Final answer:
A citizen complaint dealing with a fire department operational issue that cannot be resolved by a fire officer should be escalated up the chain of command, potentially reaching the fire chief, city manager, or city council.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a fire officer is unable to resolve a citizen complaint dealing with an operational issue, the complaint should typically be forwarded to a higher-ranking officer within the fire department, such as a battalion chief or division chief. If the issue remains unresolved, it may then be escalated to the fire chief.
Should the fire chief also be unable to address the complaint satisfactorily, the citizen can then reach out to municipal authorities such as the city manager or city council, or the public safety oversight body that governs the fire department.
It's important to follow the appropriate chain of command and also to document the complaint and attempts at resolution at each level.