SUMMARY : This is technical and administrative work ensuring compliance with county and state fire prevention laws, ordinances, and accepted standards through the inspection of commercial and public structures and other installations. Investigator duties include collection of evidence and interpreting documentary evidence in Criminal and Civil Courts. The Internal Affairs Investigator will work under the supervision of the Fire Marshal. The inspector/investigator position is a technical, and administrative position that incorporates internal affairs, conduct, investigations involving policy operations, standard operating procedure violations, misconduct, and other improprieties concerning departments employees.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :
Duties include but are not limited to:
- · Schedules and conducts annual fire safety inspections of commercial and public buildings for compliance to Life Safety Codes and other applicable fire codes and ordinances; documents code violations and conducts follow-up inspections as needed
- · Informs building occupants of code violations and assists them in determining corrective measures for compliance
- · Inspects sites of storage tanks, bunkers of explosives and hazardous materials.
- · References and interprets construction blueprints, code books, county ordinances, and other materials to review plans including sprinkler and other fire protection systems
- · Keeps and up-dates computer records of inspections, certifications, violations, etc.
- · Participating and adherence of policies and safety procedures as they relate to fire investigations.
- · Maintaining investigative equipment or coordinating with appropriate personnel if outside repair is required.
- · Responds to complaints filed with the department by employees or citizens. Provides sufficient written and oral details about complaints to the Fire Marshal.
- · Conducts interviews of witnesses and subjects. Summarizes interviews in written reports to be reviewed by the Fire Marshal.
- · Drafts reports and related exhibits for review, summarizing investigative findings and when appropriate.
- · Conducting interrogations, death investigations, surveillance of suspects, and financial investigations and files reports.
- · Assuring Georgia requirements are met to maintain certification.
- · Maintains a high level of proficiency regarding policies, procedures, statutes, the Douglas County Merit System, the Douglas County Safety Manual and other resources as needed to support the facts and circumstances of investigations.
- · Other duties may be assigned
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS :
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE :
- · High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
- · Continuing education (preferred) with specialized courses in
- o Building Inspection
- · Three years of progressive experience in related fields such as education, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, safety inspections, building inspection or similar work-related knowledge and/or experience, preferred
- · Three years progressive experience in dealing with fire suppression, law enforcement or subsidiary associated field or a combination of career fields preferred.
- · Successful completion of Police Mandate School.
- · Successful completion of Basic Firefighter Course of the Georgia Fire Academy and meeting all requirements set forth by the Georgia Firefighters Training and Standard Council desired but not required.
- · Any equivalent combination of education or experience may be acceptable
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS :
- · Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older
- · Must have no felony convictions or disqualifying convictions as set forth per P.O.S.T.
- · Must have the ability to pass a physical examination
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS :
- · Possess and maintain a valid United States driver’s license; a satisfactory motor vehicle record (MVR) and the ability and willingness to drive a county vehicle.
- · Certification as Fire Inspector must be obtained within one (1) year of appointment
- · Certification as a Firefighter by the State of Georgia; maintain certification desired, but not required.
- · Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid; maintain certification.
- · Certification as a Peace Officer by the State of Georgia; maintain certification.
- · Certification as a Georgia Fire Investigator as required by Department
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES :
- · Knowledge of modern fire prevention principles, procedures, techniques and equipment
- · Knowledge of fire prevention laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
- · Knowledge of the chemistry, causes and prevention of fires
- · Knowledge of the functions of other governmental jurisdictions and authorities as they relate to fire department work
- · Knowledge of the development regulations, Life Safety Codes and related building and fire prevention codes and ordinances
- · Knowledge of building materials and construction techniques
- · Ability to read, analyze and interpret a variety of documents such as blueprints, legal codes, technical reports, governmental policies and procedures, correspondence, budgets, tables, professional articles, etc.
- · Ability to establish facts and to draw valid conclusions
- · Ability to write reports
- · Ability to retain valid certification as a certified firefighter on an annual basis (if certified)
- · Knowledge of the principles and practices of fire inspections, fire investigations and other aspects of fire service.
- · Knowledge of the Department’s policies and procedures and of County ordinances and fire codes relating to fire and rescue services.
- · Skill in taking photographic evidence as required and maintaining accurate and comprehensive reports and records.
- · Ability to interpret and enforce county and departmental policies and procedures.
- · Ability to maintain confidential information as it relates to investigative processes.
- · Ability to effectively brief supervisors.
- · Ability to read, analyze and interpret a variety of documents such as technical reports, governmental policies and procedures, correspondence, budgets, tables, professional articles, etc.
- · Ability to communicate effectively with employees and managers at all levels of the organization.
- · Ability to retain required valid certifications as required by assignment on an annual basis.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS :
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform 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 is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms; to carry, pull or lift; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
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 and is regularly exposed to extreme heat.
- The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee occasionally works with explosives and is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate except during certain fire scene activities when noise levels may be loud.
- The details listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various elements of this position and the work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements does not exclude them if their nature is similar, related or a logical extension of the position.
