Fire & EMS 3-Platoon Preset

24/48 Shift Calendar Generator

Generate your 24 hours on, 48 hours off duty rotation. Preview platoon shifts for 2026 and 2027, customize start dates, and export directly to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or CSV.

Cycle Duration

3 Days

24h ON / 48h OFF repeating

Annual Duty Shifts

~122 Shifts

2,920 total duty hours

Average Workweek

56 Hours

Before Kelly day adjustment

Platoon Staffing

3 Platoons

Shifts A, B, and C

Configure schedule

Set the first day, date range, and labels for this pattern.

Start date

Range

Include off days in exports

Upcoming events

The first 20 generated rows are shown here before export.

Date	Label	Type
2026-05-10	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-13	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-16	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-19	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-22	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-25	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-28	24-hour shift	Work
2026-05-31	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-03	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-06	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-09	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-12	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-15	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-18	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-21	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-24	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-27	24-hour shift	Work
2026-06-30	24-hour shift	Work
2026-07-03	24-hour shift	Work
2026-07-06	24-hour shift	Work

1. How the 3-Platoon 24/48 System Operates

The 24/48 shift rotation is the operational standard for fire protection and emergency services across North America. To provide continuous, uninterrupted 24/7/365 response coverage without requiring handoffs every 8 hours, personnel are divided into three equal shifts (commonly designated A-Shift, B-Shift, and C-Shift).

Platoon	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9
Platoon A	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF
Platoon B	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF
Platoon C	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON	OFF	OFF	24 ON

2. Kelly Days and FLSA Section 7(k) Compliance

Because 56 average weekly hours creates significant overtime exposure under normal Fair Labor Standards Act provisions, public safety agencies apply special statutory accommodations:

FLSA 7(k) Exemption

Congress established Section 7(k) of the FLSA specifically recognizing the continuous nature of firefighting. Agencies establish an operational work period from 7 to 28 days. Over 28 days, statutory overtime begins after 212 hours (averaging 53 hours/week) rather than 40 hours/week.

Kelly Day Adjustments

To bring the 56-hour average down to the 53-hour statutory limit (saving municipalities significant overtime expenditure), departments award a "Kelly Day"—a planned 24-hour shift off every 7th or 8th rotation. This grants the firefighter a full 5-day continuous rest break.

3. Circadian Recovery & Station Wellness

A 24-hour shift involves broken sleep, physiological adrenaline spikes, and station alarms. Sleep medicine guidelines recommend treating the first 24 hours of your 48-hour rest break as a deliberate decompression phase:

The "Day 1 Recovery Protocol": Avoid scheduling strenuous personal commitments or heavy manual projects on your immediate post-shift morning. Taking an intentional 90-minute sleep cycle nap by mid-morning facilitates circadian realignment without disrupting night-time sleep onset.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 24/48 shift schedule and who uses it?

A 24/48 shift schedule (also known as the classic 3-platoon system) is a continuous duty rotation where personnel work 24 consecutive hours on duty followed by 48 consecutive hours off duty. It is the dominant work schedule utilized by municipal fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency response crews across the United States.

How many hours a week does a firefighter work on a 24/48 schedule?

Over a 3-week macro cycle, an employee on a 24/48 schedule works seven 24-hour shifts totaling 168 hours. This averages out to exactly 56 hours per calendar week. In a standard year (365 days), a firefighter on a 24/48 rotation works approximately 121 to 122 shifts, totaling approximately 2,920 duty hours.

What is a 'Kelly Day' and why is it used on 24/48 schedules?

Because a 56-hour average workweek substantially exceeds standard statutory labor guidelines, many fire departments institute scheduled relief days known as 'Kelly Days' (or Debit Days). A Kelly Day is a scheduled 24-hour shift off every 6 to 9 shifts (or once a month), which lowers the annual average workweek to 53, 50, or 48 hours to manage overtime costs and alleviate firefighter fatigue.

How does overtime work under FLSA Section 7(k) for 24/48 shifts?

Under Section 7(k) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, municipal public safety agencies have special overtime exemptions. Instead of a 40-hour 7-day rule, overtime for firefighters is typically assessed over a work period of up to 28 consecutive days. Under the standard 28-day work period, statutory overtime pay (time-and-a-half) is required only for hours worked in excess of 212 hours (averaging 53 hours per week).

How does the 3-platoon system cover 24/7/365 continuous operations?

The department splits all staff into three distinct platoons: Shift A, Shift B, and Shift C. On Day 1, Shift A is on duty while B and C are off. On Day 2, Shift B takes over while A and C are off. On Day 3, Shift C takes over while A and B are off. On Day 4, the cycle seamlessly repeats with Shift A returning to duty.

Can I export this 24/48 calendar into Apple Calendar or Google Calendar?

Yes. Select your platoon's starting duty day, click 'Download ICS', and import the file into Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, or Microsoft Outlook. You can also toggle off-duty days to mark recovery periods on your personal agenda.