CHIEFPHIL

No one who is not on scene should overrule some one who is on-scene. That person is there, knows what is going on , both good and bad. I have had my dispatcher ask me if it was ok when one of the Lt's or Capt requested additional equipment ... my response was always, so and so is on scene, I'm not. he is in charge.
The only time a chief can and should [lets make that the senior fire officer responding] make decisions en route to a scene is when they are getting information from dispatch and no FD personnel is on scene. Size up begins when the tone/bell/whistle whatever hits. You need to know your response area, think time, occupancy, water etc. Think quickly about other resources needed - if needed at all.
When I started we had a chief who micro-managed from his bed. The tone go off at 3 a.m. for a fire in his district and the first thing he would do is cancel the 3rd due engine and tower. 15 minutes later he'd be screaming for those rigs, plus more. Needless to say, he has a few parking lots named after him.

You have to remember that the chief is still a firefighter, regardless of how much paperwork he or she has. Many times when I was chief, I ended up being on the first due pump as I was in the station doing paperwork. As for all the chiefs going tot he scene, now days with the declining volumes of volunteers we have to be more aware that 3-6 white hats on scene are not going to get the BRT out the door. During the daytime, I would arrive onscene a little into the job and I would let me A/C or Capt run the job and I would go an relieve a hose crew or overhaul. My BWH is pretty brown . If things didn't look right or I thought they would go down-hill, I would take command and that person would stay with me and I though that was a good learning experience. My first experience running a job was as a LT and no chiefs showed up. I was a little lonely out there in the street.
My dept as well as the town I live in has the role of a duty officer. That person's role is to respond with a command vehicle to the scene, all other officers need to insure the BRT get out and act as part of the crew as needed. To remain an officer in my department , you must be Interior qualified, if you fail to make mandatory training or fail your medical eval... your position is terminated. All mandatory training is conducted in Jan-March and all physicals be concluded in same time frame.
As for the paperwork, the way I look at it and always thought was why is the 2nd and 3rd chiefs called assistant's .... they are there to assist. Breakdown the paperwork, give everyone a little to do.
This is how I did it and I still had 15-20 hours week of paperwork to do, plus respond to alarms
Chief:
Budget
Correspondence
Meet with town and state officials
1st Assistant:
Physicals
workers comp claims
insurance claims - both town and company
LEPC
Town Safety Committee representative
2nd Assistant:
review run forms/log into computer - before it became FM office task
blue light permits
planning site review with bldg dept
Bottom line, get the BRT out, the SUV does not put fire out. Be active, lead from the front, go to the training do what you expect your troops to do.

We respond with what is requested, nothing more.
Engine to scene or cover goes with a crew of 4, 3 interior qualified
Tanker goes with with crew 2
Tower goes with crew 5, two must be qualified driver/mpo , 3 interior qualified
BFU/EUV - goes with minimum 4 [crew cab on brush truck]
Rescue goes with crew 4
Only one chief allowed to go out of town in POV/"Car". Second chief can go on a rig if needed. Still leaves us with 2 in town.
No one allowed to go out of town on POV. No cadets [juniors] or probies allowed to go mutual aid.
Town has 4 Engines, only two allowed out to go mutual aid.

We respond with what is requested, nothing more.
Engine to scene or cover goes with a crew of 4, 3 interior qualified
Tanker goes with with crew 2
Tower goes with crew 5, two must be qualified driver/mpo , 3 interior qualified
BFU/EUV - goes with minimum 4 [crew cab on brush truck]
Rescue goes with crew 4
Only one chief allowed to go out of town in POV/"Car". Second chief can go on a rig if needed. Still leaves us with 2 in town.
No one allowed to go out of town on POV. No cadets [juniors] or probies allowed to go mutual aid.
Town has 4 Engines, only two allowed out to go mutual aid.

We respond with what is requested, nothing more.
Engine to scene or cover goes with a crew of 4, 3 interior qualified
Tanker goes with with crew 2
Tower goes with crew 5, two must be qualified driver/mpo , 3 interior qualified
BFU/EUV - goes with minimum 4 [crew cab on brush truck]
Rescue goes with crew 4
Only one chief allowed to go out of town in POV/"Car". Second chief can go on a rig if needed. Still leaves us with 2 in town.
No one allowed to go out of town on POV. No cadets [juniors] or probies allowed to go mutual aid.
Town has 4 Engines, only two allowed out to go mutual aid.

When I was chief, I greatly encouraged the members bring their families to the station for storm standby's. This worked well a few times that we had storm related standbys during my tenure.
knew the family was ok.
allowed more guys to come in instead of riding it out at home.
allowed the family to be with friends and lets face it ,in small deprtments other family members.
we usually have running water, power, kitchen with food, entertainment [ps3, Wii, cableTV, video games, pool tables
I know it is tough for the career guys, most likely will not be able to bring thier families to work. Does anyone consider having your crews family meet at one families house and support each other ? That way they are all together. Just a thought.

When I was chief, I greatly encouraged the members bring their families to the station for storm standby's. This worked well a few times that we had storm related standbys during my tenure.
knew the family was ok.
allowed more guys to come in instead of riding it out at home.
allowed the family to be with friends and lets face it ,in small deprtments other family members.
we usually have running water, power, kitchen with food, entertainment [ps3, Wii, cableTV, video games, pool tables
I know it is tough for the career guys, most likely will not be able to bring thier families to work. Does anyone consider having your crews family meet at one families house and support each other ? That way they are all together. Just a thought.

I heard this one before.... if they cant hear the federal Q 50 feet away, what makes you think that they can hear the bell/whistle/siren a mile or two away ?

Brookfield CT. Engine 4, 1985 Hurricane

Bethel Engine 6 "The Crosstown Express". Originally built for Boston, but refused on delivery due to 1000 gallon water tank.

Bethel Engine 6 Drafting at Putnam Park

We do not typically get involved with returning veterns to our town. Our department has 7 young men currently serving . 4 are currently in combat roles in the Afgan war. The 3 other men are shortly shipping out for there 2nd and 3rd deployments . A 8th young man served two tours in Iraq and has since come home. When our brothers are on leave, we usually get together at a local resturant. When they shipped out the first time we usually have a gathering at the firehouse.
We send care packages to they guys at least once a year or when they need something. We actually had department license plates painted in camo and were attached to thier abrams and humvees.