How to Become a Fire Investigator – In 5 Steps

After the tragedy of a fire, someone must come to the scene and try to figure out the cause of the fire.

That is the job of a Fire Investigator.

Fire Investigator

A thorough investigation is done for insurance purposes or to ensure that the fire was not started for malicious reasons.

Fire Investigators look through every aspect of the destruction to try and understand how the fire started, if anyone caused the fire, and bring evidence to a courtroom if needed.

This job requires investigative skills and understanding the mechanics of fire which can be a long and arduous road, but worth it in the end.

Job Description

After a fire has been extinguished and everyone involved has been found, a Fire Investigator will come to the scene of the fire and figure out the cause of the incident.

Determining what happened in the case of a fire is important, and a Fire Investigator has many duties to complete, such as:

  • Document the discovery of the fire
  • Speak to the fire discoverer
  • Document the conditions after the fire
  • Document how the fire was extinguished and the condition of the area after
  • Investigate and examine the fire scene
  • Create diagrams of the scene
  • Create a video and take photos for a possible criminal investigation
  • Complete computer graphics images

It is important to document every aspect of the fire scene.

Salary

In the United States, a Fire Investigator can make about $65,800 on average each year.

This comes out to about $31.63 per hour or $1,265.20 per week for those who work full-time.

Those at the top of their career can make upwards of $142,668 per year in some areas.

With that salary, the average hourly wage for a Fire Investigator is $68 or $2,743 per week.

You could make quite a living with a career as a Fire Investigator, and with proper education and licensing, you could become one of the highest-paid in the field.

U.S. Average Salary: $82,510

$46K
$50.6K
$82K
$90.2K
$99.2K
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

Salary Information by State

State Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama530$54,950$26.42$67,680$38,130
Alaska30$87,120$41.89$120,790$46,250
Arizona150$70,280$33.79$88,960$53,090
Arkansas30$61,010$29.33$80,090$40,000
California860$98,480$47.35$139,780$54,450
Colorado290$87,640$42.13$122,460$56,310
Connecticut380$84,680$40.71$114,190$53,920
Delaware100$57,660$27.72$80,240$34,300
Florida2,510- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
Georgia330$60,860$29.26$80,080$44,050
Idaho60$68,340$32.86$97,730$48,210
Illinois440$80,440$38.68$120,600$43,240
Indiana260$61,440$29.54$92,520$39,310
Iowa60$91,270$43.88$144,060$51,560
Kansas90$62,180$29.89$91,080$40,870
Kentucky70$55,340$26.61$83,270$35,510
Louisiana90$63,060$30.32$95,840$36,120
Maine100$65,110$31.30$108,720$47,670
Maryland300$80,730$38.81$105,460$45,910
Massachusetts40$74,420$35.78$109,570$47,870
Michigan270$71,660$34.45$99,480$39,720
Minnesota140$81,460$39.16$103,850$58,450
Mississippi100$51,040$24.54$63,190$34,940
Missouri200$90,970$43.74$156,670$41,500
Nebraska60$68,790$33.07$104,460$47,050
Nevada190$88,140$42.38$102,990$61,610
New Hampshire60$74,210$35.68$96,980$53,680
New Jersey970$72,680$34.94$104,190$46,450
New Mexico50$58,930$28.33$81,310$38,860
New York1,050$77,440$37.23$104,460$50,570
North Carolina520$64,700$31.11$81,520$44,320
North Dakota30$74,600$35.87$90,670$57,980
Ohio490$96,120$46.21$124,800$55,640
Oklahoma200$59,740$28.72$112,880$30,350
Oregon130$99,420$47.80$119,810$54,320
Pennsylvania170$62,630$30.11$87,350$47,000
Rhode Island150$72,190$34.71$87,840$57,590
South Carolina180$58,740$28.24$75,910$43,370
Tennessee540$62,580$30.09$77,000$47,080
Texas1,030$72,110$34.67$97,450$48,850
Utah80$71,920$34.58$89,750$50,100
Vermont30$66,700$32.07$74,380$54,190
Virginia160$66,040$31.75$92,360$44,070
Washington250$107,490$51.68$139,620$72,340
West Virginia90$50,420$24.24$59,030$40,290
Wisconsin180$62,040$29.83$88,510$33,820
Puerto Rico110$43,660$20.99$51,630$34,670

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

Washington tops the list in this field, with an average salary of $107,490.

These are the leading 10 states in terms of earnings in the field:

Washington - $107,490
Oregon - $99,420
California - $98,480
Ohio - $96,120
Iowa - $91,270
Missouri - $90,970
Nevada - $88,140
Colorado - $87,640
Alaska - $87,120
Connecticut - $84,680
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Fire Inspectors and Investigators, OCC Code 33-2021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

How to Become a Fire Investigator

1. Complete High School

The first step toward a future career as a Fire Investigator is to finish four years of high school and graduate.

This will set you up for a path of success no matter your career endeavors.

High school can be completed during your teenage years, and you will be able to study relevant topics like chemistry, physics, computer science, and even most math classes, which will help you get a head start.

If you are over eighteen and do not have your high school diploma, you can earn a GED by taking an exam that will help determine if you know everything necessary to graduate from high school.

2. Earn an Associate’s Degree

One of the options for education when looking into becoming a Fire Investigator is to go to a community college or university to earn an Associate’s degree, which will take about two years.

Relevant programs that you could look into when considering an Associate’s degree are:

  • Fire Science
  • Forensic science
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering

There is no formal degree to become a Fire Investigator, but anything relevant can give you a leg up when considering positions in this field.

With the knowledge gained through higher education, you will be able to understand the complexities of how a fire starts, why it starts, and how to get it to go out at the atomic level.

3. Gain Experience

Those who don’t plan to go to college or want to get started in a career right away can consider a position as a firefighter.

There are options within your current town or even around other cities that provide basic training to those looking to fight fires.

You can become a paid or volunteer firefighter, depending on the options available in your area.

Paid firefighters are given compensation for their time and often can work a 24-hour shift, while volunteer firefighters don’t get paid or get paid a minimum wage and are on call.

Through the firefighter experience, you will have access to the fire academy, which will teach you all the necessary knowledge needed to fight fires like the causes of a fire, how fire alarms work, how to get yourself, your partner, and the victims safely out of burning buildings, how sprinkler systems and hoses work, as well as fire suppression.

All of this experience can help you when you want to take a step toward becoming a Fire Investigator.

The more experience you have in the field, the better understanding you will have of how fires start and what can be done to prevent them.

4. Complete a Training Program

After your experience as a firefighter or earning an Associate’s degree, you are now ready to find training to become a Fire Investigator.

This can be done through the local fire department, the National Fire Academy, or the ATF.

Most training programs will take about two years to complete.

Within your time here, you will study topics that range from fire protection, hazardous materials, forensic documentation, interrogation techniques, and much more.

Some training programs will even allow you to complete an internship so that you can learn face-to-face how fire investigation works from beginning to end.

Others will require a probationary period where you will need to work with a senior Fire Investigator to ensure that you are doing everything needed to get the answers.

The more exposure you have while studying and working with others, the easier it will be to do fire investigations on your own.

5. Become Certified

Once you have established that you want to be a Fire Investigator and have some experience on the job, you can look into becoming certified.

You will want to make sure that the certification you receive is accredited through an agency such as the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications, the National Association of Fire Investigators, or the National Fire Protection Association.

After determining the legitimacy of your training, you can begin the two-part process of becoming a Certified Fire Investigator.

First, you will need to take classes so that you understand all possible needs and outcomes of investigating a fire.

This can be done online or in person, depending on where you go to become certified.

Then, you will need to complete an exam that has 100 multiple-choice questions.

You will have two hours to complete the exam and will need to have a 75% or better in order to pass.

An email will be sent to you with your exam results, and if you pass, you are considered a Certified Fire Investigator and can wear the credentials proudly.

Education

Before you consider working as a Fire Investigator, you will need to graduate from high school or possess a GED.

A GED can be acquired when you take an exam at a community college or local adult education center.

Then, the minimum education that you need to become a Fire Investigator comes from the experience gained while working as a firefighter.

You can become a firefighter when you turn eighteen, where you will learn on-the-job training through helping people with medical issues, accidents, fire emergencies, and much more.

If you want to go a different route, it is also possible to access higher education to up your knowledge through a community college or even a university where you can earn an Associate’s degree in a relevant field.

An Associate’s degree will take about two years to complete, and you can even go to school while working as a firefighter.

You will gain both book smarts and street smarts if you complete this path.

Once you have gained experience as a firefighter and are ready to extend your knowledge to victims as a Fire Investigator, then you will need additional training.

It will take about two years to gain all the knowledge needed to be a successful Fire Investigator.

Training can be given through your local fire department, community college, or other accredited learning facilities that are accredited.

Within this time, you’ll learn how to discover where fires have started, why they started, and even deduce if someone started them maliciously.

This type of training is important and will lead you toward a long-lasting career in emergency services.

Once you complete training and have experience as a firefighter and Fire Investigator, you may want to consider certification, which will give you more proficiency in the field and allow you the opportunity to work with more people.

Licensing and Certification

To work as a Fire Investigator, you won’t need to be certified in most states, but it will help when looking for work since it shows initiative and complex understanding of the field.

There are quite a few ways to become certified, you can talk to your local fire chief, find an accredited program on the internet, or even go through your local community college or university.

A certification program will take some time to finish, as there are many bases to cover and tons of information to learn.

You will want to make sure that your certification classes are accredited and teach topics that include:

  • Arson behavior
  • Courtroom protocol
  • Evidence collecting
  • Interrogation techniques
  • How to document findings
  • Forensic detective work
  • Public service ethics

Some certification programs may require that you have at least three years of experience in law enforcement before you can complete the certification.

Once you are ready, expect to stay about two years in the program, where you will have experiences such as:

  • Investigating over 100 fires
  • Creating research papers
  • Taking exams
  • Working with ATF agents
  • Take on training courses
  • Author origin and cause reports

Earning certification is a tedious task and should be done by those who are serious about taking the next steps in their career.

Completion of the above experiences will lead you toward an exam that you will need to pass in order to become certified.

This exam consists of 100 random multiple-choice questions, and you will need to get at least a 75% score to pass.

An email will be sent to you once the tests have been scored, and if you pass, you will be considered a certified Fire Investigator.

After certification, you will need to attend an annual refresher training to keep up to date with your credentials.

Fire Investigator Requirements by State

Below is a comprehensive table detailing the Fire Investigator certification requirements for all 50 U.S. states:

StateCertification BodyRequired Training & ExperienceLicensing/Exams
AlabamaAlabama Fire CollegeMinimum age of 18 years- High school diploma or GED- Completion of six CFITrainer.net modulesState certification examination administered by the Alabama Fire College
AlaskaAlaska Fire Standards Council (AFSC)Completion of a hybrid program including online learning, in-class training, and hands-on work- Program aligns with NFPA 1033 standardsAFSC Testing and Certification
ArizonaArizona Center for Fire Service ExcellenceHigh school diploma or GED- Completion of courses in hazardous materials, fire prevention techniques, fire behavior, and fire control methodsCertification exams administered by the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence
ArkansasArkansas Department of Labor and LicensingCompletion of required training through the Arkansas Fire Training Academy- Experience as a fire investigatorWritten examination with a minimum passing score of 80%
CaliforniaOffice of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)Completion of Fire Investigation 1A, 1B, and 1C courses totaling 160 hours- Additional online courses via CFITrainer.netCertification through OSFM upon completion of required courses and documentation
ColoradoColorado Division of Fire Prevention and ControlHigh school diploma or GED- ICC Fire Inspector I certification at the time of application- Must obtain ICC Fire Inspector II certification within six months of hireCertification exams administered by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
ConnecticutOffice of Education and Data Management (OEDM)Completion of a training course or passing a certification examination- Compliance with NFPA 1033 standardsCredentialing exams administered by OEDM
DelawareDelaware State Fire CommissionMinimum of 5 years as an EMT- Letter of recommendation from fire chief or EMS official- No disciplinary records- Completion of required training through the Delaware State Fire SchoolWritten test of 25 to 100 questions and skills evaluations
FloridaFlorida Bureau of Fire Standards & Training (BFST)Minimum of 360 hours of training- Must be a certified firefighter, law enforcement officer, crime scene technician, or firesafety inspectorCompletion of required task book- Pass state written examination with a score of 70% or higher
GeorgiaGeorgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC)Minimum of six months experience as an arson investigator- Completion of required courses: Basic Arson/Fire InvestigationCertification exams administered by GFSTC
HawaiiHonolulu Community CollegeCompletion of the Fire & Environmental Emergency Response program- Opportunity to receive ProBoard Certifications in Hazardous Materials and FirefightingCertification exams administered by ProBoard
IdahoIdaho State Fire MarshalMember of an organized fire department or inspector- Completion of required training coursesCertification exams administered by the Idaho State Fire Marshal
IllinoisIllinois Office of the State Fire MarshalCompletion of Fire Investigator Modules 1 and 2- Firefighter II Certification required (Law Enforcement Officers may take a Bypass examination)Certification exams administered by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal
IndianaIndiana Department of Homeland SecurityCompletion of Fire Investigator training- Recertification every two years with 16 hours of continuing educationCertification exams administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security
IowaIowa State Fire Marshal DivisionCompletion of required training through the Fire Service Training BureauWritten and practical skills exams administered by the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division
KansasKansas State Fire MarshalCompletion of U.S. Fire Administration Fire Investigation: Essential R0206 course or reciprocity course- Completion of 80-hour law enforcement training- Fingerprinting and background checkCertification application and documentation submitted to the Kansas State Fire Marshal
KentuckyKentucky Fire CommissionCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Kentucky Fire Commission
LouisianaLouisiana State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal
MaineMaine Fire Service InstituteCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Maine Fire Service Institute
MarylandMaryland Fire and Rescue InstituteCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
MassachusettsMassachusetts Firefighting AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
MichiganMichigan Fire Fighters Training CouncilCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council
MinnesotaMinnesota Board of Firefighter Training and EducationCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education
MississippiMississippi Fire AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Mississippi Fire Academy
MissouriMissouri Division of Fire SafetyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety
MontanaMontana Fire Services Training SchoolCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Montana Fire Services Training School
NebraskaNebraska State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal
NevadaNevada State Fire Marshal DivisionCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division
New HampshireNew Hampshire Fire Standards and Training CommissionCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training Commission
New JerseyNew Jersey Division of Fire SafetyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety
New MexicoNew Mexico Firefighters Training AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy
New YorkNew York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)Completion of 80-hour Fire Investigation course- 50 hours of supervised fire investigation activityAnnual maintenance of certification requires 12 hours of tested training and 12 hours of field activity
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Office of State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal
North DakotaNorth Dakota Firefighter's AssociationCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the North Dakota Firefighter's Association
OhioOhio Division of State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal
OklahomaOklahoma State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal
OregonOregon Department of Public Safety Standards and TrainingCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania State Fire AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Rhode IslandRhode Island Fire AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Rhode Island Fire Academy
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Fire AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the South Carolina Fire Academy
South DakotaSouth Dakota Fire Marshal's OfficeCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the South Dakota Fire Marshal's Office
TennesseeTennessee Fire and Codes AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy
TexasTexas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP)Completion of a 200-hour Fire Investigator training program- One-day practical skills sessionPass the state examination administered by TCFP- Eligible for IFSAC seal as Fire Investigator
UtahUtah Fire and Rescue AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy
VermontVermont Fire AcademyCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Vermont Fire Academy
VirginiaVirginia Department of Fire ProgramsCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs
WashingtonWashington State Patrol Fire Protection BureauCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau
West VirginiaWest Virginia State Fire MarshalCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal
WisconsinWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional ServicesCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
WyomingWyoming State Fire Marshal's OfficeCompletion of required training aligning with NFPA 1033 standardsCertification exams administered by the Wyoming State Fire Marshal's Office

Note: Requirements may be updated over time. It’s essential to consult the respective state’s official fire certification authority for the most current information.

Job Outlook

The outlook for careers as a Fire Investigator is great.

In the next ten years, the Fire Investigator career will likely grow by around five percent.

This is faster than many other careers in the same field and even faster than most careers overall.

Considering that many Fire Investigators will retire or look for other employment in that time, there are likely going to be many new spots opening up in the future.

Unfortunately, there will always be fires and a need for fire investigation, so this is a promising career to look into.

Nearly 1,600 new careers will likely be added each year to this occupation.

Should You Become a Fire Investigator?

Overall Satisfaction – High

Many Fire Investigators find their careers to be difficult, however, they believe that they are fairly compensated and do good work that helps others.

It may be a hard road to get there, but it can be a satisfying career to work as a Fire Investigator if you have the correct mindset and personality.

Using their knowledge and building on skills they have acquired over the years helps Fire Investigators see their careers as meaningful and necessary.

Average Salary – High

The average salary for a Fire Investigator in the United States is $65,800.

Those who live in larger cities with more people impacted by fires may make more, and experience can play into how much you earn each year.

Those who work full-time will likely make more money than part-time Fire Investigators.

The most a Fire Investigator makes is around $143,000 per year in this country, which is usually obtained after years of experience and certification in the field.

Job Growth Outlook – High

You will certainly have an easy time finding a career as a Fire Investigator over the next ten years.

That is because there will be a rise of about five percent throughout the United States for this career.

This is due to retirements, switching careers, and positions within the field.

The increasing number of openings as a Fire Investigator is more likely than any other career in the same field.

Look for fire departments and law enforcement offices that have a large area to cover, this will provide more chances for open positions.

Education Duration

Working as a Fire Investigator means that you will need to be educated in all aspects of the career.

An education can take anywhere from two to four years and requires both classroom time and on-the-job training.

This can be done through the fire department or even a community college.

Then, you will need to do extra training to enroll in the Fire Investigator program, a two-year commitment.

It will be about 4-6 years before you can begin work as a Fire Investigator full-time on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you have to go to school to become a Fire Investigator?

While there are several ways you can go about becoming a Fire Investigator, it will take anywhere from two to four years to gain enough experience and knowledge to work in this role.

You can either begin your journey as a firefighter and work your way up the ranks with experience and education, or you can start out earning an Associate’s degree, which will take about two years.

Becoming a Fire Investigator is a long road, but you need to know quite a bit of information and other people’s livelihood will be of the utmost importance, which is why you will need several years of education and experience.

How much money does a Fire Investigator make a year?

If you work in the United States as a Fire Investigator, you should expect to make anywhere from $35,400 to over $142,000 each year, with the average wage being around $65,800.

All of this depends on where you live in the country and if you work full-time or part-time as well as other circumstances like how often fires happen in your area.

What kind of education do you need to be a Fire Investigator?

It is not a requirement to begin your journey as a Fire Investigator by completing a two-year degree, however, you should consider enrolling in a program so that you can learn as much as possible about the chemical and physical aspects of fire.

A training program or college education can take anywhere from two to four years.

Training programs will allow you to work with other people in the field and also help you gain hands-on experience.

Learning at a community college or university will give you the higher education needed to understand a vast array of information.

Are Fire Investigators in high demand?

Yes, this is a career that is in high demand, since fires will continue to be an issue that happens throughout the fifty states, and there will always be a need for people to investigate how they started and why.

This job is likely to grow by around 5 percent over the next ten years, which is higher than many other careers in the same field.

What skills do you need to have to be Fire Investigator?

In order to succeed in this career, you’ll want to have reasoning skills, listening skills, the ability to deduce clues and evidence with your eyes and ears, as well as a basic understanding of the chemical and physical aspects of fire.

Experience in the fire department or other law enforcement is a big help when it comes to success as a Fire Investigator.

Chelsea Wilson
Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.

One Response to How to Become a Fire Investigator – In 5 Steps

  1. Junie Bert Mendoza #

    Hi, I am Junie Bert C Mendoza from the Philippine and I am a fire investigator in my country for more than 14 years, and I am interested to work in other countries and learned more from senior investigators regarding fire investigation, techniques, procedures and processes.

    I have a lot of training but I think its not enough for me to work outside my comport zone. My I ask, what would you recommend regarding my interest?

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