Fire Service Organization: Key Concepts and Department Types

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Establishes how a fire service is organized.

AHJ's Determination about Organization

Type of department, facilities, apparatus, personnel, organizational hierarchy, job functions, responsibilities, ranks, and minimum training/certification requirements.

Scalar Organizational Structure

An uninterrupted series of steps through which decisions and information move from the top of the organization through intermediate levels to the base.

Chain of Command

The formal line of authority, responsibility, and communication within an organization.

Unity of Command

The principle that each employee reports directly to only one supervisor.

Span of Control

The maximum number of subordinates or functions one supervisor can control.

Typical Span of Control

Three to seven subordinates or functions.

Optimum Span of Control

Five subordinates or functions.

Discipline

The organization's responsibility to provide leadership and the individual's responsibility to follow orders.

Division of Labor

Dividing large jobs into smaller jobs to make them more manageable, equalize workload, and increase efficiency.

Necessity of Division of Labor

To assign responsibility, assign specific tasks, and prevent duplication of effort.

Types of Fire Departments

Public and private.

Career Fire Department

A department staffed by full-time, career firefighters and other personnel.

Volunteer Fire Department

A department in which firefighters generally respond when necessary rather than being continually staffed.

Combination Fire Department

A department staffed by a mixture of career and volunteer firefighters.

Fire Company

The basic unit of firefighting operations consisting of apparatus and firefighters.

Company Officer

The person who leads a fire company.

Engine Company

A company assigned to a pumping apparatus that performs fire suppression and may perform search and rescue, extrication, ventilation, and EMS.

Truck/Ladder Company

A company that performs forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, salvage, overhaul, and utilities control.

Rescue Company

A company that searches for and removes victims from areas of danger or entrapment and may perform technical rescues.

Brush Company

A company that extinguishes ground-cover or grass fires and protects structures near fields and woodlands.

Hazardous Materials Company

A company that mitigates hazardous materials incidents.

Emergency Medical/Ambulance Company

A company that provides emergency medical care and may transport patients to a medical facility.

ARFF Company

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting company that performs rescue and fire suppression activities involving aircraft incidents.

Career Firefighter

A full-time, paid employee who works a required schedule and receives pay and benefits.

Volunteer Firefighter

A firefighter who may or may not work a set schedule and attends training and station work as required.

Line Personnel

Personnel who deliver emergency services to the public.

Staff Personnel

Personnel who provide administrative and logistical support for line personnel.