Trades
Fire Inspectors & Investigators

Fire Inspector

Fire inspectors and investigators inspect buildings and equipment to detect fire hazards and enforce fire safety codes
Fire Inspector
Why Should You Consider This Career?

Inspect a large vareity of commercial spaces in off hours. Help people stay safe in their day to day. Survey all kinds of buildings.

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Arson Investigator, Fire and Explosion Investigator, Fire Code Inspector, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Official, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Prevention Specialist, Fire Protection Specialist, Fire Safety Inspector

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.

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
This is some text inside of a div block.
AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Arson Investigator, Fire and Explosion Investigator, Fire Code Inspector, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Official, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Prevention Specialist, Fire Protection Specialist, Fire Safety Inspector
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • 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.
  • Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

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$
48.45
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Prepare investigation or incident reports.
  • Record information about suspects or criminals.
  • Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
  • Process forensic or legal evidence in accordance with procedures.
  • Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
  • Analyze crime scene evidence.
  • Interview people to gather information about criminal activities.
  • Examine debris to obtain information about causes of fires.
  • Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with fire regulations.
  • Record crime or accident scene evidence with video or still cameras.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • 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. 91/100

  • 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. 83/100

  • 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. 82/100

  • Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. 81/100

  • 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. 77/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 70/100

  • 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. 56/100

  • Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 55/100

  • 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. 52/100

  • 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. 50/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

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