A new procedure went into effect last week that’s designed to make sure the fire department has adequate supervision during fires and other serious incidents.
Fire Chief Dale C. Herman said that battalion chiefs now have the ability to “elevate” firefighters to the role of captains on an as-needed basis.
The directive for the new Standard Operating Procedure — or SOP — came from City Manager Sharon A. Addison as a result of eight captains who were made into firefighters back in July, Chief Herman said.
Battalion chiefs will decide whether the elevated captains are needed, depending on the situation, Chief Herman said. “It’s all situational,” he said.