Fire Chief (or
Chief Fire Officer in England and Wales; or
Fire Master in
Scotland) is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a
fire department (either elected or appointed) who is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day tasks of running a
firefighting organization. Such tasks include supervising other officers and
firefighters at an emergency scene and recruiting, training, and equipping them for their respective duties. Depending upon local needs and organization, the Chief may also be involved in
fire prevention,
fire inspection,
disaster preparedness,
emergency medical services, and related disciplines, as well as administrative duties such as budgets and personnel issues, research into safety and regulations, and liaison with other agencies.