Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire codes, and investigate causes of fires.
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:
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists typically do the following:
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.
Fire inspectors and investigators held about 15,500 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of fire inspectors and investigators were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 67% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 1 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 1 |
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists held about 2,900 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 59% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 36 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for fire inspectors and investigators was $64,600 in May 2021. 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 $40,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,730.
The median annual wage for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists was $42,600 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,270.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for fire inspectors and investigators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Manufacturing | $82,920 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 64,600 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 61,600 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 51,840 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $78,300 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 36,730 |
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.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Overall employment of fire inspectors is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 1,800 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.
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 the increasingly destructive wildfires that the United States has been experiencing. However, because this is a small occupation, the fast growth is expected to result in only about 600 new jobs over the projections decade.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
|||||||
Fire inspectors |
33-2020 | 18,300 | 19,400 | 6 | 1,000 | Get data | |
Fire inspectors and investigators |
33-2021 | 15,500 | 15,900 | 3 | 500 | Get data | |
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists |
33-2022 | 2,900 | 3,400 | 19 | 600 | Get data | |
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
Wildland Fire Training | US Forest Service
For more information about certifications and standards for fire inspectors, visit
International Association of Arson Investigators
National Association of Fire Investigators
National Fire Protection Association