Fire Marshal

The employee in this class is responsible for managing all activities of the municipal fire department's fire prevention and fire inspections division. Work is demanding and of unusual difficulty, requiring that the employee direct, through subordinate supervisors, all investigations of fires and explosions and all fire prevention inspections of commercial and industrial buildings. Work is performed under administrative direction of the Fire Chief and includes responsibility for coordinating all fire prevention training and inspections throughout the department. An important aspect of work in this class is drafting fire prevention code and ordinance revisions for consideration by the Fire Chief, the Mayor and City Council. The employee must be capable of working effectively with inspectional personnel, and law enforcement personnel engaged in arson investigations. Considerable contact with builders and developers is also involved, necessitating the ability to enforce all aspects of the fire prevention code professionally, tactfully and impartially. Interpretations rendered with respect to the code, recommendations for changes in plans and specifications which would bring them into conformance with the code, and many other decisions made by the employee require the exercise of extensive initiative and independent judgment. In addition to technical fire prevention and inspection activities, the employee also performs a variety of office and personnel administrative tasks inherent to a management position. Work is reviewed through discussions, reports submitted and result obtained. Appointed position; employee serves at the pleasure of the Mayor.

Plans, assigns, schedules, supervises, and reviews the work of personnel; recommends employment, transfer, and promotion; administers discipline, responds to leave requests and grievances; establishes division procedures and policies subject to conformance with city and department policies and approval by the Fire Chief.

Investigates, or supervises the investigation of, building fires, explosions, deaths from fire or asphyxiation, fires of suspicious origin, and false alarms; supervises the gathering, preservation, and analysis of physical evidence and the interviewing of witnesses; attempts to establish cause and fix responsibility of fires.

Supervises and participates in: fire prevention inspections and examinations to ensure conformance with fire prevention codes and ordinances; examination of plans and specifications for facilities storing flammable materials and commercial buildings; field construction inspections and periodic compliance inspections of facilities under the division's jurisdiction.

Supervises: witnessing of tests conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of fire extinguishing, prevention and related systems; issuance of operation and construction permits required by the fire prevention code; maintenance and control of all division records, including inspection reports, permit applications, permits issued, violation notices, and fire investigations.

Supervises and participates in establishing fire personnel training programs involving inspection practices, fire and arson investigation, and related activities; participates in developing and conducting arson prevention programs; participates in seminars and other information dissemination activities to increase the public's awareness of fire causes, hazards, and methods of prevention.

Prepares various written reports and summaries of division activities.

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge of: fire prevention laws, codes and ordinances administered by the division; fire prevention, investigation, and inspection techniques; building materials, construction practices, and mechanical systems related to fire prevention, fire suppression, and the safeguarding of lives and property from fire; management and supervisory techniques; laws, court decisions, and legal opinions relating to the investigation and prosecution of arsonists and their accomplices.

Ability to: manage the work of a technical inspections staff; read and interpret mechanical and building construction plans and specifications; enforce fire prevention codes and ordinances firmly, tactfully and impartially; conduct thorough fire investigations in conformance with legal requirements and procedures; draft, revise and render technical interpretations of fire prevention codes and ordinances; prepare written and oral reports and impart them effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, law enforcement and inspectional services personnel, municipal officials, builders, and the general public.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in fire science, fire administration or related area and six (6) years of experience in fire inspection and/or fire prevention programs, including three (3) years of experience as a manager, supervisor, or department chief of a Fire Public Safety Division; OR

An equivalent combination of education (not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Possession of the following are required and must be attached to application: 

• A valid State of Florida State Inspector I Certification 
• A valid State of Florida driver’s license
• Florida State Firefighter Certification

Preferred Certifications please attach to application:

• Florida State Inspector II Certification (must obtain within one (1) year of employment). 
• State Fire Investigator Certification (within two (2) years of employment).     
• ICS 300 and 400 (must obtain within one (1) year of employment).

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.

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