Deputy Fire Chief

DEFINITION

Under the direction of the Fire Chief, plans, supervises and coordinates the fire prevention activities of the City of Bishop, and Rural Fire District designed to increase public awareness and conditions in the community that pose a threat of fire. Performs highly complex administrative duties to improve life safety of the community through adoption and enforcement of local, state and national codes, standard, guidelines and associated regulatory document and publications. Actively pursues collaborative efforts with the construction industry to ensure new development projects adequately meet fire safety guidelines; performs related duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

• Receives administrative direction from the Fire Chief.
• Exercises direct supervision over department paid and volunteer personnel.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Act as Fire Chief and take on all duties when he or she isn’t available.
• Supervises fire staff and volunteers to include prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Responsible for administrative duties assigned by the Fire Chief.
• Ensures compliance and accountability with applicable personnel guidelines and department policy and procedures.
• Establishes appropriate service and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivery methods and procedures, create, establish, and hold accountable Bishop Fire Department SOPs.
• Performs construction plan review, fire investigations and building inspections.
• Conduct fire loss investigations to determine cause, origin and estimated loss; collect evidence; refer cases to appropriate outside agency, as necessary.
• Oversees investigations, initial legal action against and assist with prosecution of arsonists and code violators. Responds to and resolves sensitive questions or concerns from the general public, business community and staff. Facilitate approval, legislation and public education of new standards
• Administer and enforce local, state and federal fire codes; sign requests for fire inspection of buildings.
• Conduct fire prevention inspections; respond to complaint calls and fire hazard reports.
• Develops a comprehensive long-range fire-prevention program consistent with code and standards requirement to increase fire safety in the community.
• Research, develop, implement and evaluate codes and ordinance, as well as the inspection process for new and existing structures. Develop ordinances or policies based on specific fire safety problems and concerns.
• Create public fire and life safety education programs that are consistent with public education needs and monitor program effectiveness and make adjustments as required.
• Develops and oversees fuels reduction programs and educates the public in wildland urban interface issues and evacuation planning.
• Manages all out of County Deployments requested by OES. Would be required to be on the Deployment rotation.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of fire prevention, development plan review and fire investigation.
• Prepare and maintain Departmental records and reports, prepare narrative reports, correspondence and interdepartmental communication.
• In addition to the executive duties of the position, the Deputy Fire Chief will be expected to respond to incidents and should maintain an appropriate level of physical fitness.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Policies and procedures of the Bishop Fire Department.
• Knowledge of the fire related requirements contained in the California State Fire Code, state statutes, California state building code, the NFPA life safety Code and related NFPA standards and the ability to reasonably and effectively apply these requirements.
• Principles and practices of fire science, laws, codes and regulations related to fire prevention, fire safety suppression and investigation.
• Principles of fire cause and determination
• Building construction, fire sprinkler systems, fire alarms, hydrant, standpipes and alternate systems and the NFPA requirements for these systems.
• Principals, practices, methods and techniques of fire suppression, including wildland suppression, prevention and investigation.
• Management skills to analyze programs, policies and operational needs. Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Operation, maintenance, and uses of firefighting apparatus and equipment.
• Working knowledge of organization and management of a volunteer fire department.
• First aid and rescue techniques.

Ability to:

• Supervise personnel, including training, assigning, and reviewing work, administering discipline, and performance management.
• Provide consultation on the fire code and develop effective working relationships with professional groups including building owners, maintenance personnel, architects and design engineers, fire and building service officials and other state, county local and federal agencies.
• Respond to emergency situations.
• Use appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) while performing tasks in environment that may be dangerous to life.
• Assist with the preparation and administration of large and complex budgets.
• Analyze problems and situations, quickly develop effective and reasonable courses of action, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Communicate and use interpersonal skills to effectively interact with coworkers, management, the general public, contractors and other stakeholders, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental personnel, other public safety agencies, the public, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Exercise emotional control and work under stressful situations. Work independently in the absence of direct supervision.
• Ability to function as second in command of Fire department in the absence of or as directed by the Chief.
• Plan, direct, organize, and participate in fire prevention, suppression, and support activities.
• Supervise and train personnel.
• Formulate and administer sound departmental policy.
• The Deputy Fire Chief will reside in a location conducive to response times comparable to generally accepted industry standards.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Five (5) years’ experience in fire suppression, prevention inspection, emergency rescue activities, and training activities. Experience with a combined fire department (paid staff and volunteer).
• Three (3) years senior level supervisory responsibility (e.g., Captain, Battalion Chief) within a municipal or county fire department, or a combination of education and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities of the essential functions of the position preferred.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

• A valid Class B driver’s license or Class C with an F endorsement at time of appointment.
• Possession of, Emergency Medical Technician certification with both ICEMA and National Registry.
• Blue Card Train the Trainer certification, preferred
• Fire Investigator 1A certification within 1 year of appointment.
• Fire Inspector 1 within 1 year of appointment
• Fire Inspector 2 within 2 years of appointment
• Incident Command System 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 must be completed within time of hire.
• All applicants may be required to pass a thorough medical examination which may include, but not limited to, a physical agility test prior to appointment and for continuing employment.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here and in the job analysis are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools; reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here and in the job analysis are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While most work is performed in a normal office environment, some work is performed away from the office environment conducting on site fire prevention inspections, responding to emergencies as needed, and may be subject to personal danger.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions, which may include extreme cold, windy and other wintery conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This position must be available to work occasional weekends and after-hour events if required and is subject to recall after hours for fire investigations.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference checks, background checks; job related testing may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. An employee may be required to perform other reasonable duties as assigned by management. The City reserves the right, with the concurrence of the department head, to revise or change classification duties and responsibilities as the need arises and as consistent with the meet and confer process.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee.

Approved by Council: Approved January 12, 2026