ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL

Description

 General Statement of Duties

Performs specialized administrative and technical work in enforcing fire prevention laws, performing fire inspections, performing fire investigations, responding to emergencies and promoting overall fire and life safety hazard prevention efforts within the county. 

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class performs fire prevention inspections to ensure compliance with State and local fire laws, codes, rules, and regulations. Work involves participating in the inspections of commercial and retail establishments, schools, and health care facilities and residences for fire hazards, promoting fire prevention/education and fire safety awareness. Responsibilities include responds to emergencies with local fire department and rescue squad in a manpower assistance capacity. Employee will respond to fire, rescue and medical emergencies with an emergency vehicle providing support for emergency responders. The employee conducts fire education and safety programs, fire investigations, training and serves as liaison between the Fire Departments and County Government. The employee reviews site plans for new construction to ensure that all fire codes are being met. Considerable independence and judgment are required in all aspects of the work, particularly in fire inspections and emergency response. Considerable public contact requires that the employee exhibit tact and diplomacy in seeking compliance with fire laws, codes, rules, and regulations. The employee is subject to hazards associated with fire inspection, administrative and fire-fighting work including: working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme weather; and exposure to various hazards such as exposure to high heat, exposure to chemicals and in proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and working in high places. Employees may be subject to Level III OSHA Standards on blood-borne pathogens. The employee is also exposed to atmospheric conditions and is sometimes required to wear a respirator and may be required to work in close quarters. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Fire Marshal and is evaluated through observation and review of reports in terms of the overall effectiveness of applicable fire service programs. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks 

• Performs Cause and Origin Investigations of fire incident scenes; includes evidence collection, scene documentation, interviews and case preparation. 

• Participates in the enforcement of the N.C. Fire Prevention Code that involves inspections of approximately 1000+ existing facilities within the county. Conduct fire inspections of businesses, commercial, residential and industrial buildings, schools, day care centers, nursing homes, etc. and places of public assembly for existing or potential fire hazards and fire code violations. 

• Responds to fire, rescue and medical emergencies per communications guidelines. Provides manpower and equipment support to local responders as authorized. Responds to emergency scenes and performs activities required by local agent O.I.C. Examples of these activities would include, fire suppression, Haz-Mat, patient care, technical rescue, and other emergency response procedures. 

• Conducts follow-up inspections to ensure that deficient conditions are corrected; prepares and submits reports of deficiencies; prepares and maintains records of fire inspections and related matters for the county. 

• Reviews submitted plans and site inspections on new construction projects including Fire Alarm Systems, Standpipes, Emergency Lighting, Extinguishing Systems, and Fire Department accessibility. 

• Performs related inspection follow-up work to document inspections, and issues necessary permits. 

• Provides a comprehensive Public Fire and Life Safety Education program to students within the local school system. Instructs various segments of the community on fire safety through education of the existing codes. 

• Provides guidance and consultation on Fire Department issues such as scene response, budget assistance, incident reporting, apparatus testing, etc. 

• Assists in advising local communities regarding the organization of a volunteer fire department; assists organized units in purchasing equipment, obtaining federal loans, preparing budgets and obtaining necessary ratings and certification. 

• Provides Firefighter Training and assists in coordinating other training events. 

• Prepares a variety of computer and manually generated monthly forms, reports and other related statistical information on fire inspections, investigations, incidents, etc. as required. 

• Performs Emergency Management functions as specified by the Fire Marshal, including scene response, coordination of Hazardous Materials Emergencies, Weather Incidents, Mass Casualty incidents and incidents involving multiple emergency response agencies. 

• Assists in inspecting and conducting investigations (along with other officials) of fires of a suspicious nature or involving an injury or death to determine their cause. Prepares documentation of all actions taken in investigations in a form that will be acceptable either in civil or criminal court. 

• Plans and conducts a program of reducing fire hazards by securing compliance. 

• Serves as a liaison and assists in the related training of county personnel and other fire departments.

• Performs routine maintenance and cleaning of department equipment, gear and county vehicle. 

Additional Job Duties

• Performs related work as required. 

• May testify in court on behalf of the Fire Department, and Fire Marshal’s Office. 

• The employee in this position serves as “on-call” for scene response, and must be readily available to respond to an investigation or emergency scene at any time of the day or night, and if the residence of the Assistant Fire Marshal is outside the county line of Stokes County, the Assistant Fire Marshal Must reside NO MORE THAN Five (5) mile from the county-line of Stokes County in any direction. 

Requirements

 Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledges, Skills and Abilities 

• Considerable knowledge of the types of industrial and commercial operations in the county and any related potential hazards. 

• Considerable knowledge of the methods of readily ascertaining the presence of existing or potential fire hazards. 

• Considerable knowledge of standard practices, procedures and methods involved in fire inspection, fire prevention and safety, and skill in their teaching and application. 

• Considerable knowledge of modern investigation methods and techniques used to determine the cause of fires. 

• Considerable knowledge of building and fire codes and building construction. 

• General knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the field of fire prevention administration. 

• Considerable knowledge of the geographical layout of the County. 

• Considerable knowledge of the laws and regulations covering fire prevention. 

• Considerable knowledge of fire equipment operation and maintenance, and skill in its operation. 

• Ability to interpret and enforce codes and laws firmly, impartially, and tactfully. 

• Ability to recognize and define fire hazards and to recommend remedial action. 

• Ability to communicate effectively and express ideas orally and in writing. 

• Ability to make routine programmatic decisions independently in accordance with laws, regulations, and County policies and procedures and to solve problems and answer questions. 

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in routine and emergency situations. 

• Ability to meet, and persuasively and effectively deal with property owners, managers, and the general public to eliminate and prevent fire hazards and to stimulate interest and cooperation in fire prevention activities. 

• Ability to operate a variety of departmental tools and equipment such as communication devices (radio, pager, telephones and mobile computers), fire protection devices and training aids, Turn-Out gear, Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, Air Monitoring Equipment, Global Positioning Equipment, and other P.P.E.

• Considerable knowledge and experience involving emergency response, Including: Fire Suppression, Technical Rescue and Emergency Medical Care. 

• Ability to maintain a variety of records and to prepare accurate reports from statistical or other types of technical information. 

Physical Requirements 

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and perform repetitive motions. 

• Must be able to perform very heavy work exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly. 

• Must possess the visual acuity to perform administrative and computer-related tasks as well as the ability to operate trucks and other equipment. 

• Worker is exposed to the hazards of life of public safety and emergency services with a significant risk of injury or loss of life being present in the work. Risks can be partially controlled by the use of significant safety precautions. In addition, actions can result in the significant risk to others. 

• Worker may have contact with potentially infectious bodily fluids. 

Desirable Education and Experience 

Completion of high school and fire inspection and prevention schools and advanced courses and seminars in the fire service, including fire investigations and considerable experience in the fire service, rescue operations, and/or fire inspections; two-year degree preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Maintain your skills and knowledge with regular attendance at workshops, 6 hours of Continuing Education classes per year and attendance at special schools. 

Required Certifications 

• Possession of a valid North Carolina Class C driver's license. 

• Possession of a N.C. Firefighter Level II Certification with at least 3 years’ experience. 

• Possession of a N.C. Haz-Mat Level I Certification. 

• Possession of a N.C. E.M.T. Certification. 

• Possession of NIMS 700,800, 100, and 200. 

Special Requirements Preferred 

• N.C. Level 1 Fire Prevention Inspector certification preferred or a minimum of North Carolina Level 1 Probationary Certificate. 

• Ability to obtain a N.C. Level II within 2 years of appointment and Level III Fire Prevention Inspector Certification within a reasonable amount of time. 

• Possession of a N.C. Fire Service Instructor Level I Certification required within 2 years of appointment. 

• N.C. Certified Fire Investigator 

• NC Fire and Life Safety Educator Level 1 

• NC Technical Rescuer or the ability to obtain 

Copies of all credentials will be turned in with the application packet. 

Special Note: This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities checklist that can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.