Fire Inspectors

Summary

What Fire Inspectors Do About this section

Fire inspectors inspect building plans to ensure that they meet fire codes.

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 About this section

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:

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:

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.

How to Become a Fire Inspector About this section

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.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Fire inspectors must clearly explain fire code violations to building and property managers. Fire investigators must thoroughly interview witnesses, including those who may be distressed or uncooperative, as part of their factfinding mission.

Critical-thinking skills. Fire investigators must be able to analyze evidence from a fire and come to a reasonable conclusion.

Detail oriented. Fire inspectors must notice minutiae when inspecting sites for code violations or fire risks or for investigating the cause of a fire.

Physical stamina. Fire investigators may be required to sort through debris at the scene of a fire for long periods, often while wearing heavy or uncomfortable protective gear.

Physical strength. Fire investigators may have to move debris at the site of a fire in order to get a more accurate understanding of the scene.

Problem-solving skills. Fire inspectors must be able to recognize code violations and fire risks and recommend a way to fix them.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for fire inspectors and investigators was $74,160 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,360, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $137,220.

The median annual wage for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists was $54,080 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,170.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for fire inspectors and investigators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

In May 2023, the median annual wages for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

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.

Job Outlook About this section

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.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Fire inspectors and investigators
• Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

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

O*NET

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists