Job Description

Nature of Work

Special Hiring Rate:
Certified - $39,416
Non-certified - $34,398
Continuous Recruitment, Statewide: The DOP anticipates several vacancies in the near future for this classification. This recruitment is not for a specific vacancy but to generate a pool of interested applicants. This classification has positions in every area of the state and works for the Fire Commission. Make sure you mark in your county selection any county you would be willing to work in or commute to so you can be placed on the proper register.
In a training capacity, acquires the ability to perform protective services work in fire prevention, fire safety, as well as fire, arson, and explosion investigations. For a period of time to be specified by the State Fire Marshal, the employee learns proper methods of fire prevention, inspection, and investigation through self-study, required classroom/course training, required certification completion, and by assisting with fire prevention inspections, as well as fire, arson, and explosion investigations in the field. The employee is assigned a primary geographic area but could be subject to work anywhere within the State. Travel is required. Required to work in potentially hazardous and dangerous environments during fire safety inspections as well as during fire, arson, and explosion investigations. Performs related work as required.

Hiring Process: This job is a tested position indicated with a (T) beside the title and requires an online examination. Once your application is received, you will be notified from CourseMill (web-based Learning Management System). You must complete the online examination within ten (10) days of receiving your notification or your application will be inactivated.

DO NOT APPLY UNLESS YOU CAN TEST WITHIN ten (10) DAYS after receiving your notification from CourseMill. Online applicants who do not test within ten (10) days of receiving this notification will be inactivated. There is a thirty (30 day) re-test waiting period.

Caution: Any time you retake the same test, your new score, whether higher or lower, will automatically replace any previous test scores.

If you have previously applied for this job and simply want to update your ID (name, address, etc.), work preferences, or county availability, do not re-apply. Instead, email us at applicantservices@wv.gov.

Examples of Work

• Participates in formal classroom and on-the-job training to develop familiarity with state and federal laws on fire safety inspection as well as fire, arson and explosion investigation.
• Assists with fire safety inspections of schools, public and private health care facilities, correctional facilities, and businesses and occupancies for compliance with fire safety codes; assists with follow-up inspections.
• Learns to determine adequacy of hallways, stairways and doors to allow safe exit from the building.
• Assists in the preparation of written reports.
• Assists with investigations.
• Learns to search fire scenes for physical evidence.
• May make sketches and/or take photographs at fire scenes.
• Learns to employ electronic detectors to locate physical evidence.
• Assists with interviewing witnesses and suspects to obtain corroborative evidence.
• May be required to testify in a court of law.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Learns to acquire knowledge of state and federal laws on fire safety inspection as well as fire, arson and explosion investigation.
• Learns to acquire knowledge of fire safety inspection, as well as fire, arson and explosion procedures and techniques.
• Ability to critically examine plans, drawings, and specifications to determine compliance with fire codes.
• Ability to conduct fire safety inspections and fire, arson and explosion investigations Ability to identify and preserve evidence collected at fire scenes.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with property owners, public officials and fellow employees.
• Ability to make presentations and instruct various ages.
• May require the ability to provide testimony.

Minimum Qualifications

Training: Bachelor\'s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
OR
Substitution: High school diploma or the equivalent and four (4) years of full-time or part-time equivalent paid or volunteer experience in law enforcement, fire prevention, fire safety, building inspection or safety related fields.
OR
Any combination of experience as described above and successful completion of college coursework from a regionally accredited college or university may substitute for the above training at a rate of one (1) year for every thirty (30) semester hours.
AND
Special Requirement: All new hires after July 1, 2020 shall comply with the law enforcement certification requirements set forth in West Virginia Code \xc2\xa730-29-1 et seq. New hires without certification must complete training to acquire the required law enforcement certification in compliance with the aforementioned West Virginia Code.

TEST EXEMPTION: Applicants with a verified Bachelor\'s (BS) or Master\'s (MS) from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in Criminal Justice; Criminology; Law Enforcement; Forensic Science; Homeland Security; Fire Science & Emergency Management; Public Safety & Security; Public Safety & Emergency Management; Investigative Forensics; Public Safety Administration; Emergency Management; Occupational Safety and Health; or Architecture are NOT required to take the online examination. These applicants receive automatic preference in eligible referral. If you have questions, call (304) 558-3950 ext 1.

ATTENTION: Applicant must verify post high school education by submitting an official transcript or diploma, training or licensure earned pertaining to this position by the closing date of the posting, if not previously verified. If you are claiming Veterans preference, please submit "MEMBER 4" form and/or your VA Letter.

Please attach documents to the online application before submitting it. Or, you may email it to: or by mail to: WV Division of Personnel, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Building 3, Suite 500, Charleston, WV 25305.

This announcement is for one or more specific vacancies and only applies to the location(s) indicated. Your application will remain active for this job for 180 days or until the job is filled. Application for this job does not automatically qualify you for other positions. Be sure to submit your application for each position of interest. To receive an email notice anytime jobs in this or other categories are posted, you may choose to complete a from the slide-out menu located at the top left of our Job Opportunities page.

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