A battalion chief is a rank and title of a subordinate fire chief or commanding officer in the firefighting command structure. They are usually the lowest chief officer in a fire departments rank structure, above rank-and-file fire station officers and fire company officers. A battalion chief commands a firefighting battalion, which consists of several fire stations and multiple fire companies. They have command over each fire stations officers and each company or units officers, as well as the uniformed firefighters. The responsibilities of a battalion chief include managing fire suppression operations and emergency incidents, planning department-wide activities, functions, and programs, overseeing safety and training, resolving conflicts between shifts or stations, and providing any necessary disciplinary actions. They are also responsible for creating work schedules and managing personnel for the fire stations under their command. Battalion chiefs are usually under the command of a division chief, district chief, deputy chief, or assistant chief, who in turn reports to a chief of department, chief engineer, a shift commander, a tour commander, or a fire commissioner or other personnel who are official employees.