A company officer (CO) is the individual in charge of a
crew of
firefighter
A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...
s and their responding
apparatus
Apparatus may refer to:
*Technical term for a body of the Soviet and post-Soviet governments (see Apparatchik)
*Machine
*Equipment
* Critical apparatus, the critical and primary source material that accompanies an edition of a text
* "Apparatus" (s ...
in the United States. Company Officers have different titles depending on the table of organization for their particular agency, but commonly used titles in the
U.S. Fire Service include
Lieutenant,
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
,
Sergeant
Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
, or other ranks which reflect the paramilitary organization of most departments.
Company Officers in U.S. career
fire department
A fire department (American English) or fire brigade (Commonwealth English), also known as a fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organization that provides fire prevention and fire suppression se ...
s are generally promoted after passing a series of written tests, oral interviews, and tactical evaluations. A certain amount of time in service or time in grade is also often required before an individual is eligible to test for the next highest rank within the department. Seniority may determine whether an officer is in charge of one responding apparatus, or is in charge of an entire station where multiple fire apparatus are housed.
Officer ranks above the company officer level are frequently referred to as "Chief Officer" ranks. Whereas a Company Officer is generally involved with fireground tactical operations in addition to their
supervisor
A supervisor, or lead, (also known as foreman, boss, overseer, facilitator, monitor, area coordinator, line-manager or sometimes gaffer) is the job title of a lower-level management position that is primarily based on authority over workers or ...
y duties, Chief Officers are rarely involved with hands-on fireground operations.
Responsibilities and duties
The responsibilities of a company officer include:
[Carl Goodson]
"Fire Department Company Officer,"
''Speaking of Fire'', A quarterly newsletter of Fire Protection Publications (Headquarters for IFSTA), Fall 2002, Vol 2, No 3. Accessed August 14, 2007.
* Meeting the organizations goals and objectives
* Keeping the work area free of health and safety hazards
* Building teamwork and cooperation
* Developing subordinates skills
* Keeping records and making reports
The duties of a company officer include:
* Maintaining health and safety
* Enforcing departmental rules and regulations
* Managing company activities
* Collecting pre-incident plan data
* Conducting company fire inspections
* Conducting company training evolutions
* Facilitating company communications
* Building company motivation
* Implementing departmental goals and objectives
* Performing career counseling and problem solving
* Keeping department records and making reports
See also
*
Incident commander
*
Fire chief
References
{{Fire fighting
Firefighting in the United States