Fire Captain

Fire Captain

Discover the best of suburban and urban living in Chatham County, Coastal Georgia. This welcoming community offers an excellent balance for living, working, and enjoying life. As the fifth-oldest county in Georgia and the largest outside of Atlanta, Chatham County has a lot to offer. You'll love our beautiful riverfront, which includes the city of Savannah and a three-mile beach on Tybee Island. Chatham County Government is supported by over 2,100 diverse team members across 40 departments, all dedicated to serving the county. We draw talent nationwide by providing outstanding benefits, competitive salaries, and growth opportunities. Join Team Chatham today!

The Chatham County Fire Department (CCFD) is actively seeking qualified, experienced, and leadership-driven candidates to apply for the position of Fire Captain. Located in one of Georgia's most dynamic and rapidly growing regions, Chatham County offers the opportunity to lead in a department committed to service excellence, public safety innovation, and professional development.

As a Fire Captain, you will have a direct role in shaping operations, guiding personnel, and responding to the diverse emergency needs of our community. If you are ready to take the next step in your fire service career and lead with vision and integrity, we invite you to come join us.

Reporting to a Battalion Chief, the Fire Captain is responsible for supervising the activities of a firefighting company and managing fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, and community risk reduction initiatives. Captains coordinate daily operations, lead emergency responses, support department-wide initiatives, and develop subordinates to uphold the highest standards of safety and service.

This role is a vital part of CCFD's critical workforce and may be assigned to special projects, administrative tasks, or serve in a command capacity during disaster activations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to Fire Lieutenants, Apparatus Operators, and Firefighters
• Administer daily station operations, including logs, inspections, training, inventory, and public education
• Respond to emergency incidents as company officer and assume Incident Command as required
• Support department goals by managing assigned programs such as emergency medical responder services or community risk reduction
• Maintain operational readiness of apparatus, equipment, and facilities
• Perform personnel evaluations, corrective actions, and development planning
• Uphold departmental values of professionalism, accountability, wellness, and continuous improvement
• Serve as Division/Group Supervisor during large-scale incidents
• Foster a culture of safety, service, and teamwork across assigned shifts and programs

Minimum Qualifications

• 6 years of continuous, full-time paid experience in a municipal or county career fire department
• 6 years of full-time paid experience as a certified front-line structural firefighter
• 2 years of full-time paid experience as a pumper and aerial driver/operator
• 2 years as a full-time paid Fire Lieutenant of an operational fire company
• 2 years of experience instructing fire related topics that demonstrate the required knowledge, abilities, behaviors, and traits to successfully perform the essential function of a lead fire instructor
• Valid Georgia Class F driver's license (or equivalent)
• Georgia Certified Firefighter (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire)
• Georgia Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) license (or National Registry EMT-B with ability to obtain GA license reciprocity within 30 days)
• Required NPQ or IFSAC certifications:
• Firefighter 1 and 2
• HazMat Awareness and Operations
• Fire Instructor 1
• Apparatus Driver/Operator – Pumper & Aerial
• Fire Officer 2
• Incident Safety Officer
• GFSTC NPQ Evaluator
• NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 (current versions)

• CCFD Company Officer Academy or must successfully pass within 180 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's degree from an accredited institution in a fire service related field of study
• NFA Managing Officer (MO) and CPSE Fire Officer (FO) designation
• Georgia Certified Fire Investigator
• Georgia Certified Fire Inspector
• Experience serving on an Incident Management Team or in a regional command structure
• Experience with CFAI/CPSE accreditation standards and strategic planning models

Lateral Hire Requirements (If Applicable)

• Must have successfully completed a career fire academy with a minimum of 800 training hours.
• Successful completion of the CCFD lateral academy
• One-year probationary period

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old
• U.S. Citizenship
• High school diploma or GED
• Successful completion of all pre-employment evaluations, including:
• Written exam
• Physical agility test
• Interview
• NFPA 1582 medical and fitness evaluation
• Drug screening
• Background and MVR check
• Successful completion of the CCFD Captain Assessment Center

Why Choose CCFD?

• Serve in a leadership role in one of Georgia's most respected fire departments
• Shape future operations and mentor the next generation of fire service professionals
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Professional environment that values wellness, integrity, and growth
• Be part of a culture that supports innovation and operational excellence

Apply Now

If you are a confident, capable, and motivated fire service leader ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply today.

To Apply:

For questions or more information, please contact Chatham County Fire Department administrative office at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

During emergencies and disasters affecting Chatham County, you may be required to report to work as part of a disaster operations team.

In accordance with the Department of Transportation, Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders and those employed in safety-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing.

Candidates with direct and relevant experience may receive an offer of up to 10% above the minimum salary that is posted, reflecting their exceptional qualifications.

Chatham County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, or military/veteran status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Benefits

CHATHAM COUNTY BENEFITS PLANS Eligibility for benefits begins on your date of hire. Full-time employees working a regular schedule of 30 or more hours per week are eligible for County benefits. Part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees are not eligible to participate in the County benefit plan. However, regular part-time employees accrue prorated vacation and sick leave based on their schedule.

HEALTH – Employees have a choice between a high or low option point-of-service health plan for themselves, their spouse, and eligible dependent children.

VISION – The vision plan offers a comprehensive eye exam and options for frames, lenses, and contact lenses.

DENTAL – Employees may choose either the high or low dental plan option with two cleanings per year and periodic x-rays at no cost.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH CENTER – Employees and their spouses on the County's health plan have access to the Employee Health Center for physical and behavioral health services, health coaching, and lab services at no cost.

RETIREMENT - Chatham County provides a Defined Benefit Pension Plan with a five-year vesting period.

LIFE & DISABILITY - Long Term Disability and basic Life Insurance coverage are provided at no cost to employees. Employees may also purchase additional life coverage