State of Maryland

A Deputy State Fire Marshal II, Investigations and Inspections is the full performance level of work as a law enforcement officer in the field of fire prevention, investigation and inspection or explosives control.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Deputy State Fire Marshal Supervisor.  Employees in this class serve as field agents within a designated geographical area, but the work requires travel to emergency sites that may be located anywhere within the State.  Employees may be exposed to hazardous conditions such as unsafe buildings and intense heat, hazardous materials and extreme weather conditions.  Employees are subject to call-in on a 24-hour basis.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Deputy State Fire Marshal I and Deputy State Fire Marshal II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Deputy State Fire Marshal I learns to perform duties under close supervision. while the Deputy State Fire Marshal II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.   The Deputy State Fire Marshal II is differentiated from the Deputy State Fire Marshal Senior in that the Deputy State Fire Marshal Senior serves as incident coordinator at major fire or explosives incidents and delegates investigative assignments to lower-level Deputy State Fire Marshals.

Visits the emergency scene and uses specialized equipment to examine physical evidence in order to determine the origin, cause and circumstance of a fire or explosion;

Photographs or sketches the scene to record the condition of the site after the fire or explosion;

Questions witnesses and suspects in order to determine the cause and origin of the fire or explosion;

Sets up undercover surveillances in order to obtain evidence for criminal proceedings;

Obtains and executes warrants for persons involved in explosion or fire related crimes;

Prepares cases for prosecution and testifies in court;

Seizes illegal fireworks being discharged, possessed or sold in the State;

Inspects proposed sites for firework displays and monitors the displays during the show;

Inspects commercial, institutional, industrial, educational, medical and storage facilities in order to ensure compliance with fire safety codes and statutes, and issues orders to remedy hazardous conditions;

Issues summonses for fire code violations not corrected on subsequent inspections and enforces code when owner refuses to cooperate;

Prepares and presents fire prevention demonstrations;

Attends in-service training in order to maintain job proficiency;

Maintains records and prepares comprehensive reports;

May provide guidance to less experienced Deputy State Fire Marshals;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of Maryland State laws and regulations pertaining to fire prevention, explosives control and fire and explosives inspections;

Knowledge of fire and explosives inspection and investigation methods and techniques;

Knowledge of the physical characteristics of fire and the typical burn patterns from the various flammable substances;

Knowledge of construction and building fire codes;

Knowledge of the methodology employed in controlled pyrotechnic displays;

Skill in using and caring for firearms;

Skill in operating specialized equipment, such as a portable gas chromatograph, a hydrocarbon detector or camera;

Ability to understand blueprints and engineering drawings;

Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate pertinent data in order to reach accurate conclusions;

Ability to explain relevant laws and regulations to property owners, local government officials and the general public;

Ability to handle official situations with diplomacy, fairness and good judgment;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with local fire and police department personnel;

Ability to handle stressful situations such as examining a fire scene that involves loss of life;

Ability to prepare clear and accurate reports;

Ability to follow specific instructions;

Ability to react quickly and calmly during emergency situations;

Ability to communicate effectively with the general public, co-workers and supervisors.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience inspecting buildings and other places of public assembly for compliance with fire prevention codes and investigating the origins and causes of fires.

Notes:

1. The above educational requirement is set by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with the Public Safety Article, Section 3-207, Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Firefighter classifications or Firefighter specialty codes in the fire inspection and investigation field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission for a Police Officer in accordance with the Public Safety Article, Section 6-303, Annotated Code of Maryland or be eligible for comparative compliance training, approved by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission. Selection standards for Police Officer training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations 12.04.01.04 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship

Must be at least 21 years of age

A completed background investigation, including a check of criminal history

Oral interview

Physical examination

Possession of a driver's license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to bear firearms and to demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis, as required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.

3. Employees in this classification are assigned duties in a given service area.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the employer with a phone number where they can be reached.

5. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit I, Sworn Police classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.