FIRE CHIEF

The City of Chico recruiting for our next Fire Chief. Are you a seasoned leader with strong administrative and manager expertise, capable of overseeing complex Fire Department operations? The Fire Chief for the City of Chico is someone who can advance strategic goals and support the Department's mission, while building strong relationships with public officials, government agencies, and community partners. Clickhereto view the flyer below andexplore more about this amazing opportunity.


Under limited direction of the City Manager, to plan, direct, supervise and coordinate the operations of the Fire Department in preventing and extinguishing fires, delivering emergency medical services, performing rescues, mitigating hazardous materials emergencies, and in protecting life and property; to provide highly responsible and technical staff assistance to the City Manager, City Council and operating departments; to perform related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised
Executive direction is provided by the City Manager. The incumbent has broad supervisory authority over a large and diverse group of management, supervisory, professional, technical, and support positions who perform the full range of fire service-related activities.

Class Characteristics
This is a single incumbent, executive management classification. The Fire Chief’s duties are administrative and managerial in nature, and the incumbent performs work that is very complex, with broad authority for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Fire Department as well as responsibility for Department’s strategic planning and goal setting. The incumbent has extensive contact with public officials, State/Federal/local agencies, other public and private organizations and the public. The incumbent exercises a high level of independent authority, working from broad policies to achieve objectives critical to the Department’s mission. The classification of Fire Chief is distinguished from the classification of Deputy Chief – Fire by its level and degree of responsibility for the broad oversight of all Department functions.

About Chico Fire Department:
The Department serves the community from 4 fire stations spread throughout the community, staffed by 3 shifts totaling 79 firefighters and 1 battalion chief per day. All response personnel are minimally trained as firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Furthermore, the Department is supported by 1 Fire Marshal, 3 prevention personnel and 3 professional administrative staff civilian positions and a FY2025-26 operating budget of $16.5 million.

The Department maintains strong automatic- and mutual-aid partnerships to the surrounding unincorporated areas through the Chico Urban Area Fire and Rescue Agreement. In 2025, the Department responded to 16,430 calls for service, an increase of 2,273 calls since 2023.

In addition to four fire stations, the Fire Chief is responsible for overseeing a Fire Training Center and over 30 pieces of modern emergency apparatus with a 33-square mile service area. The Department also fields specialized teams for technical rescues, drowning accidents, hazardous materials response, SCBA repair and fire origin & cause investigations.Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plan, organize, direct, coordinate and, as necessary, participate in all activities of the Fire Department.
• Develop and maintain rules and procedures for fire prevention and firefighting personnel.
• Direct investigations to determine cause and origin of fires and assist in the prosecution of arsonists.
• Direct the enforcement of Federal, State and local fire codes and regulations.
• Direct the formulation and implementation of in-service training.
• Respond to media as key department spokesperson.
• Confer with agents of other governmental jurisdictions, with the Insurance Services Office with fire prevention bureaus, and with the office of the State Fire Marshal.
• Provide disaster response coordination.
• Supervise the requisition, maintenance and operation of firefighting equipment.
• Make regular and special reports of departmental activities to the City Manager.
• Keep abreast of new developments in firefighting, fire prevention, training and administration.
• Prepare and administer the department budget.
• Represent the City in the community and at professional meetings as required.
• Direct the maintenance of records of fire calls and fire losses.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Operate department computers.
• Perform related assignments as necessary.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of modern firefighting and fire prevention practices;
• Laws, ordinances, rules and codes affecting the activities of the Fire Department;
• Principles and practices of organization, administration, budget and personnel management;
• Principles and techniques of modern first aid, rescue and resuscitation;
• Geography, types of building construction, major fire hazards, water supply, fire and building laws and regulations of the City of Chico.

Ability to:

• Plan, formulate and administer sound departmental policies and procedures;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with subordinates, other City officials and the public;
• Understand and relate fire problems and priorities with overall City objectives;
• Prepare and administer the departmental budget;
• Oversee purchasing; assure inventory control.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Experience:
Ten years of increasingly responsible, paid, full-time experience, preferably in all major program areas including administration, suppression, and prevention or training. At least three years of this experience shall be at the Chief Officer level.
Education:
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration or other applicable field supplemented by broad and extensive course work in fire science suppression, prevention and administration.
Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License
• Current first aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification per CCR 1797.182.
• Certification as a Hazardous Materials First Responder-Operational

Desired Qualifications:

• A Master's Degree in public administration or related field
• Certification by the State Board of Fire Services as a Fire Chief

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, sometimes on uneven surfaces; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, sometimes in confined spaces; and taste or smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 175 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.
Use of command vehicles, fire apparatus, personal protective equipment, and other standard firefighting, hazardous materials response, and rescue equipment, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone.

Environmental Conditions
Work is performed primarily in office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. Individual is exposed to hearing alarms and hazards associated with fighting fires and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents, and oils and combating hazardous materials emergencies.

The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings, and loud at an emergency scene.