New Fire Chief: Challenging Issues-Student Manual
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New Fire Chief: Challenging Issues NFC: Challenging Issues-Student Manual 1st Edition, 3rd Printing-October 2014 FEMA/USFA/NFA NFC: Challenging Issues-SM October 2014 New Fire Chief: Challenging Issues 1st Edition, 3rd Printing New Fire Chief: Challenging Issues NFC: Challenging Issues-Student Manual 1st Edition, 3rd Printing-October 2014 All materials in this course may be used and distributed by individual states for the purpose of delivering National Fire Academy (NFA) state-sponsored courses. All students must submit FEMA Form 119-25-2 (General Admissions Application Short Form) to receive a (DHS) FEMA/NFA training certificate. NOTE: Any other use of these materials that does not result in the receipt of a (DHS) FEMA/NFA training certificate is prohibited. This page intentionally left blank. NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................. v Course Goal ....................................................................................................................................................... vii Audience, Scope, and Course Purpose .............................................................................................................. vii Schedule ............................................................................................................................................................ ix Firefighter Code of Ethics ................................................................................................................................. xi A Student Guide to End-of-course Evaluations ................................................................................................. xiii UNIT 1: RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF ............................................................. SM 1-1 UNIT 2: POLITICS ........................................................................................................................ SM 2-1 Appendix: Checklist UNIT 3: LIABILITY/RISK MANAGEMENT ............................................................................ SM 3-1 UNIT 4: TOOLBOX/RESOURCES ............................................................................................. SM 4-1 Appendix: Resources References Glossary iii NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES This page intentionally left blank. iv NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The development of any National Fire Academy (NFA) course is a complex process aimed at providing students the best possible learning opportunity we can deliver. There are many players in course development, each of whom plays an equally important part in its success. We want to acknowledge their participation and contribution to this effort, and extend our heartfelt thanks for making this quality product. The following persons participated in the creation of this course: Ken Farmer, Branch Chief U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Academy Emmitsburg, MD Russell Kuck, Instructional Systems Specialist Curriculum and Instruction Branch U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Academy Emmitsburg, MD Karen Kent, Project Manager Advanced Technical and Educational Consultants, Inc. (ATEC) Emmitsburg, MD Dr. Joe Saitta, Instructional Designer Advanced Technical and Educational Consultants, Inc. (ATEC) Emmitsburg, MD Ed Kirtley, Director Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training Stillwater, OK Sam Mazza, Fire Chief (retired) Monterey Fire Department Monterey, CA v NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES This page intentionally left blank. vi NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES COURSE GOAL The goal of this course is to develop the managerial, administrative, and leadership skills necessary for the new fire chief to effectively meet his/her obligations. AUDIENCE, SCOPE, AND COURSE PURPOSE The primary audience is the new fire chief in volunteer or combination departments. The secondary audience includes new career fire chiefs in larger departments, department leaders who may become fire chiefs, and local government administrators and elected officials who are involved in the administration of a fire department. This 2-day course addresses critical knowledge and skills pertaining to the responsibilities of a fire chief; the nature of local politics and the fire chief's role in local politics; and liability and risk management issues and resources available to help the new fire chief meet his/her responsibilities. The purpose of the course is to develop the managerial, administrative, and leadership skills necessary for the new fire chief to effectively meet his/her obligations. vii NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES This page intentionally left blank. viii NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES SCHEDULE TIME DAY 1 TIME DAY 2 Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management Introduction, Welcome, and 8:00–9:00 8:00–9:00 (cont'd) Administrative 9:00–9:10 Break 9:00–9:10 Break Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management Unit 1: Responsibilities of the Fire (cont'd) Chief 9:10–10:30 9:10–10:10 Activity 1.1: Leadership Issues 10:30–10:40 Break 10:10–10:20 Break Unit 1: Responsibilities of the Fire Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management Chief (cont'd) 10:40–11:40 10:20–11:30 (cont'd) Unit 2: Politics 11:40–12:40 Lunch Break 11:30–12:30 Lunch Break Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management Unit 2: Politics (cont'd) (cont'd) 12:40–1:40 12:30–1:40 Activity 2.1: Establishing and Activity 3.3: Identifying Effective Risk Maintaining Political Influence Management Measures 1:40–1:50 Break 1:40–1:50 Break Unit 2: Politics (cont'd) Unit 4: Toolbox/Resources 1:50–2:50 1:50–3:20 Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management Activity 4.1: Using Resources 2:50–3:00 Break 3:20–3:30 Break Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management (cont'd) Unit 4: Toolbox/Resources (cont'd) 3:00–4:00 3:30–5:00 Activity 3.1: Identifying Liabilities Final Exam and Course Evaluation #1 Unit 3: Liability/Risk Management (cont'd) 4:00–5:00 Activity 3.2: Identifying Liabilities #2 ix NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES This page intentionally left blank. x NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES xi NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES xii NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES xiii This page intentionally left blank. NEW FIRE CHIEF: CHALLENGING ISSUES UNIT 1: RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF TERMINAL OBJECTIVE The students will be able to explain the fire chief's scope of duties. ENABLING OBJECTIVES The students will be able to: 1. Define the fire chief's role. 2. Explain the fire chief's 10 responsibilities. 3. Describe five performance areas for which a fire chief is held accountable. 4. Differentiate between the leadership roles of the fire chief and subordinate positions. 5. Explain the nine leadership behaviors of successful fire chiefs. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF This page intentionally left blank. SM 1-2 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF UNIT 1: RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF Slide 1-1 ENABLING OBJECTIVES The students will be able to: • Define the fire chief's role. • Explain the fire chief's 10 responsibilities. • Describe five performance areas for which a fire chief is held accountable. • Differentiate between the leadership roles of the fire chief and subordinate positions. • Explain the nine leadership behaviors of successful fire chiefs. Slide 1-2 ACTIVITY 1.1 Leadership Issues Slide 1-3 SM 1-3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF This page intentionally left blank. SM 1-4 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF ACTIVITY 1.1 Leadership Issues Purpose To identify leadership issues commonly faced by new fire chiefs. Directions 1. Working in your assigned group, discuss leadership or administrative issues that you face as a new fire chief. Be specific based on your personal experience. Record the issues on an easel pad. If an issue is faced by more than one person in the group, put a mark on the easel pad by that issue. 2. Next, select an issue that is common to all or most of the group members. This issue will be used by the group during other activities in the course. 3. Select a spokesperson to report your issues to the class. You have 10 minutes to complete this activity. SM 1-5 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF ACTIVITY 1.1 NOTES SM 1-6 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF I. FIRE CHIEF'S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ROLE OF THE FIRE CHIEF Lead and administer the human, financial, and physical resources of the department so that the mission of the organization is accomplished. Slide 1-4 A. Role of the fire chief. 1. The role of the fire chief is to lead and administer the human, financial, and physical resources of the department so that the mission of the organization is accomplished. ROLE OF THE FIRE CHIEF (cont'd) • Accomplished through the traditional management practices of organizing, planning, directing, and controlling. • Varies with each department. Slide 1-5 2. The role is accomplished through the traditional management practices of organizing, planning, directing, and controlling. 3. The role varies with each department. SM 1-7 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRE CHIEF FIRE CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensure operational readiness of the department. • Ensure health and safety of department personnel. • Manage the community's fire risk. • Administer the department's human, financial, and physical resources. • Ensure compliance with local, State, and Federal laws and regulations. Slide 1-6 B. Responsibilities