ECO-102 - Your First Year As a Chief
Strategies for Success
John P. Binaski
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MS, EFO, CFO
25 years of fire service experience.
Currently the Fire Chief for the City of Clovis
(CA).
Previously the Division Chief for the City of Tulare
(CA).
Experience as a Fire Technology Coordinator and
certified as a Master Instructor.
Served as a Peer Assessor for the Commission
on Fire Accreditation International.
Clovis FD has been an accredited fire agency for
14 consecutive years.
Micheal Despain
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MA, EFO, CFO, MIFireE
33 years of fire/EMS experience.
Currently Fire Chief for Lincoln Fire & Rescue (NE).
Former Fire Chief for the City of Clovis (CA).
Former Deputy Chief and Interim Fire Chief for the City
of Fresno (CA).
Served as a subject matter expert for the National Fire
Academy and the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Former Board Member for League of CA Cities.
Former Instructor for Fire Chief Academy course
through the CA Fire Training Officers Association.
Objectives of the Class
• Provide information to help participants
determine their level of preparedness to assume
the role as fire chief.
• Pathways of becoming a fire chief.
• Provide strategies for success.
• Provide a checklist of items to review before and
after becoming the fire chief.
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Is it the Right Time for you to be the Fire
Chief?
Family
Years until you retire
Political baggage
Time commitment
Resume
– Education
– Training
– Qualifications
Are you Prepared to be the Fire Chief???
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Are you prepared to go in with an exit strategy
Why do you want to be the chief?
Do seasoned fire chiefs say you are ready?
Are you ready to be the chief 24/7?
Are you ready to be the chief when times are
hard?
Is it the Right Organization?
• Does the organization values/culture match
well with yours?
• Current situation or issues with the
organization?
• Your future boss? Time in office or as the
leader.
• Current political situation for the jurisdiction.
• Labor Management relations. Has the
jurisdiction been without a contract?
Things to do Before You Apply
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Make sure your resume is up to date and looks professional.
Do you meet the qualifications for the job.
Have a well-written cover letter.
Get to know executive recruiters and what they are looking for.
Start preparing now for your interview(s).
Learn as much about the agency you are applying for. This includes
not only the Fire Department, but the entire city and political
figures.
• Google search the agency and yourself.
Things to do Before You Apply
• Make sure you understand pay/benefits/requirements of the job.
– Contract, Hiring Letter or MOU
– Severance pay
– Who pays for professional development, conferences, time
away from the office in support of local, state and national fire
service events?
– Moving expenses
– Vehicle allowance
– How does pay compare to other Dept. Heads and comparable
communities?
Two Paths to Becoming the Fire Chief
Outside Candidate
Fire Chief
Inside Candidate
Pro
• You know the organization
• You know the community
• You know what has been tried
before
• Hit the ground running
• Continuity in Benefits (sick
leave, longevity bonus, etc.)
• Family is already settled
Con
• You may have baggage
• You may have difficulty in
making significant change
• Never “a prophet in your own
back yard”.
Outside Candidate
Pro
• Fresh start
• Significant change might be expected
• You are granted a bit of “prophet”
status at first (but only at first)
• More of a “honeymoon” period
• You come with at least two
perspectives upon arrival (your old
experiences and those of the new
organization)
Con
• Steep learning curve (organization,
community, culture, tribal language)
• Must be careful of who to trust initially
• Loss of prior “street credibility”
• Loss of continuity in benefits
• Family transition will be a huge factor
• You might be chosen to complete an
agenda that is not exactly in line with
yours
Universal Rules Being the Fire Chief
• Don’t try to be someone else, be yourself. Everyone will see right
through you.
• Always be honest. Once they catch you in a lie you are done.
• Develop the skills necessary to carry on courageous
conversations and how to take the emotions out of arguments.
• Try to determine where people are coming from.
• Have thick skin. You are the leader, so people will throw knives.
Universal Rules Being the Fire Chief
• You are playing a role and you are always on stage.
• Double and triple check anything with your name on it.
• Always treat people (especially your employees) like you
want to be treated, even if they are caught up in dumb stuff.
• Get your message out early and often or someone else will
get their agenda out over yours.
Universal Rules Being the Fire Chief
• You can’t do it alone. Get partnerships in place early.
• Control expectations!!!
– Have a transition plan (First 100 days & Rules of
Engagement)
• Spend 80% of your time on things that can be measured and
the rest on things that can’t be measured (today, but might be
later).
• Be prepared for your first crisis before you have the crisis
Universal Rules Being the Fire Chief
• Meet with the labor group regularly and if possible find win/win
situations to build trust and control expectations!!!
• No matter what you will “pay the price for sins of the past”.
Employees will never forget the past no matter how well you
are doing today.
• Review the history of the bargaining group and what their
strategies have been in the past. This is a good predictor of
future behavior.
Setting Mutual Expectations
• With your boss, council or board, and labor
• Set your goals High, but make sure they achievable.
– Have some first year wins (have some “first 100 days” wins)
• Lead by Example, model the behavior you expect to
see.
– Do not let bad behavior get away with it. It sets the tone for the
entire organization.
– Remember the fire chief is constantly being watched.
Get Input From Others
• No matter the rank, people within your
organization have valuable ideas to
contribute.
• Get their opinion and try to learn why
they feel this way.
• Input from all stakeholders internal
and external is valuable.
Initial Goals and Objectives
• Discuss expectations of the
department
• Meet with all mutual-aid
departments
• Meet all other department
heads
• Visit and tour all stations and
support facilities
• Meet with community leaders
• Meet with union leadership
• Consider joining local civic
club
• Renew all of your
certifications
• Update professional
memberships
Relationships Matter
• Inside and outside the organization.
• Inside
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Command Staff
Administrative
Shift
Prevention
Labor
Relationships Matter
• Outside
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Managers Office
Finance
Personnel or HR
Legal
Citizens
Neighboring Fire Department
Labor Relations
• Review their current contract.
• When is it up and when does the agency
normally start negotiating? Who is on the
negotiating team?
• What does is say about your rights as
Management?
• Where can improvements be made which is
beneficial for both sides?
• Compare to other jurisdictions throughout
the area.
CHECKLIST FOR THE NEW CHIEF
As You Start
• Learn as much as you can about your boss’s
general expectations and policies. Especially
before you take the job if possible.
• Review all documents such as SOC, Strategic
Plan, Annual Reports, Budget, MOU and etc.
• What is the overall morale of the organization?
How To Control Expectations
• Develop a framework of common understanding
and agreement
– Policies, Mission, Values, Strategic Plan, “rules of engagement”
etc.
• Get the community’s perspective early
• Under-Promise and Over-Deliver
Get Organized
• Find what works for you and stick with the system.
– Calendar, Contacts, To Do List,
Files/Records/Documents.
– When do you do your best thinking/writing vs. time with
people and events?
– Be prepared to drop everything when a crisis strikes
Communications
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Weekly meetings with executive staff.
Monthly meetings with senior staff.
Regular station visits by the Chief
Regular civic presentation for the community.
Regular “Fire Chief Updates”.
At least an annual report to governing board.
Budget
• Conduct a budget review to determine the status of:
– Operating budget, review once a month
– Payroll, other budget items should be audited on a regular
basis.
– Leave and attendance records
– Fixed asset/capital items inventory
– Do you hire and promote to fill all vacancies or Overtime
– Revenue
Budget
• Ensure that the budget preparation for the
upcoming fiscal year is on track and up to date.
Mandates & Best Practices
• Respiratory protection
• Two-in/Two-out
• SCBA Testing and
Certification
• Fit testing
• NIMS – EOP/EOC
• Ladder/pump testing
• PPE
• HIPAA
• Blood borne Pathogens
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DICO
Policy
Vaccinations
Training
Other Required Programs or Duties
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Annual hose testing
Annual pump service testing
Hydrant testing
Annual PPE inspection & cleaning – What is the status
of the departments PPE and replacement program
• Annual fire station inspections - OSHA
Department Assets
• Fire Stations
– Inspections
• Condition, repairs, lifespan
• Fire station Smoke and CO detector
status
• 3rd Party
Sprinkler/Hood/Extinguisher testing
if needed
• cleanliness
Department Assets
• Fire Apparatus
– Inspections
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Condition, repairs, lifespan
Preventive maintenance
Equipment
Cleanliness
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Fire Prevention – Community Risk
Reduction
Are you conducting life safety inspections?
When and how many per year? Data gathering
Who is doing them and qualifications
Public Education, Social Media, Elderly, & Out
Reach
• Plan Review and new construction – lots of
political land mines here, shouts watch out!!!
Comprehensive Training Program
• Training Topics:
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EMS
Fire
Haz Mat
Rescue
Special Ops
Fire Prevention
Hiring and Professional
Development
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Officer Development
Position Task Books
Succession Planning
Recruit and Promotional selection/testing revisions
Recruit and promotional academy
Develop and maintain hiring and promotional list
Departmental Committees
• Conduct a needs assessment and establish or reconstitute:
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Emergency medical
Customer and community services
Community preparedness or CERT
Recruitment and selection
Technology
Apparatus specification and procurement
Accident/risk prevention
Wellness
Policies, Procedures, and Protocols
Verify the following:
• Comprehensive review of all
• Process for updates
• Add new policies as needed
• Initial policy training has taken place
• Ongoing training is taking place (track in LMS)
• All policies are effectively enforced
Accreditation and Accountability
Programs
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Review ISO Class
EMS/Ambulance license/contract
Department Accreditation Status
Responses for service reporting
Fire Loss
Various EMS efficiency reporting (i.e. cardiac survival)
Accreditation and Accountability
Programs
• Response time reporting – call processing, turnout, travel, TRT, ERF.
• Fire Prevention inspections - status
• Overtime and Budget status
• Apparatus commitment time
• Apparatus maintenance status
Important Documents
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Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Community Risk Reduction
Standard of Cover
EMS patient care review
• No matter how long you are fire chief, you will
always need help. Use life lines!!!
Final Rules for Fire Chiefs
• Have Fun
• Be Humble
• Pay it Forward
Contact Us
• John Binaski – [email protected]
– 559-324-2260
• Micheal Despain – [email protected]
– 402-441-8350