Shift Change

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Shift Change

By Chief Charles H. Rule (Ret.), AlFireE

Mateca (Calif.) Fire Department

August 1999, Fire Chief Magazine

Over the years, the 24-hour duty schedule has been marketed as the most economical way to deliver fire and EMS service, but is it really?

Most fire departments must confront this issue at some point, during either the budget process or labor negotiations, or as the result of citywide studies on efficiency and productivity. And many fire chiefs may find themselves defending this traditional schedule to elected officials, city managers and sometimes even taxpayers.

Although tradition plays an important role in the fire service, there are several reasons why departments should consider switching to a 10/14 duty schedule. The combination of a 10-hour duty day and a 14-hour duty night offers several benefits, including improved safety, sick leave reduction, increased productivity and more.

The 10-hour day and the 14-hour night shifts can be implemented in various duty cycles. (See chart at right.) The 10-hour day shift usually begins at 0800 hours and ends at 1800; The night shift stays on duty until 0800 the following morning. Traffic patterns and congestion may make it more practical for the day shift to begin at 0700 or 0600.

Scheduling trends

Common throughout the South, Midwest and West, the 24-hour duty day originated in the early paid departments where firefighters had previously been on duty six or seven days in a row. Occasionally firefighters would get days off, and in some cases, meal breaks and family visits were given on a staggered schedule to minimize staffing shortages.

A commonly used duty schedule was the two-shift, 84-hour duty week, with one 24-hour duty shift followed by a 24-hour period off. Duty schedules were further reduced to 72-, 67- and...