How to hire fire inspectors and investigators
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion. • Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems. • Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire. • Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits. • Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them. • Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings. • Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects. • Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, speaking, writing, reading comprehension and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of public safety and security, customer and personal service, building and construction and law and government • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $36.50 an hour ($75,920 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for fire inspectors and investigators
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What fire inspectors and investigators do
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.
- Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for fire inspectors and investigators
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 1,600 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay fire inspectors and investigators
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $99,230 |
| Texas | $82,390 |
| Florida | $75,660 |
| New York | $73,920 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 |
See fire inspectors and investigators pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Firefighters
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Compliance Officers
- Transportation Inspectors
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
- Emergency Management Directors
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.