driver fight the fire also or just operate the truck????

[@NicksStuff]

Are all these ranks per shift? Like there's a battalion chief for 24h, another the next day and a third the 24h next hours?

[@robertschultz6922]

You missed some departments have a division over the battalion and below the department

[@Toto-br7po]

Someone knows if there is Lieutenant at LAcoFD ? Or get all ranks ?

[@Memento_Mori711]

I’m a volunteer Probie this is a good video our department does it it’s Probie like me has a black helmet firefighter which is yellow helmet then second Laurent and first lieutenant which are red helemts then captain which also wears a red helmet then assistant chief then fire chief of our station then you can get into battalion chief then division chief and head fire chief but you don’t really see them much as the station I’m at is a more rural station then there’s a rank I have never seen in person but we have in the county I volunteer in and that rank is sergeant and I’m pretty sure that’s a senior firefighter role but our numbers don’t allow us to have that rank

[@engine2truck6]

Dept/ Division / Battalion / Station / Company...... sometimes

[@wenlz3751]

Here in Brazil firefighters ranks are military. Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Capitain Lieutenant ( 1°, 2° Same states) Suboficial Sargent 3°, 2° 1° ( same states) Carporal Soldier

[@ScottMStolz]

Where does a brigade fall in your list? Some countries and even U.S. OSHA regulations use the term "fire brigade."

[@deckgun31]

In my department the rank structure is as follows: (Ranks in the area dept’s, but not mine) FIRE CHIEF (Deputy Chief) Asst. Fire Chief (Battalion Chief) Division Chief Captain Lieutenant (Sergeant) Engineer Firefighter Probationer

[@veeraarya5778]

Heyy have you got any idea about for direct entry for officer?...

[@duich5359]

Whats a ,,EMT"?

[@reubensuperales3105]

Here in the philippines firefighters ranks are the same as police and jail

[@lathamarea1437]

thanks for breaking it down..

[@aaronmcnulty3630]

We just have Captains for AO's, then BC's

[@natebestwick5807]

Chauffeur?

[@wyomoto1349]

I heard "I dont want to say a political position" and i shouted "yes you do!" lol

[@nyuztov]

Comission; District; Department; Battalion; Station; Company; Squad; Commissioner; Chief; Deputy Chief; Assistant Chief; District Chief; Battalion Chief; Kapitan; Captan; Lieutenant; Sergeant; Senior Units; Engineer; Fire Fighter/EMS; Probations; Cadets; Juniors; some of them are very uncommon and doesn't make sense like Kapitan, Fire Sergeant and Squad But hey, my chief want to be special, what can we do?

[@jordanpowell9377]

Do most departments require a degree to become an officer ?

[@mike_pertz]

Not necessarily, some do, many do not.

[@paulagarner1445]

officers also carry like a Halligan Tool too

[@wiggerj0nes104]

FIREFIGHTER E.M.T. PARAMEDIC

[@mackattackgameingawesome3666]

Also if you see an engine company with 2 firefighters in the back it's an ALS (Advanced Life Support)

[@eriksand9262]

Well that's not true. There are some departments that are BLS only that have 4-5 people per engine/truck, with no paramedic. I believe FDNY is a prime example of that.

[@krishjellum8612]

District is under department

[@billblackwell675]

I like your Thin Red Line flag

[@danoia4]

I'm lieutenant

[@wiggerj0nes104]

PPE/SCBA

[@lifeisamatrix5960]

You forgot..... rank meathead lol

[@wiggerj0nes104]

ENGINEER A.0.

[@wiggerj0nes104]

Sir My UNCLE Is a BATTALI0N CHIEF With The L.A.F.D. & I'am a FIREFIGHTER, PARAMEDIC / ENGINEER With The L.A.F.D. As Well.

[@wiggerj0nes104]

LIEUTENANT FIRE CAPTAIN BATTALI0N CHIEF E.M.S. CAPTAIN CHIEF ASSISTANT FIREFIGHTER 1 PARAMEDIC E.M.T. BASIC A.0./ APPARATUS 0PERAT0R ENGINEER FIRE CHIEF