Position Information

Fire Chief
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a well-established Fire District poised for growth and expansion. The Fire District is seeking a strong, forward-thinking leader capable of driving big-picture strategies and initiatives. The new Fire Chief will have the chance to immediately contribute to a strategic direction and long-term vision already being developed by the district. Success in this role requires the ability to build strong relationships and unite all stakeholders around a common purpose. The Fire District’s relationship with the community needs improvement. The new Chief will have to work to rebuild ties with key community leaders and organizations. These relationships are critical to the successful management of a small-town Fire District. This position provides an experienced leader with a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a difference. If you have the experience, passion, and determination to make a lasting impact, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Fire Chief is the Chief Executive Officer of the District, responsible to the Board of Directors for the effective, efficient and legal conduct of the district. The Fire Chief plans, organizes, coordinates and directs the administration and operational activities of the district. This position is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board of Commissioners. Through the chain of command, the Fire Chief is responsible for the general supervision of subordinates, their safety, training, and job performance. As a chief officer, the Fire Chief shall respond to command emergency incidents. The Chief will be expected to respond after hours and weekends to incidents, to also include acting as a duty officer weeknights and weekends routinely. The annual average standby hours is 2670 hours not to include worked holidays.

Adams County Fire District No. 5 is located in Eastern Washington State and is in the heart of the Columbia Basin between Columbia Wildlife Refuge, Hanford Reach National Monument and several thousand acres of recreational and agriculture-based lands. Our protection District is 215 miles and has 8,000 to 9,000 populations depending on the time of year. Our department is a combination department with three (3) career staff members, one (1) office assistant, eighteen (18) volunteer firefighters and (6) six support staff members. Governed by a three-member community elected Board of Fire Commissioners, the District operates with a 2025 budget of $610,312.  The district has two fire stations, offering essential fire protection, and rescue operations. Currently EMS services are provided by the Othello Community Hospital with District 5 responding to traumatic accidents and cardiac events when requested.  The annual average call volume is 300. ACFD5 currently has a cooperative fire protection agreement contract with US Fish and Wildlife, BLM and DNR as well as an MOU with the City of Othello that will expire in May of 2026. The long-range growth potential of the district and the surrounding region has yet to be achieved. Industrial development and resulting population expansion is expected to continue for decades to come. Our hub location allows us to draw from and support a large area, leading as far as Spokane, Moses Lake, Royal City, Connell, and the Tri-Cities area.

Primary Functions
• Develops and proposes annual budget, strategic plan, and service delivery plan to Board of
   Commissioners: monitors and controls the budget and plans, supervises acquisition and disposition of capital expenditures.
• Directs members of the department through the chain of command.
• Within Incident Command System, commands activities of personnel during emergency incidents; shall function on scene in subordinate roles.
• Promotes positive relations with other agencies to ensure appropriate mutual/auto aid responses, and goodwill among other departments and the public.
• Within the limits of the adopted budget, directs the administration of the department, including goals stated in the strategic and service delivery plans, applicable laws, rules and policies.
• Attends Board of Commissioners meetings and work sessions; prepares and presents reports to directors on operations and administration of department; makes recommendations for board policy/procedures changes; identifies discrepancies between actual performance and adopted goals, objectives and budget.
• Appoints, promotes/demotes, transfers and terminates career and volunteer members.
• Coordinates mutual/auto aid agreements with other agencies, with neighboring County Emergency Plan, and department plans.
• Supervises the development and enforcement of regulatory ordinances and codes regarding fire prevention and community safety.
• Provides directions and guidance to chief officers in the planning and implementation of operations, programs, training and personnel management.
• Selects, supervises, trains and evaluates assigned staff.
• Takes appropriate safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents. Responsible for the safety of self, others, and equipment. Uses all required safety equipment and procedures.
• Performs related duties as required by the Board of Commissioners to meet the needs of the district.
• Trains and completes certifications to maintain or improve skills and perform effectively as a Fire Chief.
• Enforces department policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Develops rules and procedures as necessary to implement and enforce the rules, policies and procedures established by the board or imposed by controlling law and the district employee handbook.
• Develop and maintain positive, effective relationships with district employees, Board members, other emergency service agencies, other government agencies and the public.
• Review and act upon any complaints from the public or other agencies relating to district rules, policies and procedures.
• Responsible for continually evaluating present and future emergency services and fire prevention needs of the property and citizens within the district’s jurisdiction, citizens passing through the district, the districts emergency services obligations to other agencies through intergovernmental agreements, mutual aid agreements, auto-aid agreements or otherwise, and develop or update district master/strategic plans to meet the present and future needs of the district.
• May be required to work extended periods.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Review fire and life safety plans for code compliance.



Applicants:
Submit resume and letter of Interest to Adams County Fire Protection District 5, 220 S Broadway Othello WA. 99344 prior to March 11th 2025.
Email: secretary@acfd5.com
Position: Fire Chief
Organization: Adams County Fire Protection District 5
Location: Othello,  WA 
United States
Salary:
Posting Start Date:
Date Posted: 2/4/2025
Requirements Education and Experience
Minimum of fifteen (15) years progressively responsible experience in the fire service, including: at least ten years as a chief officer with management, finance and administration duties.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
• Modern fire service methods and procedures in suppression, prevention and emergency medical services.
• Fire service administration including organization, public administration, budget and personnel administration, records and information management, customer service and public relations.
• Applicable federal, state and local codes, ordinances, and laws pertaining to fire safety and special district operations.
• Department policies, procedures and rules.
• NWCG ICS organizational principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of collective bargaining process.
 
Ability to:
• Plan, organize, coordinate and direct the activities of a fire, rescue, EMS, and special district
organization.
•  Must possess, or be able to obtain at time of hire, a valid Washington State Driver's License and obtain certification of Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention Program (EVIP).
•  Ability to meet Department physical standards.
•  Ability to read and write the English language.
• Delegate authority and responsibility effectively.
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, policies and codes.
• Communicate effectively, orally, in writing, and by electronic media.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate personnel.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, subordinates, peers and the public.
• Implement, coordinate and operate within an NICS system.
• Build and maintain trust with internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work as a district collective bargaining negotiator.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position of Chief. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the Chief is frequently required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls to reach with hands and arms. The Chief is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk and hear and taste and smell.
  • The Chief must frequently lift and move up to 70 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment of The Chief:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the Chief encounters while performing the essential functions of the position.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Duties are performed in offices, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes and during day and night shifts. Duties are often performed in emergency and stressful situations. The Chief has exposure to alarm sounds and hazards associated with firefighting and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents and oils.
  • The Chief occasionally performs duties near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.
  • The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings, and loud at an emergency scene.
Special Requirements:
  • Shall live within District 5 within 6 months of hire date.
Status: This listing expires on: 3/11/2025
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Organization Information
Name:
Adams County Fire Protection District 5
Address:
220 S Broadway

Othello,  WA 99344
United States
Email:
secretary@acfd5.com
Phone:
Fax:
Contact:

WFC Motto:
To Serve Educate & Lead


WFC Mission:
Providing leadership through service, education and advocacy.