Fire Inspector

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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Salary
Average: $65,800.00
Hourly
Average: $31.63

What Fire Inspectors Do

Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire codes, and investigate causes of fires.

Duties

Fire inspectors and investigators examine buildings and scenes of fires; forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists assess conditions for outdoor fire risks.

Fire inspectors and investigators typically do the following:

  • Search buildings for fire hazards
  • Review building blueprints with developers
  • Ensure that existing buildings and designs comply with fire codes
  • Conduct fire and safety education programs and review emergency evacuation plans
  • Collect and analyze evidence from scenes of fires and explosions
  • Testify in civil and criminal legal proceedings
  • Work with law enforcement or exercise police powers, such as the power of arrest, and carry a weapon

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists typically do the following:

  • Patrol assigned areas to look for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena that pose wildfire risk
  • Assist in wildfire suppression
  • Operate, maintain, and repair firefighting equipment
  • Review development proposals and inspect areas for nonconforming properties or structures
  • Create and administer programs to educate the public about forest fire risks and prevention 

Fire inspectors and investigators examine buildings to look for fire hazards and study fire scenes to determine the cause of a fire. Inspectors visit homes, offices, hazardous materials storage facilities, or other buildings to enforce local ordinances and state laws. They may test fire alarms, sprinklers, and fire prevention equipment as part of their inspections. Investigators may have to clear and sort through debris at the scene of a fire or explosion for evidence such as glass, metal fragments, and accelerant residue. They analyze the evidence they collect and may interview witnesses as part of their investigation.

In some areas, inspectors also work as investigators.

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists assess outdoor fire hazards in public and residential areas. Similar to fire inspectors who visit buildings, forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists look for fire code violations and for conditions that pose a fire risk. They also recommend ways to reduce fire hazards. During patrols, they enforce fire regulations, report fire conditions to their central command center, and extinguish small fires they encounter. For large fires, they may direct the efforts of wildland firefighters.

Fire inspectors, investigators, and prevention specialists keep detailed records of their inspections and investigations. Inspectors and prevention specialists identify infractions, document corrective action required, and conduct followup inspections to ensure compliance with instructions. Investigators document all the evidence from a fire scene to help determine the cause and may need to refer to their notes and files during legal proceedings.

Work Environment

Fire inspectors and investigators
Fire investigators often work in the field when determining the origin and cause of a fire.

Fire inspectors and investigators held about 15,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of fire inspectors and investigators were as follows:

Local government, excluding education and hospitals 75%
State government, excluding education and hospitals 8
Administrative and support services 8
Specialty trade contractors 2
Educational services; state, local, and private 2

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists held about 2,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals 51%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals 43

Fire inspectors work both in office settings and onsite, including outdoors. Fire inspectors and investigators visit buildings, such as apartment complexes and industrial plants. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists travel to natural environments, such as forests and fields.

During onsite visits, fire inspectors may work in poorly ventilated areas and be exposed to smoke, fumes, and other hazardous agents. They may wear personal protective equipment (PPE)—including coveralls, gloves, shoe covers, and safety glasses or goggles—to reduce exposure to harmful materials. Some must wear fully enclosed protective suits, often for several hours, which may make their work physically demanding and strenuous.

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists spend much of their time outdoors.

Injuries and Illnesses

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Working at the scene of a fire can be dangerous. Injuries may occur when workers are patrolling in remote areas with rugged terrain. 

To reduce their risk of injury and illness, workers often wear PPE during patrols or investigations.

Work Schedules

Most fire inspectors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Their schedules may include evenings, weekends, and holidays because they must be ready to respond when fires occur.

Getting Started

How to Become a Fire Inspector

Fire inspectors and investigators
Many fire inspectors and investigators have a firefighter background.

To enter the occupation, fire inspectors typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent and work experience as a firefighter or in a related occupation. Once hired, they typically receive on-the-job-training in inspection and investigation.

Fire inspectors usually must pass a background check, which may include a drug test. Employers also typically require that candidates have a valid driver’s license. Because of their police powers, investigators and inspectors may need to be U.S. citizens. They also may need certification.

Education

Fire inspectors’ education requirements vary, but most need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some need postsecondary instruction, such as that required for emergency medical technician (EMT) certification.

Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a 2- or 4-year degree in fire science or a field related to the position. For example, fire investigators might have a degree in criminal justice, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists might have a degree in forestry or forest management. In some cases, postsecondary education may substitute for work experience.

Training

Training requirements for fire inspectors vary. Programs are available through employers, federal agencies, and professional organizations and usually include both technical instruction and on-the-job training.

Technical instruction often takes place over several months at a fire or police academy. Topics covered include inspection or investigation processes, legal codes, courtroom procedures, hazardous and explosive materials handling protocol, and proper use of equipment.

After inspectors and investigators complete technical instruction, they typically also receive on-the-job training, during which they work with an experienced inspector or investigator.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Fire inspectors typically need several years of work experience as a firefighter or in a related occupation. For example, experience in building inspection or law enforcement may be helpful for fire inspectors and investigators, respectively, and experience in forestry or land management may be helpful for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Requirements for licensure or certification vary by state or locality. Check with your state licensing agency or local fire department for more information.

The International Code Council and The National Fire Protection Association offer additional certification for fire inspectors.

Fire investigators also may choose to pursue more certification from a nationally recognized professional association. Among these are the Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) certification from the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) certification from the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).

The National Fire Protection Association also offers Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist certification for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of fire inspectors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,600 openings for fire inspectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of fire inspectors varies by occupation (see table).

Fire inspectors will be needed to assess potential fire hazards in newly constructed residential, commercial, public, and other buildings. Fire inspectors also will be needed to ensure that existing buildings meet updated federal, state, and local fire codes. Although the number of structural fires occurring across the country has been falling for some time, fire investigators will still be needed to determine the cause of fires and explosions.

Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists are expected to be needed to help prevent and control increasingly destructive wildfires.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about federal fire investigator jobs, visit

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

For more information about training for fire inspectors, visit

National Fire Academy

Wildland Fire Training | US Forest Service

For more information about certifications and standards for fire inspectors, visit

International Association of Arson Investigators

International Code Council

National Association of Fire Investigators

National Fire Protection Association

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of fire inspectors.

Occupation Job Duties Entry-Level Education Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Construction and building inspectors Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.

High school diploma or equivalent $64,480
Firefighters Firefighters

Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.

Postsecondary nondegree award $51,680
Forensic science technicians Forensic Science Technicians

Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence.

Bachelor's degree $63,740
Police and detectives Police and Detectives

Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.

See How to Become One $69,160
Private detectives and investigators Private Detectives and Investigators

Private detectives and investigators search for information about legal, financial, and personal matters.

High school diploma or equivalent $52,120

Information provided by CareerFitter, LLC and other sources.

Sections of this page includes information from the O*NET 27.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

CareerFitter, LLC has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.