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Fire Inspectors and Investigators

It's a bright outlook for

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Learn more about what they do.

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.

Related: Construction & Building Inspectors Fire-Prevention & Protection Engineers Firefighters First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting & Prevention Workers Forest Fire Inspectors & Prevention Specialists

Industries: Government

Summary
Details

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.
Develop or review fire exit plans.
Develop and coordinate fire prevention programs, such as false alarm billing, fire inspection reporting, and hazardous materials management.
Dust evidence or portions of fire scenes for latent fingerprints.
Supervise staff, training them, planning their work, and evaluating their performance.
Supervise staff, training them, planning their work, and evaluating their performance.
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.
Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered.
Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
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.
Supervise staff, training them, planning their work, and evaluating their performance.
Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
Conduct fire exit drills to monitor and evaluate evacuation procedures.
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.
Coordinate efforts with other organizations, such as law enforcement agencies.
Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
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.
Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures.
Teach fire investigation techniques to other firefighter personnel.
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.
Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
Review blueprints and plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet fire safety codes.
Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
Develop and coordinate fire prevention programs, such as false alarm billing, fire inspection reporting, and hazardous materials management.
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.
Issue permits for public assemblies.
Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.
Recommend changes to fire prevention, inspection, and fire code endorsement procedures.
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.
Teach fire investigation techniques to other firefighter personnel.
Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
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.
Teach public education programs on fire safety and prevention.

Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Persuasion
- Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Management of Financial Resources
- Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
Technology Design
- Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Operation and Control
- Using equipment or systems.
Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Analysis
- Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Management of Material Resources
- Managing equipment and materials.
Systems Analysis
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
Systems Evaluation
- Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Instructing
- Teaching people how to do something.
Programming
- Writing computer programs.
Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Negotiation
- Bringing people together to solve differences.
Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Management of Personnel Resources
- Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Equipment Selection
- Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Learning Strategies
- Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
Speaking
- Talking to others.
Science
- Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

Dynamic Strength
- Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Extent Flexibility
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Fluency of Ideas
- Coming up with lots of ideas.
Oral Expression
- Communicating by speaking.
Wrist-Finger Speed
- Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Response Orientation
- Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Depth Perception
- Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Written Expression
- Communicating by writing.
Selective Attention
- Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation
- Knowing where things are around you.
Multilimb Coordination
- Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Perceptual Speed
- Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Control Precision
- Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Manual Dexterity
- Holding or moving items with your hands.
Gross Body Coordination
- Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Time Sharing
- Doing two or more things at the same time.
Dynamic Flexibility
- Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Trunk Strength
- Using your lower back and stomach.
Stamina
- Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Gross Body Equilibrium
- Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Glare Sensitivity
- Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Auditory Attention
- Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Originality
- Creating new and original ideas.
Memorization
- Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Speech Clarity
- Speaking clearly.
Oral Comprehension
- Listening and understanding what people say.
Written Comprehension
- Reading and understanding what is written.
Near Vision
- Seeing details up close.
Number Facility
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Mathematical Reasoning
- Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Rate Control
- Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Sound Localization
- Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Flexibility of Closure
- Seeing hidden patterns.
Finger Dexterity
- Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Speed of Limb Movement
- Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Static Strength
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Explosive Strength
- Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Far Vision
- Seeing details that are far away.
Visual Color Discrimination
- Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Speech Recognition
- Recognizing spoken words.
Deductive Reasoning
- Using rules to solve problems.
Problem Sensitivity
- Noticing when problems happen.
Peripheral Vision
- Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Inductive Reasoning
- Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Hearing Sensitivity
- Telling the difference between sounds.
Category Flexibility
- Grouping things in different ways.
Speed of Closure
- Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Visualization
- Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Night Vision
- Seeing at night or under low light.
Information Ordering
- Ordering or arranging things.
Reaction Time
- Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
History and Archeology
- Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Engineering and Technology
- Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Physics
- Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Geography
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Food Production
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Production and Processing
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Foreign Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction
- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Fine Arts
- Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Philosophy and Theology
- Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administrative
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sales and Marketing
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Chemistry
- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Biology
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Education

Postsecondary certificate

Work Experience

5 years or more work experience

Training

1 to 12 months on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

Washington Annual Salary

116950/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

56.23/hr

Currently Employed

160

Yearly Projected Openings

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:

Stress Tolerance
Self-Control
Cautiousness
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders
Adjustable wrenches
Air velocity and temperature monitors
Anemometers
Automobiles or cars
Ball peen hammer
Barometers
Battery testers
Bolt cutters
Box end wrenches
Bullet proof vests
Camera flashes or lighting
Camera lens
Camera tripods
Circuit tester
Claw hammer
Cold chisels
Digital camcorders or video cameras
Digital cameras
Digital voice recorders
Direction finding compasses
Dosing droppers
Electrical frequency meters
Emergency light unit
End cut pliers
Fingerprint equipment
Fire alarm systems
Fire extinguishers
Fire hoses or nozzles
Fire suppression hand tools
Fire suppression system
Flashlight
Flood light
Flowmeters
Forestry saws
Fuse pullers
GFI circuit testers
Gas chromatographs
Gas detectors
Gas generators
Hacksaw
Handcuffs
Handguns
Handheld thermometer
Hatchets
Hoes
Hydrocarbons analyzers or detectors
Laboratory forceps
Ladders
Laser fax machine
Levels
Linemans pliers
Locking pliers
Lux or light meter
Magnetic tools
Magnifying glass
Masks or accessories
Measuring wheels for distance
Mobile medical services first aid kits
Mobile phones
Multimeters
Notebook computers
Pad or keyhole saw
Personal computers
Pipe or tube cutter
Pipe wrenches
Plumb bobs
Pocket calculator
Pocket knives
Power drills
Protective coats
Protective hood
Protective pants
Pry bars
Psychrometers
Putty knives
Rakes
Rangefinders
Razor knives
Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories
Respirators
Rulers
Safety glasses
Safety helmets
Screwdrivers
Shears
Shovels
Single gas monitors
Sledge hammer
Slip or groove joint pliers
Smoke detectors
Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter
Specialty wrenches
Spectrophotometers
Still cameras
Sump pumps
Tablet computers
Tape measures
Tinners snips
Trowels
Tweezers
Two way radios
Ultraviolet UV lamps
Utility knives
Voltage or current meters
Water storage tanks
Wire cutters
Wire gauge
Wire-stripping pliers
Wood chisels
X ray radiography examination equipment

Analytical or scientific software
Data base user interface and query software
Electronic mail software
Human resources software
Internet browser software
Office suite software
Presentation software
Spreadsheet software
Word processing software

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