FIRE CAPTAIN

Under general supervision, this employee normally commands a fire company, attends fires, and leads the unit in saving lives and property and in extinguishing fires. Performs other related duties as may be required.

This class is distinguished from the fire lieutenant in that the fire captain commands all three units of the company and is responsible for the actions and discipline of all members of the company; and from the District Chief in that the District Chief is responsible for all the buildings, apparatus, equipment and manpower of the district or bureau on his/her assigned tour of duty.

(Illustrative only. Any one position in this classification may not require all of the KSAs listed, nor do the listed examples include all of the KSAs which most be possessed.)

• Division rules, regulations, procedures, including the union contract and grievance procedure, general orders and memoranda, personnel policies, and how to complete required forms and reports.
• Modern firefighting principles, practices, and methods including ladder and hose placement, ventilation, salvage procedure, manpower requirements, and high‑rise firefighting techniques.
• Apparatus, tools and equipment including their capabilities, safety features, and how to efficiently operate them.
• Locate fire prevention and building codes including egress requirements, hazardous material storage and handling requirements, and required water supplies.
• The nature and effect of various flammable and volatile materials, types of equipment and extinguishing agents needed to contain them, and symbols and placarding or hazardous materials.
• How to investigate causes of fires.
• Emergency medical assistance and basic life support methods and procedures.
• Supervision principles, including delegation principles, performing evaluation standards, and training techniques.
• Safety policies and procedures, e.g.;
  Employee Safety Instruction Manual and applicable agency requirements.

• Lead subordinates and give orders effectively especially under emergency conditions.
• Analyze situations quickly and correctly to adopt effective and reasonable courses of action.
• Put into practice technical firefighting principles and techniques.
• Rescue and render emergency medical assistance to fire and emergency victims.
• Coordinate firefighting operations with other agencies.
• Determine hazards to firefighters and direct operations accordingly.
• Enforce company and division rules and regulations.
• Maintain discipline fairly and properly.
• Recognize strengths and weaknesses of subordinate personnel.
• Impart knowledge to subordinate personnel.
• Evaluate performance for rating and training purposes.
• Counsel subordinates with their problems.
• Evaluate grievances properly and fairly.
• Interpret rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Maintain proper records.
• Write reports.
• Plan and schedule.
• Operate fire apparatus.

Each applicant must have a minimum of one (1) year in grade as a Fire Lieutenant within the City of Cincinnati Fire Department.

• Written Exam: 30% - Administration Date:
  March 25, 2026
• Assessment Center: 70% - Administration Dates:
  Week of April 27, 2026 (Tentative) Exact Date/Dates TBD
• Required Service Rating:
  No employee who has received below "80" on the last performance evaluation may compete.

• General Orders
• Procedures/Operations Manual – CFD
• Fire Officer’s Principles and Practices – 4th Edition (ISBN: )
• Fire Ground Size Up – 2nd Edition (ISBN: )
• Building Construction for the Fire Service – 6th Edition (ISBN: )
• Fire Department Incident Safety Officer – 3rd Edition (ISBN: )
• Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics – 5th Edition (ISBN: )
• Report Manual
• Various NFPA and CFD manuals and regulations (listed without
  tags for brevity)
• City of Cincinnati current union and administrative regulations

• Commands a fire company (Engine, Ladder, or Rescue). Directs operations of one unit of that company during the twenty‑four hour period including fire ground operations, saving lives and property, extinguishing fires, and activities at other emergency operations.
• Plans and organizes activities of all members of…