Fire Marshal

City of Lancaster, Texas; Lancaster (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lancaster, Texas, seeks an experienced Fire Marshal to lead fire prevention, inspections, investigations, and code‑compliance across the community.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Fire Marshal will manage operations and budget, supervise department staff, provide public education, ensure state reporting, and collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to advance public safety and public trust.

Qualifications

• Texas Certified Fire Inspector is required.
• Ability to review fire plans.
• Preferred certifications required within two years: Peace Officer Certification; Fire Investigator Certification.

Responsibilities

• Oversees fire inspections and investigations to determine origin and cause.
• Maintains required state reporting and professional certifications.
• Manages departmental operations and budget, and supervises Fire Marshal Department staff.
• Develops public fire-safety education and presents findings to leadership and councils.

Education

Texas Certified Fire Inspector

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer Certification

Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Investigator Certification

Job description

The City of Lancaster is seeking an experienced, knowledgeable, and service-driven Fire Marshal to lead the City’s fire prevention, inspection, investigation, code compliance, and public fire-safety efforts.

Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Fire Marshal is responsible for helping prevent fires and hazardous conditions throughout the community through education, inspection, enforcement, investigation, emergency preparedness, and collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.

This position conducts and oversees fire inspections and investigations, determines the origin and cause of fires, manages hazardous‑material incidents and reporting, reviews construction and fire‑protection systems, provides public education, maintains required state reporting and certifications, manages departmental operations and budget, and supervises Fire Marshal Department employees.

The ideal candidate is a strong leader who combines technical fire-service knowledge with sound judgment, investigative ability, professionalism, community engagement, and the ability to effectively communicate with City leadership, residents, businesses, developers, public-safety partners, and regulatory agencies.

At the City of Lancaster, we serve our community with PRIDE:

Productivity – Take ownership of responsibilities and provide timely, effective results.

Resourcefulness – Use available resources responsibly while continuously seeking opportunities to improve public safety and operations.

Integrity – Act ethically, remain accountable, and be proud of the work that has your name on it.

Dedication – Serve the community and organization with professionalism, commitment, and reliability.

Excellence – Work collaboratively, develop others, and continuously strive for quality and improvement.

• Maintains working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, laws, and requirements related to fire inspections, arson investigations, and law enforcement.
• Maintains all required professional certifications and qualifications.
• Investigates fires to determine origin and cause; collects and preserves evidence; prepares investigative reports; and issues warrants or makes arrests when authorized and necessary.
• Appears and testifies in court and other legal proceedings regarding fire investigations, inspections, and enforcement activities.
• Conducts fire‑prevention inspections of buildings and structures throughout the City.
• Inspects apartment complexes, City facilities, nursing and convalescent facilities, group homes, assisted‑living facilities, daycares, foster‑care facilities, tents, fireworks presentations, and other regulated occupancies or activities.
• Conducts Certificate of Occupancy inspections.
• Inspects construction projects for compliance with applicable Fire Code requirements.
• Tests and evaluates fire‑protection‑related systems.
• Conducts hazardous‑waste reporting and hazardous‑material spill investigations and oversees cleanup activities.
• Investigates vehicle fires, industrial accidents, and illegal dumping involving hazardous or biological waste.
• Maintains, reviews, and updates reports relating to fires, hazardous‑material incidents, inspections, and investigations.
• Files required State of Texas fire reports, including TEXFIRS and other required reporting.
• Conducts and oversees fire‑prevention activities throughout the year, including Fire Prevention Week.
• Develops and delivers public fire‑safety education to businesses, schools, churches, residents, employees, and other community groups.
• Conducts fire drills and training classes for City employees.
• Verifies that businesses maintain appropriate emergency planning and preparedness measures.
• Conducts research and responds to technical inquiries from architects, engineers, builders, developers, construction professionals, and property owners.
• Works closely with the Lancaster Police Department on criminal fire investigations and related incidents.
• Works with state and federal agencies as required.
• Consults with legal counsel to ensure investigative and inspection findings are presented accurately in legal proceedings.
• Performs responsibilities assigned under the City of Lancaster Emergency Management Plan.
• Assists with special events, major incidents, programs, and Emergency Operations Center activations.
• Provides presentations and reports to the City Manager and City Council as needed.
• Prepares and maintains Standard Operating Procedures as required.
• Maintains and administers required Asset Forfeiture and Racial Profiling records.
• Performs administrative duties necessary to manage the Fire Marshal Department.
• Prepares, manages, and controls the departmental budget.
• Researches, coordinates, and prepares grant proposals for available funding.
• Supervises and manages Fire Marshal Department employees, including assignment of work, performance management, development, and operational oversight.
• Provides office coverage when necessary.
• Must be available for after‑hours, weekend, and holiday call‑back for fire investigations.
• Must be available for after‑hours, weekend, and holiday call‑back for hazardous‑material spills.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

Performs other related duties as required by the City Manager or designee.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position manages subordinate employees within the Fire Marshal Department.

Required qualifications

• Texas Certified Fire Inspector
• Ability to review fire plans

The following qualifications are listed as preferred, or must be obtained within two years:

• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer Certification
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Investigator Certification

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of fire behavior, fire causes, fire products, and fire investigation.
• Knowledge of building construction as it relates to fire prevention and investigation.
• Ability to interpret codes, governmental regulations, technical procedures, professional publications, plans, and other technical information.
• Ability to prepare professional investigative reports, correspondence, procedures, and other documentation.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to City leadership, legal counsel, employees, residents, businesses, and the general public.
• Ability to collect and evaluate evidence, establish facts, identify causes, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to present findings and testify effectively in legal proceedings.
• Ability to manage employees, departmental operations, budgets, priorities, and multiple complex assignments.
• Ability to remain professional and composed in stressful, emergency, investigative, or enforcement situations.
• Strong computer skills, including spreadsheet and word‑processing applications.
• Working knowledge of CAD systems and Firehouse systems, as identified in the approved job description.
• Ability to effectively use email, telephone, computers, tablets, and other job‑related technology.

Required:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Texas Certified Fire Inspector certification.
• Ability to review fire plans.

All certifications required to perform assigned Fire Marshal duties must be maintained throughout employment.

Preferred at time of hire / required to obtain within two years

• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer Certification.
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Investigator Certification.