Careers in Fire Prevention

The Fire Marshal’s Office at SMFR has always been comprised of individuals with a wide variety of professional backgrounds, from working in construction trades, to the insurance industry, property maintenance, engineering/architecture, the military, law enforcement, firefighting/EMS, emergency dispatch, and many professional backgrounds not typically associated with the fire service.  Educational backgrounds vary from high school diplomas or GEDs, to trade school completion, to post-secondary degrees in a wide range of majors.  These include business administration, fire science, fire service administration, fire protection engineering, construction management, risk management, emergency management, and others.

We’ve provided more information below, but this isn’t everything!  If you have more questions regarding a career in fire prevention, please email the Human Resources Department. While previous experience is helpful, it is not always necessary!

Fire Inspector

Fire Inspectors work primarily in the field verifying compliance with adopted fire codes.  They may be assigned to either the Code Compliance Section (for existing buildings), or the Development and Construction Section (for construction projects).  Some of the qualifications for Fire Inspectors at SMFR are:

  • High School Diploma or GED
  • International Code Council Fire Inspector I certification at the time of application
  • Must obtain within 6 months of hire:
    • International Code Council Fire Inspector II certification
    • Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Inspector II certification
    • Red Cross CPR certification
    • ICS 100 & 200 and FEMA IS700 and IS800

Fire Investigator

Fire Investigators respond to emergency incidents and have various responsibilities depending on the nature of the incident.  Examples include determining the origin and cause of fires and serving legal notices for hazardous materials releases.  Our Fire Investigators also follow up on fire code concerns raised by the public or our fire suppression personnel.  When not in the field, Fire Investigators work in an office environment writing reports and conducting various administrative tasks.  Some of the qualifications for Fire Investigators at SMFR are:

  • All qualifications for Fire Inspector listed above at the time of application
  • Ability to meet SMFR’s physical fitness standard for Fire Investigators
  • Specialized training in fire investigation from an SMFR-recognized provider with a minimum of 2 years of fire investigation experience
  • National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Wildland Investigation certification (FI210)
  • Must obtain within 2 years of hire:  International Association of Arson Investigators (IAA) Fire Investigation Technician (FIT) certification

Plan Reviewer

Plan Reviewers work primarily in the office reviewing construction plans to determine if proposed projects meet the requirements of the fire code and referenced standards.  Some of the qualifications for Plan Reviewers at SMFR are:

  • All qualifications for Fire Inspector listed above at time of application
  • Associate’s Degree from an accredited college in a related field
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in fire inspection or plan review
  • Fire or Building Plans Examiner certification from the International Code Council OR Certified Fire Protection Specialist by the National Fire Protection Association
  • Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Inspector III certification  

Fire Protection Engineer

Fire Protection Engineers perform duties similar to those of a Plan Reviewer, but provide additional technical expertise for more complex topics such as smoke control systems or proposed alternatives to the fire code.  Some of the qualifications of Fire Protection Engineers at SMFR are:

  • All qualifications for Plan Reviewer listed above
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related field
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in fire inspection, plan review, fire protection engineering design, etc.
  • Licensed as a Professional Engineer by the State of Colorado

Permit Coordinator

Permit Coordinators work primarily in the office as the first point of contact for external customers of the Fire Marshal’s Office.  They are responsible for supporting technical processes related to the issuance of permits and enforcement of the fire code.  Some of the qualifications of Permit Coordinators at SMFR are:

  • High School Diploma or GED
  • International Code Council Permit Technician certification or the ability to obtain within 2 years of hire
  • Red Cross CPR certification within 1 year of hire

Leadership Roles

There are various leadership roles within the Fire Marshal’s Office, providing program guidance and support to the team across all functional areas.  Leadership roles require most of the certifications listed for other positions above, as well as related working experience, supervisory experience, and educational experience as follows:

  • Assistant Fire Marshal - Associate’s degree from an accredited college in a related field is required
  • Deputy Fire Marshal - Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related field is required
  • Fire Marshal - Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred