Leadership
Our Structure
The DFD functions because of the tireless efforts of our 100% volunteer members. Nobody is paid.
To run smoothly and efficiently, we rely on the unique talents and abilities of each of our members; be they Fire Officers, Operations Officers, fire fighters, executive leadership, trustees, or civilian members.
The Darien Fire Department is administered by the Executive Leadership led by the office of the President. The uniformed force is under the command of the Chief of Department and consists of over 100 Fire Officers and fire fighters. The Department as a 501(c)(4) Social Welfare entity is overseen by our Board of Trustees.
Chief of Department
President
Chief of Department
The Chief is elected annually by the membership body and is the highest ranking uniformed position. They are charged with overseeing all uniformed fire fighters and are responsible for all actions, incidents, and fireground activities.
The broad degree of oversight this role entails necessitates years of satisfactory experience, additional fire training, demonstrated excellence in fire protection and prevention, and ability to carry out the numerous administrative duties required of the role.
Position Details
1st Assistant Chief
The First Assistant Chief is elected by the membership body annually, and assists the Chief of Department in the discharge of his/her duties. The primary areas of over oversight include department personnel and actions of the Lieutenants. As the second in command, they are responsible for the personnel of the department and oversees the actions of the Lieutenants.
As the second in command, the position assumes the responsibilities of Chief if the highest-ranking member is away or circumstances prevent the Chief from the discharge of his/her duties. With primary oversight of department personnel, the Second Assistant Chief plays an integral role in recruitment, applicant interviews, evaluation of fire fighter's performance, and oversees the advancement of the fire fighting staff.
Position Details
2nd Assistant Chief
The Second Assistant Chief is elected annually by the membership and assists the Chief in the discharge of his/her duties. They are primarily responsible for department equipment, including care and maintenance of apparatus and tools.
As the third in command, the position assumes the responsibilities of the First Assistant Chief when he/she is away or otherwise prevented from the discharge of their duties.
Captain
The Captain is elected annually by the membership body, and is primarily responsible for all firefighter training. Utilizing the department's training budget, he/she plans weekly training for all uniformed members. Additionally, they work closely with the Chief to carry out department priorities, the First Assistant Chief on the advancement of personnel, and the Second Assistant Chief in keeping members educated on new equipment and trained on new tools and technologies acquired by the department.
The Captain is two ranks above the fire fighting staff and ranks just above the Lieutenants. While DFD is organized into five fire Companies, each led by a Lieutenant, the Captain oversees the training and advancement of all fire fighters assigned to each company and the Lieutenants leading each.
Position Details
Chief Engineer
The Chief Engineer is elected annually by the membership body and is primarily responsible for maintenance and service on all department apparatus. He is also responsible for training and qualifying all department drivers.
In Connecticut, all drivers of fire apparatus must either (a) hold a valid Commercial Driver's License, or (b) hold a valid Driver's License with a "Q Endorsement" from the Dept of Motor Vehicles, based on Public Act 13-271 section 11(d). As such, the Chief Engineer oversees Driver Training/Qualification for the department, ensuring an appropriate number of individuals are qualified on a specific apparatus to drive to and operate each apparatus on-scene.
Position Details
Assistant Chief Engineer
The Assistant Chief Engineer is elected annually by the membership body and primarily assists the Chief Engineer with the discharge of his/her duties.
Due to the mechanical nature of this role, typically this member has a mechanical background or skill set complementary to maintaining fire apparatus and delivering appropriate training to qualified drivers.
Position Details
Lieutenant - Engine 41
The Lieutenant is the first rank above front-line fire fighting staff. The position is elected annually by the membership body, and is primarily responsible for ensuring his/her assigned apparatus and all its equipment is in working condition.
Each Lieutenant oversees their fire company, including the assigned apparatus and all members assigned to the company. Thus, they oversee the regular care and maintenance of the fire apparatus, and all tools and equipment. Additionally, they oversee the actions of the fire fighters assigned to their company, and will "establish command" when on-scene. If responding to a larger incident with higher-ranking fire officers, the Lieutenant will still oversee their company, while reporting directly to the next higher-ranking fire officer.
Position Details
Lieutenant - Engine 42
The Lieutenant is the first rank above front-line fire fighting staff. The position is elected annually by the membership body, and is primarily responsible for ensuring his/her assigned apparatus and all its equipment is in working condition.
Each Lieutenant oversees their fire company, including the assigned apparatus and all members assigned to the company. Thus, they oversee the regular care and maintenance of the fire apparatus, and all tools and equipment. Additionally, they oversee the actions of the fire fighters assigned to their company, and will "establish command" when on-scene. If responding to a larger incident with higher-ranking fire officers, the Lieutenant will still oversee their company, while reporting directly to the next higher-ranking fire officer.
Position Details
Lieutenant - Tower Ladder 43
The Lieutenant is the first rank above front-line fire fighting staff. The position is elected annually by the membership body, and is primarily responsible for ensuring his/her assigned apparatus and all its equipment is in working condition.
Each Lieutenant oversees their fire company, including the assigned apparatus and all members assigned to the company. Thus, they oversee the regular care and maintenance of the fire apparatus, and all tools and equipment. Additionally, they oversee the actions of the fire fighters assigned to their company, and will "establish command" when on-scene. If responding to a larger incident with higher-ranking fire officers, the Lieutenant will still oversee their company, while reporting directly to the next higher-ranking fire officer.
Position Details
Lieutenant - Rescue 44
The Lieutenant is the first rank above front-line fire fighting staff. The position is elected annually by the membership body, and is primarily responsible for ensuring his/her assigned apparatus and all its equipment is in working condition.
Each Lieutenant oversees their fire company, including the assigned apparatus and all members assigned to the company. Thus, they oversee the regular care and maintenance of the fire apparatus, and all tools and equipment. Additionally, they oversee the actions of the fire fighters assigned to their company, and will "establish command" when on-scene. If responding to a larger incident with higher-ranking fire officers, the Lieutenant will still oversee their company, while reporting directly to the next higher-ranking fire officer.
Position Details
Superintendent of Alarms & Officer-In-Charge Tanker 45
The Superintendent of Alarms is part of the Operations Officers of the department. The position holds equal rank to Lieutenant, though the latter reports through the Fire Officer chain of command. The Superintendent position is elected annually by the membership body. They are to ensure all alarm transmission equipment is maintained in proper working order.
The Superintendent of Alarms balances a need for hands-on firefighting experience, as the officer in charge of Tanker 45; they must exhibit leadership skills, as they exercise oversight of the firefighters assigned to Tanker 45 Company; they must also possess administrative skills, as they supervise alarm equipment, reporting, radios, records of attendance at alarms, drills, and cleanups; and liases directly with Town Hall and the Town of Darien Fire Marshal. The Superintendent oversees department records, including alarm reporting to US Government's NFIRS systems and FEMA's databases.
As an officer-in-charge of Tanker 45 Company, this position oversees their fire company, including the assigned apparatus and all members assigned to the company. Thus, they oversee the regular care and maintenance of the fire apparatus, and all tools and equipment. Additionally, they oversee the actions of the fire fighters assigned to their company, and will "establish command" when on-scene. If responding to a larger incident with higher-ranking fire officers, the Lieutenant will still oversee their company, while reporting directly to the next higher-ranking officer.
Position Details
President & Trustee
Primarily, the Office of the President includes fulfilling a leadership role by setting goals and a specific tone for the organization during his/her term of office, performing administrative duties as assigned by the bylaws, and presiding at monthly department meetings.
The President's chief administrative duty is to represent the organization. In their capacity, the president will keep order at meetings, be fair and impartial, and holds a duty to protect the right of all members. To be effective in this position, we look for members who exercise good judgment, teachability, active listening skills, calmness, humility, and firmness.
Position Details
Vice President
Assists the President in the discharge of his/her duties.
The VP acts in the absence of the President, and provides such other assistance as requested.
Position Details
Financial Secretary
Oversees the broader finances of the department, and reports to the President.
He/she looks after primarily the inflow of money to the organization, usually donations and such allotted monies by the Town of Darien to fulfill the department's approved budget.
Position Details
Treasurer
He/she oversees the financial accounts of the department, handling all disbursement of funds and issues a financial update at each monthly meeting. The Treasurer's accounts are reviewed annually in a manner selected by the Board of Trustees and approved by the membership.
A large part of the role is organizing the department's various banking details; organizing incoming bills, seeing they are paid, reporting back to the membership, and carrying out the membership's vote regarding monetary matters.
Position Details
Secretary
He/she reports to the President and assists him/her with the discharges of the duties of the Office of the President. The position is elected annually by the membership body.
On a regular basis, the position is primarily tasked with maintaining a record of attendance at each department meeting, and keeps a record of the minutes of each meeting. The secretary also provides necessary correspondence for the department, is the custodian of our minute books, and relays received correspondence with the membership.
Position Details
Assistant Secretary
He/she reports to the Secretary and assists him/her with the discharges of the duties of the Office of the Secretary. The position is elected annually by the membership body.
On a regular basis, the position is primarily tasked with maintaining records, managing correspondance, and liasing with the Executive Leadership as directed.
Position Details
Board of Trustees
The Trustees oversee the Darien Fire Department as a 501(c)(4) Social Welfare organization. As such, each Trustee has an ethical, moral, and fiduciary duty to further our lifesaving mission and protect the interests of the department.
Our Board of Trustees provides a layer of oversight to the broader organization, each Trustee jointly supervising the activities of the DFD. The Trustees consists of six members elected to staggered terms. The department's President, Treasurer, and Chief are each ex officio members of the Trustees.
