Fire Inspectors & Investigators
Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
- Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.
- Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
- Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.
- Inspect properties that store, handle, and use hazardous materials to ensure compliance with laws, codes, and regulations, and issue hazardous materials permits to facilities found in compliance.
- Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered.
- Conduct internal investigation to determine negligence and violation of laws and regulations by fire department employees.
- Test sites and materials to establish facts, such as burn patterns and flash points of materials, using test equipment.
- Identify corrective actions necessary to bring properties into compliance with applicable fire codes, laws, regulations, and standards, and explain these measures to property owners or their representatives.
- Inspect and test fire protection or fire detection systems to verify that such systems are installed in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards.
- Develop or review fire exit plans.
- Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures.
- Coordinate efforts with other organizations, such as law enforcement agencies.
- Review blueprints and plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet fire safety codes.
- Dust evidence or portions of fire scenes for latent fingerprints.
- Teach fire investigation techniques to other firefighter personnel.
- Arrange for the replacement of defective fire fighting equipment and for repair of fire alarm and sprinkler systems, making minor repairs such as servicing fire extinguishers when feasible.
- Conduct fire exit drills to monitor and evaluate evacuation procedures.
- Issue permits for public assemblies.
- Supervise staff, training them, planning their work, and evaluating their performance.
- Teach public education programs on fire safety and prevention.
- Develop and coordinate fire prevention programs, such as false alarm billing, fire inspection reporting, and hazardous materials management.
- Recommend changes to fire prevention, inspection, and fire code endorsement procedures.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
99%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
98%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
98%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
98%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
92%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
92%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
92%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
89%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
88%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
86%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
85%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
83%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
80%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
78%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
74%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
72%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
72%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
71%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
67%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
64%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
63%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
63%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
63%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
62%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
61%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
61%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
61%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
56%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
56%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
56%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
54%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
53%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
53%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
52%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
51%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
42%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
41%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
41%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
40%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
39%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
38%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
38%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
38%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
38%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
36%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
32%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
30%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
26%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
25%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
23%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
20%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
19%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
14%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
10%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
8%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
8%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
3%
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Some college, no degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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