Description

This position performs several prevention duties to include fire code enforcement, business fire and life safety inspections, compliance investigations and public education as assigned by the Fire Prevention Division. It is responsible for the follow-up of all inspections and complaints initiated by the Fire Prevention or Operation divisions. It provides information derived from extensive building and fire code research, building inspections and new business occupancy familiarization, to establish sound preplanning information to enhance safety for the operations division. It also works to support the department’s effort to enforce reasonable standards to prevent fires, reduce accidents, and to protect the community environment from disaster.

It assists with various fire prevention and life safety educational programs and advises on fire and life safety in existing buildings, subdivisions and processes.

Preforms a variety of administrative and technical work, related to fire inspection and fire prevention.

Although this position does not supervise staff directly, it requires the ability to tactfully coordinate with the Operations officers and crews.

Starting Pay: $31.10 - $38.4479 per hour ($64,685 - $79,971 annually); additional pay depending on experience

Benefits : Full Benefits; health, dental, and life insurance, paid time off and paid holidays, vision reimbursement plan

Retirement: Utah Retirement Systems, pension and/or 401(k)

Schedule: 4 x 10-hour shifts Monday - Thursday

Job Posting Close Date: May close any time after November 6, 2024

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts fire and life safety inspections of new and existing residential, business, institutional, commercial and public buildings to determine conformity to local fire prevention codes and ordinances; monitors compliance with hazardous materials regulations; determines application of regulations regarding storage and elimination of hazardous materials. Examines building construction; building environs; storage practices and materials; building activity; fire protection equipment; fire exits; electrical and heating appliances and accessories. Recognizes the need for and issues permits as required by the currently adopted fire code and city ordinances.
• Responds to and resolves complaints regarding fire code violation and fire and life safety hazards. Informs building/business owner(s) or occupant(s) of fire hazards and corrective action necessary to remedy dangerous situation(s); educates owners and occupants as to fire prevention/life safety practices; reinspects property to ensure corrective action is taken; follows legal procedures when necessary to force conformity to codes; issues citations as needed. Must have personal resolve to enforce fire code and work with difficult people in stressful situations.
• Determines the operational readiness of new and existing automatic fire sprinkler, fire alarm, kitchen hood systems; fire extinguishers and other fire protection systems and equipment through inspection; field observation or verification of test documentation. As assigned, attends during both regular and after hours, public gatherings to insure observance of fire code, safety requirements, standards and regulations. May occasionally assist in the investigation of fire incidents.
• Provides public education in fire prevention, including giving talks, demonstrations, and presentations before community groups, schools, church groups and other organizations or institutions. Support fire crews in set up, supplies and other duties during public education events.
• Instructs and trains the Community in Homeland Security essentials and Emergency management prevention and protection standards.
• Analyzes fire inspection and other fire data, interprets data and makes recommendations for improving the City’s fire inspection, permit and prevention programs.
• May issue various fire and life safety permits. As well as fire code violations and notices.
• Ensure all West Valley City policies, procedures, rules, regulations and methods are properly developed, executed and implemented. Candidates must ensure that a high level of employee proficiency, productivity and morale is maintained, and that life and property of the community is efficiently protected.
• Maintains a variety of data and records regarding fire inspections or prevention activities; prepares reports regarding fire inspections or prevention to include quarterly reports as required.
• Other duties as assigned

Advancement Opportunities

Career growth may be achieved through gained experience skill, certification, and demonstrated ability. (However, promotional opportunities are not guaranteed.)

• Deputy Fire Marshal

Requirements

• Must have the ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the general public.
• Must be able to understand and correctly interpret fire codes and standards. Must have working knowledge of building and fire codes.
• General knowledge of building construction, construction materials and experience and skills in reading and interpreting blueprints to evaluate compliance with building and fire codes and to instruct others regarding code requirements.
• General knowledge of sprinkler systems, hood and duct systems, alarm systems and fire protection materials
• Skill in the operation of tools and equipment

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Preferred: At least one year of full-time paid employment, or the equivalent, in a position requiring the ability to interpret fire or building codes.

Language

• Must be able to read and write the English language.
• Mastery of the Spanish language is preferred, but not required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must be able to obtain ICC Fire Inspector I certification within one year of hire. Must be able to obtain ICC Fire Inspector II certification within two years of hire. Additional certifications will be required as work responsibilities progress.
• Must possess or be able to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Utah driver’s license without record of suspension or revocation in any State. Eligibility for West Valley City liability insurance.

Physical Demands

• This job requires the employee to frequently stand, sit, walk; talk or hear, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Light physical effort requiring the ability to move around easily on a building construction site. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The ability to climb ladders and move around in tight enclosures which may be characteristic of new and existing building sites, to ensure that fire hazards are mitigated and building codes are complied with.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions.
• The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to stressful situations as a result of human behavior and emergency situations; periodic exposure to situations that involve dangerous and disagreeable conditions including smoke, heights, fire, stress, hazardous material, communicable diseases, excessive noise, fumes, heat, cold, water, emergency driving, etc. Many functions of the work pose a high degree of hazard uncertainty. Physical readiness and conditioning may be a condition of job retention.
• The employee may work traditional as well as non-traditional hours and be willing to meet construction schedules and complete deadlines on occasion. Must be willing to attend public education events during off hours and weekends.