Government
Chief: Firefighters in New Canaan Must Undergo Testing, Tactical Simulations to Move Up in Rank
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Firefighters in New Canaan who are seeking promotion can attain two ranks, lieutenant and captain, officials said this week. In rising from firefighter to either position, New Canaan’s bravest take on a slew of new responsibilities, according to Fire Chief Albe Bassett. “Lieutenants conduct training for the shift” and “are more hands-on with training,” Bassett said during the March 11 Fire Commission meeting, held at the firehouse on Main Street.
He continued: “The captain is responsible for the entire shift. They are the overall incident commander on a fire scene, manage schedules, and ensure all members are trained and have proper equipment.”
Bassett’s comments came during an informational session on promotional processes and timelines within the municipal department. Despite the differences between lieutenant and captain duties, there’s crossover between the roles, Bassett said.
“Each officer is responsible for various projects in the fire service, whether that’s helping with scheduling and apparatus repair, maintenance, tools and equipment, and training,” he said.