A group of firefighters is typically referred to as a firefighting team or firefighting crew. The size of the firefighting team varies depending on the situation.
Composition and Function
A fire department contains one or more fire stations within its boundaries, and may be staffed by firefighters, who may be professional, volunteers, conscripts, or on-call. Structural firefighters are most commonly known and are responsible for responding to fires in structures such as homes and buildings, as well as providing medical response, rescue services, and other various emergency operations.
Firefighting Company
- Company: A group of firefighters organized as a team, led by a fire officer.
- The firefighters in a company nearly always work on the same vehicle.
- A firefighter assist and search team is dedicated solely to the search and rescue of other firefighters in distress.
Leadership in a Fire Department
The Fire Chief is the highest ranking position in a fire department. However, in most cities and municipalities, the Fire Chief answers to the city manager or mayor.