Fire Prevention Trainee

City of Arlington•Arlington, VA

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Fire Prevention Trainee performs routine inspections of new and existing buildings and fire protection systems to ensure compliance with local ordinances and State laws pertaining to fire and life safety. The position also examines fire scenes to determine origin and cause, compiles investigation results, prepares detailed reports, obtains warrants, and presents cases in court when necessary. The role includes inspections of buildings and fire protection systems, assisting with acceptance testing, responding to complaints, communicating hazards and code violations to property owners or managers, and conducting follow-up inspections. The trainee may issue citations when other efforts to obtain compliance have failed. The position also supports public education, prepares activity logs and reports, enters inspection violations into inspection software, researches Fire Code interpretations, and provides courtroom testimony. The position may require after-hours inspection on-call duty for one week at a time and attendance at local or out-of-state training programs lasting days or weeks. Applicants must pass a 1.5-mile aerobic run to proceed to the Civil Service written examination. This posting establishes an eligibility list only; there are currently no active vacancies.

Requirements

High school diploma.
Valid Texas Class C driver's license.
Obtain Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Fire Inspector Certification within one year of employment.
Knowledge of state and local laws, regulations, and procedures pertaining to fire and building codes.
Knowledge of mathematical concepts and symbols involving fractions, percentages, decimals, and hydraulic calculations.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
Skill in reading and interpreting fire prevention policies and procedures and applying them to physical settings.
Skill in understanding and applying basic mechanical concepts.
Ability to organize a daily work schedule and work alone.
Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and make fine discriminations in sound.
Ability to perform physical tasks including seeing, sorting, carrying, calculating, writing, and climbing to and from extreme heights.
Ability to operate a motorized vehicle.
Ability to lift or exert forces equivalent to lifting up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in environments involving fume/odor, dust/mites, chemical, mechanical, and electrical hazards.
Pass the 1.5-mile aerobic run in 13 minutes and 57 seconds to be eligible for the Civil Service written examination.
Complete required criminal background, CJIS fingerprint background, drug and alcohol, health performance/physical examination, and motor vehicle record screenings.

Responsibilities

Conduct certificate of occupancy and fire prevention inspections to verify compliance with fire, life-safety, and other codes.
Assist with acceptance testing of fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and other fire protection systems and features.
Respond to and assist fire companies with complaints or inspections.
Communicate hazards and code violations to property owners or managers and recommend resolutions.
Conduct follow-up inspections and issue citations when necessary after other compliance efforts have failed.
Conduct residential inspections, including foster home, assisted living, mental health/mental retardation, and courtesy home inspections.
Teach and assist with public education activities.
Examine fire sites to determine origin and cause using firefighting and fire investigation knowledge, techniques, and equipment.
Compile work logs and prepare daily reports for departmental use.
Research specific Fire Code interpretation applications and participate in public speaking engagements on fire prevention.
Testify in court concerning code violations and prepare and provide courtroom testimony.
Enter inspection violations into the current inspection software program.
Be on call for after-hours inspections for a week at a time.
Attend local and out-of-state training programs as needed.