City and County of San Francisco

Under general direction from higher-ranking officers in the Department, the H040 Battalion Chief is an upper management level supervisor who commands a Battalion (consisting of several firefighting companies) in the performance of emergency and non-emergency tasks. Emergency tasks include those associated with receipt of an alarm, arrival at the scene, incident size-up, and supervising search and rescue, fire extinguishing, ventilation, salvage, overhaul, and emergency medical care. At emergency incidents, and in the absence of a senior officer, a battalion chief directs and ensures the efficiency of multi-unit operations. Non-emergency tasks include those associated with preparing for tour of duty; fire prevention inspections; ensuring compliance with Department policy; monitoring, evaluating, and counseling firefighters; training; community relations; information gathering, report writing, and record keeping; and investigations and special projects. A battalion chief may also be required to perform other duties as assigned.

An H040 Battalion Chief is distinguished from an H030 Captain in that the H030 has general supervisory responsibility over one station, whereas the Battalion Chief oversees several stations in the battalion. An H040 Battalion Chief is distinguished from an H050 Assistant Chief in that the H050 has supervisory responsibilities for a Division (consisting of several battalions, whereas the H040 Battalion Chief oversees the operations of a single battalion.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. In preparing for tour of duty: reads journal, reports, and other written communication to determine level and nature of activities within the Battalion for the previous tours; meets with the off-going battalion chief to discuss what has been going on in order to decide actions that need to be taken or to ensure that consistent policy is followed between battalion chiefs; informs officers and others about changes in practice, policy, procedures, daily activities, or other information; relays information about personnel status between company, district, and division; receives verbal information from company officers about staffing in order to determine staffing overages and shortages within each station; reassigns personnel within battalion stations to balance staffing throughout the battalion; reviews Incident Support Specialist’s report showing how district will be balanced in order to ensure proper staffing; etc.
   
2. In performing tasks from receipt of alarm to arrival at the scene: assesses situation (based on dispatch and who is responding) to determine whether presence of Battalion Chief is needed on the scene to direct, monitor, or support firefighters; informs communications center by radio, if on inspection or out of station, that Chief is responding; puts on turnout coat and officer’s equipment in response to alarm; listens to radio communications to gain information about nature of fire/incident, condition of building/physical site, location and condition of victims, and location and actions of personnel; plans actions en route to scene, taking into account initial communication, who is likely to be first on scene, relation to other resources on way and in district, time of day, etc.; en route to possible hazardous materials incidents, determines the approach that units will take in responding, including the distance units will maintain away from the scene; attends to cues (e.g., smell or smoke) while approaching emergency in order to prepare response or action on scene; notifies communications center of problems encountered (e.g., accident or breakdown) on way to scene; etc.
   
3. In performing tasks related to incident size-up and command: receives and carries out orders from Incident Commander; reports status of incident to communications center via radio if first Chief to arrive at scene; informs communication center of conditions of fire and need for additional personnel and/or equipment; receives information via radio from officers inside the building in order to direct activity of other responding companies and to assess safety conditions within the building; at emergency incidents, evaluates information from subordinates in order to determine what needs to be done; assesses conditions inside facility (e.g., condition of building; softness of roof or floor; characteristics of smoke, heat, and fire; paths of extension; and means of egress) in order to ensure safety for companies working inside; sizes up fire by observing extent and location of smoke and flames, noting wind, building type, and contents on fire, and exposure potential of adjacent structures to determine additional support personnel and/or equipment needed at emergency site; analyzes information about the fire scene (e.g., extent of fire, seat of fire, size of building, location of fire in building, time of day, location of fire suppression equipment and personnel in building, type of building construction, occupancy, content of building, and occupant’s behavior) to formulate a strategy for fighting the fire; describes conditions observed inside facility to outside Incident Commander, including extent of fire, whether additional resources are needed, and what needs to be done; etc.
   
4. In supervising/performing search and rescue activities: evaluates conditions to determine if they are safe for firefighters to proceed with rescue (e.g., conditions of fire, tides, currents, if equipment needed is available, etc.); evaluates nature of fire and degree of spread to determine if victims should be relocated to a sheltered area (e.g., smoke-proof tower), sheltered in place, or removed from the building; determines priority in rescuing victims when multiple victims are involved; communicates via radio with other officers or units on scene in order to coordinate efforts to rescue victims; calls communication center to request assistance of special units (e.g., cliff rescue squad, Coast Guard); oversees primary and secondary search of fire building to ensure all victims are removed to safety; etc.
   
5. In supervising/performing ventilation, salvage, and overhaul activities: evaluates conditions of fire, smoke, heat, wind, etc., and type of dwelling, to determine where, when, and how building should be ventilated, to retard the spread of fire, and to avoid backdraft; checks all openings in walls, ceilings, and floors to locate smoke and hot spots; evaluates condition and type of roof to determine whether roof is safe to support the weight of firefighters and their equipment; directs truck officers to ladder building using portable ladders or aerial ladder to gain access to upper floors and roof for purposes of ventilation; observes condition of building while salvage tasks are being conducted to ensure that building is safe for salvage operation; directs officers to pull down ceilings or to open walls to facilitate inspection to locate remaining fire or hot spots, or to release smoke and heat; visually inspects premises closely to determine that fire has been extinguished and that it will not rekindle; orders officers to preserve suspicious area and preserve evidence for use by arson squad; informs Incident Commander about suspicious aspects of fire (e.g., if there was an unusual odor, more than one fire in different areas, broken doors or windows, etc.); etc.
   
6. In performing first aid-related activities: calls for additional medical assistance at scene; observes that firefighters are wearing appropriate protective equipment when administering first aid; analyzes first aid scene to determine what safety procedures need to be implemented to protect the fire crew; coordinates activities with police and ambulance personnel at the first aid scene; etc.
   
7. In performing inspection-related activities: familiarizes self with building or transit systems (e.g., building layout, type of occupancy, and structural information) during inspection, in order to be able to respond appropriately during an emergency; reports obvious hazards (e.g., flammable rubbish or locked doors) to owners of buildings and to Bureau of Fire Prevention; takes immediate action to correct dangerous hazards (e.g., locked exits) that are discovered during building inspections; conducts special Christmas inspections of Christmas trees and decorations at public assemblages, including conducting flammability tests, to ensure compliance with the appropriate codes; reports apparent violations of fire safety code to Bureau of Fire Prevention for action; inspects piers and BART/MUNI tubes to ensure that areas are unobstructed and free of hazards, and equipment is available to facilitate emergency response; inspects public assemblages for compliance with City ordinances regarding exits, crowd size, and other safety codes; forwards notice of violation to Bureau of Fire Prevention if fire building’s alarm is not working properly; etc.
   
8. In performing activities related to monitoring, counseling, and evaluating subordinates: observes the performance of firefighters and officers in order to evaluate their performance; meets with company officers in each firehouse to explain new orders, inspect house, answer questions, and relay and receive information; counsels and coaches subordinates when there is a performance or personnel problem (e.g., tardiness); resolves problems between firefighters or between firefighters and officers; informs Division Chief of unresolved grievances (e.g., interpersonal conflict between firefighters); observes performance of probationary firefighters and lieutenants to evaluate eligibility for permanent position; meets with Captains to discuss issues related to EEO compliance; reports EEO complaints to Assistant Chief; etc.
   
9. In performing activities related to information gathering, report writing, and record keeping: reviews journal to familiarize self and understand status of personnel, equipment, and apparatus in station; collects reports daily from each company in battalion, and checks them for accuracy, form, and content before delivering to Division for processing; reads General Orders and teletype messages to learn about changes in practice, policy, procedure, or other information; writes in station journal to indicate location of fire, time, incident number, who responded, equipment used, and how extinguished; interviews witnesses and gathers on-site information needed to complete accident reports; gathers information for incident reports with required information (e.g., what happened, where it occurred, what equipment was used, and who was involved) to be prepared by the Incident Support Specialist; completes written reports of meritorious behavior to document what occurred in the incident; etc.
   
10. In performing activities related to ensuring compliance with Departmental policy: explains new orders and policies to battalion personnel to ensure proper awareness of new standards; evaluates condition of station house, personnel, equipment, and apparatus to ensure that all is operating and in compliance with SFFD policy and practices; conducts formal battalion inspections of each station (including the facility, personnel, records, and equipment) within the district in order to determine if Department policy is being followed; meets with company officers to explain and discuss the implementation of new orders and procedures; etc.
    
11. In performing activities related to training: assesses the training needs of firefighters and selects appropriate drills; conducts drills such as battalion drills or high-rise drills with the companies of the battalion in order to improve their skills in working as a unit; develops drill on topic that is unique to district (e.g., cliff rescue, high-rise evacuation plan) in order to prepare companies for emergency; observes companies as they participate in drills in order to ensure that the drill is being conducted properly and to identify potential problems; provides feedback to officers or firefighters on their performance during emergency or drill; evaluates performance of companies to determine if and what type of special drills need to be conducted for improved performance; critiques fire ground activities with officers to help everyone learn from experience in case they encounter a similar situation; etc.
    
12. In performing activities related to community relations: speaks for Fire Department during inspections and emergencies; instructs spectators and non-safety personnel on what to do and where to be during an emergency; contacts Red Cross to provide shelter for victims of fire or disaster; explains nature of incidents to media to ensure accurate coverage; testifies in court regarding fire-related matters as a representative of the Fire Department; coordinates earthquake and other disaster programs with various institutions (e.g., hospitals) to ensure adequate functioning during emergencies; assists with coordination of traffic flow and re-routing of apparatus for special situations (e.g., parades) to ensure adequate fire service coverage; notifies other units or City departments of public safety hazards so they can take action to abate the problem; investigates and intervenes in disputes between the public and Fire Department personnel; etc.
    
13. In performing activities related to investigations and special projects: interviews witnesses or those involved in an accident, complaint, incident, or injury to gather information on the event; inspects the scene of accident, incident, complaint, or injury and any physical evidence in order to gather information on the event; analyzes information gained in the investigation to formulate a theory of cause and to recommend prevention of future incidents (except EEO incidents); interviews and gathers information on EEO complaint in order to obtain facts to submit in a report; interviews personnel and gathers information to recommend and determine appropriate disciplinary action; works on committees (in addition to regular duties) in order to meet special project goals (e.g., review and update manuals); etc.
    
14. In performing tasks related to working with others: meets with the Assistant Chief to discuss new or revised Fire Department policies; participates as a member of a team in training drills; does all that is possible to complete a work assignment (not the minimum possible); attempts to overcome obstacles or problems that may occur while carrying out an assignment; understands oral instructions or oral information from superiors, subordinates, and peers at emergency incidents; effectively communicates his or her understanding of oral instructions or oral information from superiors, subordinates, and peers at emergency incidents; attempts to improve himself or herself to perform job better; etc.
    
15. In performing tasks related to using computers: logs in to PeopleSoft program via computer to check personnel status; uses the Records Management System to maintain accurate records of the status of personnel; uses computer to complete on-line forms; ensures that accurate reports are entered into the computer for each incident in the battalion; etc.
    

Knowledge of: the streets, and traffic laws and patterns in the City; Standardize, Triage and Rapid Transport (START) to assist in aiding injured individuals; methods of building construction; hazardous materials and their implications for firefighting situations; the Department’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and training bulletins; Department manuals; the general principles of fire science; the uses, capabilities, and limitations of firefighting equipment and apparatus; firefighting techniques and strategies; fire and explosion investigation procedures; computers; and fire and building codes related to fire suppression systems and fire safety.

Ability or Skill to: supervise effectively at fire and other emergency situations; conduct inspections expeditiously; train, monitor, evaluate, and counsel firefighters; gather information, write reports, and maintain records; ensure compliance with Department policy; effectively relate to the community; work effectively with others; and conduct investigations and complete special projects in a professional and timely manner.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

Experience:
Permanent status and successful completion of probationary period in class H030 Captain.

License and Certification:

Substitution: