Resume

Assistant Fire Chief Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Assistant Fire Chief resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Fire departments are always looking for qualified firefighters who can make a difference in their communities. And when you’re ready to make the move from volunteer firefighter to full-time career firefighter, you’ll need a resume that showcases your skills and experience.

Here are some tips and an example to help you write your own stellar fire department resume.

James Smith
Los Angeles, CA | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Seasoned assistant fire chief with over ten years of experience in emergency services. Proven track record in leading and managing teams of first responders during critical incidents. Demonstrated expertise in public safety, risk management, and emergency preparedness.

Education
California State University, Long Beach Jun '10
M.S. in Fire Science Administration
California State University, Long Beach Jun '06
B.S. in Fire Science
Experience
Company A, Assistant Fire Chief Jan '17 – Current
  • Led the department through a successful accreditation process and implemented new training programs for all members of the fire service.
  • Oversaw the development, implementation, and management of an Emergency Response Plan to ensure that our community is prepared in case of emergency or disaster.
  • Managed day-to-day operations at the Fire Department including personnel issues, budgeting, planning, and equipment maintenance/replacement.
  • Served as liaison between City Council and Fire Department on matters related to fire protection services within the city limits.
  • Developed plans for future growth of the department by researching current trends in technology and best practices from other departments across the country.
Company B, Assistant Fire Chief Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Assisted in the development of a comprehensive fire prevention program that reduced annual operating costs by over $50,000
  • Supervised and trained personnel to ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations and departmental policies
  • Conducted inspections on equipment and apparatus before it was placed into service for use by firefighters
  • Ensured that all emergency calls were dispatched within the required response time standards (80% or less)
  • Managed an annual budget of over $1M while ensuring fiscal responsibility at all times
Company C, Firefighter Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Responded to emergency calls and provided fire suppression, medical attention, and rescue services.
  • Operated firefighting equipment such as hose lines and fire extinguishers, as well as power tools such as saws and hydraulic equipment.
  • Conducted regular maintenance on equipment and vehicles to ensure readiness for response.
Certifications
  • California State Fire Marshal Certificate
  • Firefighter 1 & 2 Certification
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Fire Suppression, Rescue, Life Safety, Fire Investigation, Hazmat, EMS, Emergency Management, Fire Codes, EMS Codes, Fire Prevention
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Fire Inspector, Fire Marshal, NFPA, OSHA, FEMA, NIMS
Soft Skills: Leadership, Public Speaking, Teamwork, Implementation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Risk Management

How to Write an Assistant Fire Chief Resume

Here’s how to write an resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.

So it’s crucial that you use them to their full potential. And that means using them to describe your accomplishments and results. So rather than saying you “managed fire department resources,” you could say you “managed fire department resources to reduce response times by 15% while increasing fire suppression rate by 10%.”

The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for a fire chief role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for certain terms that are relevant to the job, like “incident command” or “emergency response.” If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.

To increase your chances of getting noticed, use this list of common fire chief keywords as a starting point:

  • Fire Safety
  • Emergency Services
  • Emergency Management
  • Firefighting
  • Disaster Response
  • Public Safety
  • Rescue
  • Firefighting
  • Incident Command
  • Fire Prevention
  • Community Outreach
  • Fire Inspection
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Homeland Security
  • Incident Command
  • Fire Inspections
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Public Safety Communications
  • Fire Safety Education
  • Hazardous Materials Handling
  • Firefighting Training
  • Life Safety
  • Hazard Recognition
  • Fire Protection
  • Fire Alarm
  • Loss Control
  • Fire Suppression
  • Inspection
  • Property Management
  • Supervisory Skills

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As an assistant fire chief, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively manage your work. This might include programs like Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and social media platforms. Additionally, you should be familiar with fire-specific software programs, like the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the Fireground Survival Training System (FSTS).

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