Fire Inspector

City-of-Elgin-1; Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Elgin seeks an experienced Fire Code Inspector to join the Elgin Fire Department. You will inspect buildings and facilities for fire code and life safety compliance, evaluate fire protection systems, and document findings for enforcement.

Role requires strong communication, coordination with agencies, and the ability to apply local and state regulations. Night/weekend work with notice may be required; certification in relevant inspector programs is preferred.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of fire and life safety codes and standards as adopted by City of Elgin.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to coordinate with internal/external agencies.
• Ability to identify violations and document findings during inspections.
• Must understand and apply local, state, and national regulations related to fire code.

Responsibilities

• Inspect buildings, structures, facilities, sites, and suppression systems for fire code compliance.
• Evaluate fire protection systems and egress elements in accordance with code requirements.
• Assess storage and handling of hazardous materials and related processes.
• Verify construction documents to ensure life safety systems meet code requirements.
• Document water flow test results for fire hydrants and prepare written reports.

Skills

Fire code inspections

Communication

Documentation

Plan review

Legal action awareness

Tools

Computer

Job description

Seeking an experienced individual to join the Elgin Fire Department at the City of Elgin as a Fire Code Inspector. Candidates should possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of the fire and life safety codes and standards as adopted by the City of Elgin. Candidates should also possess strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to cooperate with and coordinate activities with internal departments and outside agencies on matters related to building code, fire code and life safety code compliance issues.

The Fire Code Inspector operates as a member of the Fire Prevention Bureau and operates under the direction of the Fire Code Official and Fire Chief.

• The Fire Code Inspector is responsible for conducting a thorough and professional inspection of buildings, structures, facilities, sites, and/or suppression systems located within the jurisdiction of the Elgin Fire Department.
• The Fire Code Inspector must possess strong verbal and written communication skills; display the ability to cooperate with and coordinate activities with outside agencies assisting in the matters related to building code, fire code, and life safety code compliance issues; identify fire code related violations, deficiencies, or discrepancies in design, installation, or existing conditions at the time of inspection
• Create a written record detailing the issues found at the time of inspection and documentation of all actions necessary to gain compliance.
• This role requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of the fire and life safety codes and standards as adopted by the City of Elgin.
• Duties include:
  • Inspect and evaluate a building or facility for fire code and life safety code concerns/violations
  • Evaluates the fire protection systems and equipment that are provided for life safety and property protection within a structure
  • Evaluate the egress elements of a structure and ensure the means of egress are provided for and located in accordance with the applicable code and standard requirements
  • Inspect and evaluate a structure for code compliance related to storage, handling, and use of hazardous materials; and the processes or operations utilizing hazardous materials
  • Verify compliance with construction documents so that life safety systems and building service equipment are installed, inspected, and tested to perform in accordance with the code requirements and related engineering documentation
  • Conduct and document water flow testing results for fire hydrants located within the City of Elgin
  • Pursue legal action regarding non compliant buildings, facilities, and structures; including but not limited to the issuance of citations and the initiation and pursuit of court action to ensure compliance with fire and life safety code violations
  • Working at night, on weekends and on holidays with advanced notice
  • Working inside and outside environmental conditions
  • Ability to climb multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and unstable surfaces, bending, traversing through numerous types of occupancies
  • Performs related tasks as assigned

• Must have knowledge of City of Elgin fire and building codes and other ordinances, standards and regulations relating to fire safety, life safety, and building construction
• Must understand and interpret Local, State, and National statutes, standards, and regulations related to fire code inspections, life safety code inspections, and building code inspections; permit requirements for the City of Elgin as adopted in local ordinance; plan review requirements for the City of Elgin as adopted in local ordinance occupancy classification types, the fire hazards present in various occupancies, and the occupant load factors relating to various occupancy classifications and usage; basic report writing techniques including English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Must be able to recognize and identify fire hazards and life safety violations within a structure, building, or facility; properly comprehend, interpret, and apply codes, standards, and other legal requirements related to fire inspections; portray an image of integrity, professionalism, and competency through written and verbal communication skills; complete and maintain the educational and training requirements as established for the assignment by the Assistant Fire Code Official, Fire Chief, City of Elgin or other local, State, or Federal mandates; calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry; solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Must be able to identify and solve problems; control situations involving irate and emotionally distraught persons; respond to and make decisions under stress of emergency and confrontation; make a written record of observations and actions taken; use a computer to enter and retrieve information. Train other fire personnel in the inspection process; quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought forth by rapidly changing information and technology
• Must have general office record keeping and filing methods
• Must be able to safely drive assigned city vehicles to areas of assignment
• Must be able to work with various electronic platforms as they relate to plan reviews, inspections, record keeping, report writing, training, email and other business solutions

REQUIREMENTS include:

Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of Illinois

Must meet and maintain all departmental and state training and certification requirements for the position

Must possess Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Inspector 1 certification, ICC Inspector 1 certification or NFPA Inspector 1 certification

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Certified Basic & Advanced Fire Prevention Officer
• Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector certification.
• ICC Inspector 2 certification or NFPA Inspector 2 certification
• Bilingual ability is desired but not required.