Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Department: Office of Fire Marshal

Town of Avon Title: Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Department: Office of Fire Marshal Position Definition: As Fire Marshal, plans, organizes and administers a comprehensive fire inspection, investigations, prevention and education program in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes and CT Fire Safety Code. As Emergency Management Director, plans, organizes, administers and coordinates the Town’s emergency management program in accordance with Federal, state and local laws, policies, procedures and regulations. Supervision Received: Receives general direction and supervision from Director of Planning and Community Development when working as Fire Marshal. Receives general direction and supervision from Town Manager when working as Emergency Management Director. Examples of essential duties: Perform inspections of buildings and facilities to ensure conformance of building structures and facilities with Connecticut Fire Safety Code and Connecticut Fire Prevention Code and General Statutes, and referenced National Standards. Participates in the review and comments on plans and specifications to ensure fire safety codes are met in all buildings except one and two family dwellings. Investigates the origin, cause and circumstance of all fires within the Town of Avon and prepares reports to State Fire Marshal. Follows up on suspicious fires to determine any wrongdoing. Recommends enforcement action as necessary. Acts as lead town agency on petroleum and hazardous materials spills. Responds to complaints and/or inquiries concerning hazardous fire conditions, and takes appropriate action to assure public safety. Issues permits for the use, transportation and storage of explosives in accordance with code. Certifies for state licensing: day care centers, medical centers and liquor permit premises. Performs inspection and enforcement duties to assure code compliance for a variety of facilities and services including: fireworks displays, space heaters, flammable liquid installations, outdoor amusements, commercial tanks for storage of fuel oil, gasoline, and liquid propane gas, among others. Participates in the development of near term and long range planning and strategies to meet fire prevention and fire safety objectives of the town. Coordinates with Police, Planning and Zoning, Public Works, the Health District, Building Official and Avon Volunteer Fire Department to ensure a coordinated approach on all public safety matters. Coordinates with the Volunteer Fire Department to organizes and implement public fire education programs. Provides general supervision to staff within department. Assists with operations and coordination within the Building Department. May be required to become cross trained as Assistant Building Official. Prepares annual budget recommendations for unit and administers approved budget. Develops and maintains electronic filing system, and retrieves fire incident reports, investigations, inspections, and tank installations. During emergencies assumes the overall responsibility for the operation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and for advising the Town Manager on local government emergency operations, including the execution of: 1) appropriate increased readiness measures should a regional local or international crisis occur; 2) such emergency and supporting operations plans and procedures as are appropriate for the emergency; and, 3) necessary coordination among the operating departments of town government. Maintains the Emergency Operations Plan, Annexes, and operating procedures (SOP’s) to ensure compliance with state, federal and national security criteria and submits Emergency Management reports to appropriate town, state and federal agencies as required. Formulates emergency management operating budget; prepares and coordinates requests for federal financial assistance for emergency management programs. Assists in coordinating, preparing and executing local government programs which involve the training and education of town staff, citizens, businesses, and organizations. Coordinates the use of resources during disaster responses. Maintains a continuous review of the warning system and warning procedures, and serves as the communications planning coordinator for all town emergency direction and control communications insuring proper design, coordination, maintenance and suitability for emergency operations. Participates in professional fire-fighting organizations to remain current on fire safety and fire prevention activities. Performs other related duties as required. Knowledge, skills and abilities required: A thorough knowledge of the practices and procedures utilized in modern firefighting and emergency management: including fire prevention, fire training and personnel management. A working knowledge of personnel, fire hazards, and fire-fighting resources: i.e. personnel, equipment, water supplies, and communications. Ability to effectively supervise and instruct others. Ability to apply municipal fire administration principles and emergency management principals to solve problems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form is essential. Ability to develop and maintain an operating budget and grant budgets is required. Must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written form. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to interpret federal, state, and local codes, regulations and standards relating to building construction, Fire Prevention and Control, sprinkler systems, heat and smoke detection devices and emergency management. Physical, mental exertion/environmental conditions: Sufficient physical stamina to climb ladders, crawl into limited spaces, and to lift light to medium weights. Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain and snow. Ability to walk on rough terrain to inspect properties and sites that are rough and uneven is necessary. Ability to work under stress, especially regarding fire investigation and enforcement duties is expected. Exposure to building hazards when conducting investigations and inspections is routine and precautions must be taken. Includes exposure to video display terminals on a daily basis. Some highway driving in hazardous weather conditions is necessary. Must be able to hear clearly (correctable to within normal limits) to record telephone information, and to see (vision correctable to 20/20) to complete applications and forms. Minimum qualifications required: Certification as a Fire Marshal in accordance with Connecticut State Statutes. Must possess or obtain certification as an Open Burning Official. A minimum of an Associate’s Degree in a public safety discipline (police, Fire, EMS) or related field plus five years of increasingly responsible experience required. Certification as a Fire Officer 2 desired. Ability to obtain certification as an Emergency Manager by International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) training as well as appropriate Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) courses in Emergency Management. A valid Driver’s License is required. Preferred: Prior experience in Emergency Management. Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and responsibility. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. .

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