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o NFPA recommends that a minimum of four firefighters is required for interior <br />structural firefighting operations, with two firefighters entering the structure and a <br />minimum of two backup firefighters located outside in stand-by mode. <br /> NFPA standards are recognized as fire service best practice <br />recommendations. The department understands that these are not <br />requirements but will make our best attempt to meet these standards. <br />o Four-person crews are more effective and efficient in maintaining fire <br />suppression, search and rescue, and other critical fireground tasks compared to <br />smaller crews. <br /> As of 08/06/2025, there have been 220 occurrences where an Immediately <br />Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) incident has occurred, such as a <br />Structure Fire, Gas Leak, Vehicle Accident, and other Hazardous <br />responses. Of the 220, a crew of four has only been assembled on-scene <br />130 times in an effective amount of time. This number includes one or <br />both chiefs as the 4th crew member. <br /> <br />The career captain position: The Captain position is a full-time position working 24-hour shifts <br />(Gold, Red, Black) and serves as a riding/working supervisor within the Fire Department. May <br />be assigned to work up to 2,912 hours per year. The captain is the shift supervisor in the absence <br />of a chief officer. The Captain is responsible for assigned firefighters, apparatus, and equipment <br />to ensure operational readiness. Each captain would be assigned a POC Lieutenant, POC <br />Engineer and POC firefighters under their supervision. The primary work duties include <br />supervising firefighters, emergency response, and code enforcement activities. They are <br />responsible for helping to ensure compliance with all policies and procedures. At an emergency <br />incident, unless working under a superior officer, the Captain is responsible for incident <br />command and resolution of the emergency. This includes entering a burning building with the <br />fire crew as necessary. <br /> <br />With the addition of a career captain to each shift, the department would operate using a four- <br />firefighter duty crew, operating out of the station 24/7. <br />- Shift would be comprised of: one Career Captain, two Career firefighter/EMT, one POC <br />firefighter. <br />- By adding the third career position, the department would prioritize a standard of three <br />staffed positions on duty for each normally schedule shift. By keeping our minimum <br />career staffing at two, it will allow our career staff additional flexibility to use time off, <br />while reducing the reliance on unscheduled overtime. POC staff would still be utilized for <br />the backfilling of time off but it is less predicable due to their availability, especially <br />Monday – Friday days. <br />- Four on duty firefighters, who consistently respond within the same vehicle, allows us to <br />fulfill the basic roles of fire ground operational positions. <br /> <br />Proposed Timeline: <br />- Begin selection process for Captain candidates in Q2 2026, with an anticipated start date <br />of July 1st, 2026. Process would be both internal and external. <br />- Backfill potential existing career Firefighter positions vacated due to promotions. Process <br />would be internal only. <br />- Restructure command staff order model to include career Captains and paid-on-call <br />Lieutenants.