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Career Exploration

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Also called: Arson Investigator, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Prevention Inspector

What they do:

Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
  • Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
On the job, you'll need:

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Engineering and Technology

  • building and construction

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • looking for ways to help people

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • communicate by writing
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Concern for Others

Data base user interface and query software

  • Code database software
  • Microsoft Access

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $69,450

Education

Certificate after high school or some college is usually needed.