What Does A Fire Marshal Do?
As a fire marshal, you will be responsible for overseeing firefighters within federal, local, and private departments. Fire marshals work in the field of fire safety, while managing the finances and making sure the fire safety professionals perform their work in a safe manner. Fire marshals coordinate emergency responses, prepare budgets, manage the fire department staff, and prepare employee schedules.
It is the vital role of the fire marshal to ensure their employees and staff are adhering to the fire safety standards of their department. If you are interested in safety practices, fire safety, and strong attention to detail, you may want to explore a career as a fire marshal.
A fire marshal analyzes and creates emergency response plans for departments and communities. It is the responsibility of the fire marshal to create departmental training plans for employees. A degree within fire services will allow you understand fire service technology, methods, and philosophies.
Prevention and protection methodology is a large part of a fire marshal’s duties. It is vital for them to help protect and prevent communities and employees, by providing individuals with knowledge about fire prevention, policies, and eradication.
Qualities & Skills For A Fire Marshal
If you are looking for employment within the field, here are some of the qualities and skills you should have for a fire marshal position.
- Multitasking Skills– You will be responsible for preparing budgets, overseeing firefighters, coordinating emergency responses, and a variety of other tasks. Due to the vast responsibilities of your position, you must be able to multitask efficiently and effectively.
- Critical-Thinking Skills – Thinking quickly and critically when it comes to prevention and protection of employees and communities.
- Communication Skills – It is important that fire marshals communicate effectively and clearly to other employees when dealing with emergency responses. Communication is key when dealing with communities and staff when presenting new emergency response information or polices.
Fire marshals work within fire departments or forest service departments. They may work alongside fire chiefs and fire captains within a firehouse. Fire services administrators are usually found working within large, metropolitan areas, such as New York City, Boston, or Chicago, in addition to rural firehouses.
In order to become a fire marshal, you must obtain an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree within the field of fire science. Coursework within the field may include risk management, fire service, labor relations, community fire protection, and fire tactics and strategy. Coursework such as fire inspection and codes, fire service personnel management, financial management, legal issues, and fire prevention may be included within your learning.
You may learn about organizational psychology and human behavioral studies related to managing hazardous materials or fires. Firefighters may pursue a degree within fire services administration as well. Throughout your studies, you may intern within a fire or forestry department to learn new skills ad duties of a fire administrator. It is important to develop research projects throughout your coursework as well. Fire marshals will present their research and findings to communities, fire departments, and city officials.
Career Spotlight: Fire Marshal
Fire marshals are a hybrid between fire fighter and police officer. Their main task is to investigate the origin of a fire and work with local, state, and federal authorities to ensure legal procedure[...]
