ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHALL

Assistant Fire Marshal Grade: 72

WAYNE COUNTY JOB DESCRIPTION for

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

GENERAL WORK FUNCTIONS

The Assistant Fire Marshal, under general supervision, performs technical and specialized work
examining various occupancies to ensure compliance with the state and local fire codes. Work
involves coordinating and conducting field inspections/investigations, and documenting
inspection findings. Employee must exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in
all phases of work. Performs specialized administrative and technical work in coordinating
inspections, plan reviews and reports. Employee must exercise professionalism, courtesy and
fairness when in contact with property owners, managers, developers and the public.

Conducts fire investigations, interviews witnesses and prepares documentation of all
investigative actions. Employee is required to be on call and respond to emergency response
calls when required to assist with response, resource management and other duties as required.
Reports to the Fire Marshal.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 Maintain current knowledge of principles, methods and practices of modern fire
prevention, fire suppression activities, training and investigation techniques.

 Maintains knowledge of pertinent local, State and Federal laws, codes and regulations
and advises personnel of changes.

 Conducts fire and life safety inspections of new and existing commercial occupancies to
ensure compliance with local, state and federal codes and regulations.

 Follows up on inspections violations to ensure compliance.
 Provides any necessary reports to all responsible parties as needed.
 Provides fire & life safety education to the public when required.
 Assist and advises fire departments with insurance surveys conducted by NC OSFM.
 Works with local fire departments to evaluate policies, equipment, staffing and station

locations to maintain and/or improve fire protection and rescue services.
 Evaluate programs, policies and procedures, analyze and take effective action to improve

operations or procedures.
 Serves on association committees as required.
 Assist with the fire reporting software and provides training as required.
 Assist with preparation of the annual budget for the department, development of long-

range service expansion plans.
 Assist the fire marshal in his/her duties and assumes their responsibilities in his/her

absence. 
Required to be on call and respond to emergency response calls when necessary to assist

with response, resource management and other duties as required.

Assistant Fire Marshal Grade: 72

 Conducts fire investigations involving injury or death and when requested to determine
their origin & cause; collects physical evidence, sketches fire scene, interviews witnesses
or suspects; prepares documentation of all investigative action for presentation in
criminal or civil court; testifies in court, as necessary.

 Works closely with local, State and Federal investigators with fire death investigations,
large commercial, church, large fire losses and when required.

 Maintains confidentiality.
 Coordinates training for the Wayne County Fire Marshal office and assist with volunteer

fire department with training when needed, attending meetings and training sessions.
 Acts as the safety representative for the fire marshal’s office/Emergency Management

office at County safety meetings. 
Conducts fire scene examination, collects, and documents evidence, conducts interviews,

and examines statements made by witnesses, suspects, or others. 
Investigates reported illegal burning and enforces regulations and ordinances.
 Maintain current knowledge of principles, methods and practices of modern fire

prevention, fire suppression activities, training and investigation techniques.
 Maintains knowledge of pertinent local, State and Federal laws, codes and regulations

and advises personnel of changes.
 Investigates reported illegal burning and enforces regulations and ordinances.
 Make presentations before the Board of Commissioners, city councils, commissions,

boards and committees
 Maintain and establish effective and cooperative working relationships with all

emergency response agencies and public officials and works effectively in a team
environment.

 Assists in the direction of professional and technical staff, ensuring adherence to
established policies, procedures and standards; assists and advises subordinates, as
necessary, resolving problems as non-routine situations arise.

 Works closely with city and county departments and agencies, schools, colleges, Coast
Guard, Red Cross, utilities, National Weather Service, industry and other state and
federal agencies and neighboring communities coordinating emergency services;
maintains control center radio communications with police, fire, sheriff, emergency
services/rescue and other county and municipal departments.

 Develops and manages plans for equipment replacement, software upgrades and system
expansions.

 Attend specialized trainings and conferences to maintain certification and to remain
current on procedures and technology needed to perform job requirements.

 Assist with emergency management activities and emergency operation center as
required.

 Assist with the county emergency communications system as required.
 Work often requires nontraditional hours.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of the fire service and fire
prevention codes and regulations.

Assistant Fire Marshal Grade: 72

 Considerable knowledge of current firefighting methods including combustible liquids
and structural firefighting principles, practices, and procedures. 

Considerable knowledge of standard safety practices and procedures applicable to a
variety of work situations.

 General knowledge of Communications Center procedures.
 Considerable knowledge of the standard procedures and terminology pertaining to

governmental and private insurance programs.
 Considerable knowledge of fire apparatus and equipment.
 General knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the fire service

and emergency management.
 General knowledge of the financing sources and programs available through state and

federal funding agencies, and of the requirements and standards for obtaining and
retaining state and federally funded programs.

 General knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
 General knowledge of the organizational structure, operations and policies of local fire

service.
 Working knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies governing emergency services.
 Skill in the operation of common office machines, including computer applications such

as word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.
 Ability to conduct thorough and complete fire investigations.
 Ability to use and maintain emergency services equipment.
 Ability to operate a two-way radio.
 Ability to safely operate an emergency response vehicle at a high rate of speed.
 Ability to respond quickly and calmly to emergency situations and to adopt effective

courses of action.
 Ability to plan, organize and direct operations of an emergency situation.
 Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.
 Ability to perform under considerable stress while confronted with emergency situations.
 Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work

assignments.
 Ability to self-assess and seek support for any diminishing psychological capacities

affecting job performance.
 Work outside in various extreme weather conditions such as excessive heat, cold or

humidity and extreme weather conditions

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

 Prepares a variety of routine correspondence and reports.
 Answers telephone and receives inquiries, providing information based on considerable

knowledge of county, emergency preparedness programs and activities, or referring
callers to appropriate personnel, as necessary, routes messages for department personnel,
as necessary.

 Assists the 911 Communications Center during high call volume or during high profile
calls

Assistant Fire Marshal Grade: 72

 Performs other related work as required.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

 Graduation from High School or equivalent supplemented by special training in
Firefighting\Rescue and code enforcement and 8 years of progressive experience in fire
service or;

 An associate degree in Fire Science or a related field, and 5 years of experience in
emergency response services or;

 A bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or a related field, and 3 years of experience in
emergency response services or;

 Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required
knowledge, skills and abilities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

 Possess a valid driver’s license
 Certification in Hazard Materials Operations
 Incident Command 700, 100 & 200, 300 & 400 within 1 year.
 Standard Fire Inspector Level 1 or higher required.
 Must become certified as a Fire Inspector Standard Level III within 6 years.
 General knowledge of emergency radio communication networks and operations

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED
TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and
equipment including computers, calculators, two-way radios, mobile phones, scanners, etc. Must
be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Requires the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of
force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force
constantly to move objects. Physical requirements are those for medium work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable,
functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious
standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signaling people to convey
or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from
superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms,
manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, budget,
charts, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar,
diction and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups with poise, voice control and
confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logic or scientific thinking to define
problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive

Assistant Fire Marshal Grade: 72

variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several
abstract and concrete variables.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures,
to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently
in a variety of technical or professional languages, including accounting terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract,
multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, interpret graphs, and compute
discounts, interest, profit and loss, ration and proportion, etc.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and
shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately
in the course of using office equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, control knobs, switches,
etc. Must have two minimum levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and
receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and also when confronted
with person acting under stress.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or
exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear) Must
be able to communicate by telephone.