BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Fire Commissioner Daniel Pizzaro has issued a policy change aimed at improving leadership continuity at emergency scenes.
The May 29 department order suspends the practice of firefighters “acting out of title” during most shifts, WGRZ reported. The practice, which dates back to a 1984 collective bargaining agreement, allowed lower-ranking fire officers to temporarily serve in higher-ranking roles when superior officers were absent due to illness or staffing issues.
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Under the previous system, for example, a captain could act as a battalion chief for a shift if a battalion chief was unavailable.
Pizzaro said the practice had become too informal in some areas and that changes were needed to maintain clear leadership and accountability within the department.
Pizzaro added that he wants officers serving in leadership roles to operate within the positions for which they have been trained, allowing them to fully use the skills and experience the city has invested in developing.
The order still permits firefighters to act out of title, but only in specific circumstances. Pizzaro said if a battalion chief calls off, the department will first look for available battalion chiefs before assigning someone to act in that role.
Pizzaro acknowledged that relying on higher-ranking officers to fill vacancies could increase overtime costs, but said the department will closely monitor the policy change’s financial impact.
According to Pizzaro, firefighters acting out of title were involved in several major incidents, including the March 2023 fire that killed Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno.
“I’m very careful to say that it is not the acting component in itself that caused the detriment, but throughout national reports, through our own investigations, we found that that was a contributing factor,” Pizzaro said.
Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association President John Otto said that the union supports the policy change, saying it should improve firefighter safety and lead to safer emergency responses.
How does your department handle acting assignments? Should command positions be filled only by officers who hold that rank, or is acting out of title a necessary tool for maintaining staffing and operations?
