Fire Chiefs and Senior Firefighting Officers

(NOC 0432)

in All Management

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers oversee firefighting operations and fire prevention activities in fire departments. Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers work for municipal and federal governments and industrial businesses with firefighting services.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
Estimate openings due to growth and retirements not available for this occupation.
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Management

Estimate -245 employment change, 2019-2021
Estimate 3210 openings due to growth and retirements, 2018-2020
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a moderate percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to contribute somewhat to employment opportunities over the coming years. Fire Chiefs and Senior Firefighting Officers most commonly work full-time hours.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$16.70

Minimum

$45.17

Median

$58.17

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers:

Develop, implement and evaluate policies and procedures for the management of a municipal fire department, a district fire region or an industrial firefighting service.
Plan, direct and coordinate firefighting strategies for fire departments.
Evaluate the type of fire, the extent of damage to buildings and the danger to nearby businesses.
Direct activities at the scene of a fire.
Determine damage estimates and investigate the potential causes of a fire after extinguished.
Develop and oversee the completion of security and fire prevention campaigns.
Represent the fire department in communications with government, the media and the public.
Direct the training of staff in firefighting methods.
Coordinate and monitor budget and departmental resources.

Sample job titles

deputy fire chief
fire chief
fire department chief
fire department duty officer
industrial fire chief
senior firefighting officer

Skills

You must be in excellent health and physical condition. Mental alertness, courage, and mechanical ability are necessary. You must be able to perform under stress, react quickly, and be willing to take risks. Leadership and problem-solving skills are needed, as well as the ability to cooperate in a team effort.

Job requirements

High school.
A college program in fire protection technology, fire science or a related field.
A provincial or municipal firefighters training course.
A minimum of ten years of experience as a firefighter is usually required before becoming eligible for a senior officer position.

Other considerations

Firefighting is one of the most hazardous jobs, involving risk of injury and death. Most paid employment exists in the more heavily populated areas of the province, while smaller communities rely more on volunteer firefighters. Experience as a volunteer firefighter may be an advantage for entry to paid positions.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

100.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

0.0%

100%

49.1

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%

59.5%

48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

42.9%

Halifax

28.6%

Cape Breton

28.6%

Annapolis Valley

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Public administration

What is the age of Employment?

43.0%

45-54

29.0%

35-44

29.0%

55-64

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

33.3%

High school

N/A

33.3%

College Diploma

N/A

33.3%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income

23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income

20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income

9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income

7.2%

Apprenticeship

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Crisis/emergency/disaster management

This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.

This instructional program class includes any program focusing on the application of the incident command system model to formulating and implementing effective response to natural and man-made disasters. These programs include courses in contingency planning, hazard and risk assessment, joint operations, law and ethics, emergency response and recovery, event mitigation, emergency rescue and medical operations, incident command, terrorism and national security issues, law enforcement, relief administration, volunteer and citizen coordination, public relations and applications to specific types of incidents.

Institutions providing this program

Cape Breton University

PO Box 5300 1250 Grand Lake Road

Sydney, NS B1P 6L2

(888) 959-9995

registrar@cbu.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College - Truro Campus

36 Arthur Street

Truro, NS B2N 1X5

(902) 893-5385

truro.info@nscc.ca

Website

Fire science/firefighting

This program is typically offered at the trades/college level.

This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of firefighters. These programs include courses in firefighting equipment operation and maintenance, principles of fire science and combustible substances, methods of controlling different types of fires, hazardous material handling and control, fire rescue procedures, public relations and applicable laws and regulations.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Firefighters School

48 Powder Mill Road

Waverley, NS B2R 1E9

(902) 861-3823

info@fireschool.ca

Website

Fire services administration

This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.

This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals to structure, manage, direct and control fire departments, fire prevention services, fire inspection and investigation offices and ancillary rescue services.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Office of the Registrar

Halifax, NS B3H 4R2

(902) 494-2450

admissions@dal.ca

Website

Intercultural/multicultural and diversity studies

This program is typically offered at the college or university level.

This instructional program class includes any program that focuses on the dynamic social relations between and among majority and minority groups and different minority groups, and ways to promote mutual tolerance, inter-group cooperation, and the leadership and management of diverse groups and diversity issues in family, educational, recreational, and work settings. These programs include courses in ethnic and cultural studies, group psychology, sociology, anthropology, conflict resolution, human services and resources, and applications to various functional environments.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Office of the Registrar

Halifax, NS B3H 4R2

(902) 494-2450

admissions@dal.ca

Website

Saint Mary's University

923 Robie Street

Halifax, NS B3H 3C3

(902) 420-5400

admission.status@smu.ca