Shift Calendar Generator

Most fire departments in the United States operate on some form of rotating shift schedule. Unlike a typical 9-to-5, firefighters work extended shifts (usually 24 or 48 hours at a time) and then get multiple days off before their next tour of duty.

Departments typically divide their personnel into platoons (also called shifts or battalions), usually labeled A, B, and C. Each platoon rotates through the same pattern, offset by one day. So when A shift is on duty, B and C shifts are off, and so on.

The key to any fire shift schedule is the cycle length — the number of days before the pattern repeats. A 24/48 schedule has a 3-day cycle. A 48/96 has a 6-day cycle. A Kelly schedule has a 9-day cycle.

To generate your calendar, you need one piece of information: a date you know you were on duty. This is your anchor date. The tool uses that anchor to calculate every on-duty and off-duty day forward and backward from there.

Pick your schedule type, enter the anchor date, and choose your platoon color. Then use the month navigation arrows to jump to any month you need. The calendar will highlight your on-duty days and show monthly totals for shifts and hours.