If we go by the core definition, then a fire marshal is a government official who is tasked with protecting lives, property, and the environment from hazards through fire prevention, code enforcement, public fire safety education, and fire investigation. Some of the common titles under the fire marshal are deputy fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, state fire marshal, and federal fire investigator. Let’s brush through each of them:

Deputy Fire Marshal

A deputy fire marshal works with the local fire department, often at the city or county level, and works under the direction of a fire marshal. Their primary responsibilities include conducting building and site inspections, issuing citations for fire code violations, reviewing construction plans for fire code compliance, assisting in fire and arson investigations, and educating the public about fire safety.

Assistant Fire Marshal

An assistant fire marshal often supervises a team of fire inspectors and deputy fire marshals. They are a senior-level official who assists the fire marshal in managing the entire fire prevention division and often works with the local fire department or larger county agencies. 

As previously stated, their primary responsibility is supervising a team of fire inspectors, deputy marshals, and office staff. Apart from that, they manage and coordinate inspections, permit processing, represent the department at public meetings or in court, help develop and update local fire codes and policies, and fill in for the fire marshal during their absence.  

State Fire Marshal

A state fire marshal oversees the fire safety and enforcement at the statewide level and often works under the Department of Public Safety or Insurance. Their workplace is the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and they often enforce state-wide fire codes and laws. Some of their other responsibilities are licensing fire protection contractors and fireworks operators, training and certifying fire investigators and inspectors, investigating large-scale fires, fatal fires, and suspected arson. They are also responsible for fire data collection, and they even coordinate with federal agencies and local departments on wildfires or disasters. 

Federal Fire Investigator 

A federal fire investigator looks into complex, multi-jurisdictional, or criminal fires, including terrorism or organized arson rings, such as those in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) or the Department of Defense (DoD). They use forensic science, lab analysis, and accelerant detection and coordinate with local and state agencies. They can carry firearms and make arrests, especially in the ATF, and investigate major arson cases, such as bombings.