Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
chef de colonne
English translation:
Chef de colonne
Added to glossary by
B D Finch
Jun 10, 2014 15:15
9 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
French & German Technical Translations
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, German to English
chef de colonne
French to English
Social Sciences
Human Resources
Fire brigade hierarchy
Not sure what to class this under, so apologies if it should be somewhere else! Does anyone have any idea what the equivalent English rank of a French chef de colonne in the fire brigade might be? I'm translating a chronology of an incident and I just have the note "Engagement Chef de Colonne" - is it station officer, I wonder, or someone more senior?
Would be grateful for your guidance as ever.
Thanks
Would be grateful for your guidance as ever.
Thanks
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | Chef de colonne |
B D Finch
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| 3 -1 | (fire) brigade leader |
Timothy Rake
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Change log
Jun 15, 2014 17:08: B D Finch Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
52 mins
Selected
Chef de colonne
If you look at the organisation chart in the first reference below, you will see that this is the second position from top one. However, it would be a mistake to assume that the structural organisation of the French sapeurs pompiers can be simply equated with those of the British or another fire service.
You could add that it is the second in command, but there can be two or more of them in any station.
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-06-10 16:28:05 GMT)
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I think that even comparing ranks might be difficult. The French system is based on volunteers, while the British one is not, and the sapeurs pompiers also provide some ambulance services. There will be differences between town and country brigades, the sizes of administrative units and the way they are organised.
You could add that it is the second in command, but there can be two or more of them in any station.
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-06-10 16:28:05 GMT)
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I think that even comparing ranks might be difficult. The French system is based on volunteers, while the British one is not, and the sapeurs pompiers also provide some ambulance services. There will be differences between town and country brigades, the sizes of administrative units and the way they are organised.
Reference:
http://pompiersdemehun.free.fr/organisation_des_sapeurs_pompier.htm
http://www.firesafe.org.uk/role-structure-in-the-british-fire-service/
Note from asker:
| Yes, I quite agree, Barbara - I just wanted to give them an idea of the status. I'll add a note to the client warning him that these are just similar ranks... |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alan Douglas (X)
: Equivalent to Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Senior Divisional Officer (possibly), Divisional Officer Grade I, II, III, or none of the above: better to stay with the French.
21 mins
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Thanks Alan
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| agree |
Yolanda Broad
1 day 4 hrs
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Thanks Yolanda
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Barbara - you're quite right. I left it in the French and explained the predicament to my (direct) client in a separate note."
-1
15 mins
Timothy Rake
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
My business is translating your business
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
18
(fire) brigade leader
..or alternately, "head of the (fire) brigade
Note from asker:
| In other words, the head of the whole outfit, rather than a local division, do you think? I'm sorry I haven't any more information to go on, so it's hard to tell... |
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Alan Douglas (X)
: Way too simplistic. Each country has its different grades structure. In France a chef de site is senior to a chef de colonne. Also the ranks of (fire) brigade leader or head of the (fire) brigade simply don't exist.
33 mins
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Discussion
http://www.juritravail.com/salaire/fonctionnaire/pompier-che...
http://www.firesafe.org.uk/role-structure-in-the-british-fir...
Les commandants, lieutenants-colonels et colonels de sapeurs-pompiers professionnels sont chargés de préparer et mettre en œuvre les décisions de leurs autorités d'emploi. Ils assurent les tâches de conception, d'encadrement et de commandement des personnels placés sous leur autorité, conformément aux règlements du service départemental d'incendie et de secours dans lequel ils sont en fonction. Ils peuvent occuper les fonctions de chef de site, chef de poste de commandement, commandant des opérations de secours.