Description
Oversee fire code compliance and investigations as the Authority Having Jurisdiction, supervising prevention staff, managing inspections, plan reviews, and permits, directing origin-and-cause investigations, and leading community risk reduction and public education.
- • Plan, assign, and supervise work of fire prevention, inspection, and investigation staff.
- • Prioritize inspections and enforcement based on risk, occupancy, and complaint data.
- • Oversee and conduct origin-and-cause investigations of fires and explosions.
- • Coordinate arson investigations with law enforcement, insurers, and prosecutors.
- • Review architectural and fire protection system plans for code compliance.
- • Issue, deny, or revoke permits for hazardous materials, hot work, special events, and fireworks.
- • Inspect properties, construction sites, and occupancies for compliance with fire codes and ordinances.
- • Inspect and witness tests of fire alarms, sprinklers, standpipes, kitchen hoods, and other suppression and detection systems.
- • Develop, interpret, and enforce fire codes, policies, and standard operating procedures as the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
- • Prepare and serve notices of violation, citations, and orders to correct hazards.
- • Provide technical guidance at incident scenes regarding code issues, investigations, and hazard abatement.
- • Maintain required records, inspection logs, permits, and investigation case files.
- • Prepare detailed reports, affidavits, and correspondence; testify in hearings and courts as needed.
- • Lead public education and community risk reduction programs, including outreach to vulnerable populations.
- • Develop and evaluate evacuation plans and fire safety guidelines for public and commercial occupancies.
- • Train, mentor, and evaluate inspectors, investigators, and other prevention personnel.
- • Develop and deliver training on fire code, investigations, and fire protection systems to department staff and stakeholders.
- • Recommend and manage prevention division budgets, fees, and expenditures.
- • Recommend procurement and upgrades of investigative tools, inspection equipment, and software.
- • Analyze fire incident data and trends to target enforcement and education strategies.
- • Schedule employee work assignments and set priorities for inspections, plan reviews, and investigations.
- • Implement quality assurance for inspections, plan reviews, and investigations; audit files for completeness and accuracy.
- • Coordinate pre-incident planning with operations, building officials, and businesses.
- • Participate in emergency management planning and serve in the EOC or unified command as assigned.
- • Engage with developers, business owners, and the public to explain code requirements and compliance options.
- • Evaluate and update departmental procedures to improve prevention and investigation efficiency.
- • Manage evidence handling and chain-of-custody for fire investigations.
- • Oversee false alarm reduction programs and fee enforcement.
- • Maintain current knowledge of fire codes, standards, and investigative techniques.
- • Recruit, select, and recommend personnel actions for prevention and investigation staff.
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Public Service & Safety
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
