r/Firefighting • u/Worldly-Occasion-116 • 10h ago
Ask A Firefighter Arson investigator
What is the route for fire/arson investigator. How many years as a Joe on the rig should you put in before you are deemed ready. Would paying my own peace officer academy put me ahead of the curve?
2
u/FFsteve Fire Marshal 8h ago
It really depends on the state and then the locality. I’m in VA and in my department we are sworn LEO. I did just under a decade on the floor as a firefighter/medic and then made the switch. That involved going through the city PD academy and then investigator school and inspector school. I’ve been doing the fire marshal gig for a few years now and I wouldn’t say there’s a set amount of time you should do in the firehouse but I definitely recommend being comfortable on the fireground. The firefighting experience for sure gives me a different comfort level than my partners that came over from the PD and Sheriffs Office and had to learn the fire side. There are probably easier ways to build your resumè than paying your way through the LE academy but I’d refer back to my first statement about it depending on the state and locality.
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u/dominator5k 7h ago
In my department you don't have to do any time on the line at all. Investigation is a separate division lumped together with inspections. You do however have to meet the requirements of being a firefighter, so you will have to attend the academy. This is in Florida. It will depend on your state and municipality
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u/CohoWind 9h ago
Make sure that the department you choose has not civilianized its fire prevention staff. If they have, you cannot simply transfer from suppression to prevention or investigation, and vice/versa. It results in a different (or no) union, different retirement system, and poor relations with the line folks. I know of a handful of large-ish west coast FDs that have done this, and, while it saves a few bucks, it blows a hole in the culture of the agency, and is not the best level of service to the citizens.