Salary : $100,396.14 Annually
Location : 211 N. Henry St., Lancaster, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:Department: Fire Marshal
Opening Date: 10/26/2026
Summary 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.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities - 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 ResponsibilitiesThis position manages subordinate employees within the Fire Marshal Department.
Education and/or Experience 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.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 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.
The City of Lancaster offer a complete benefits packeage to full-time employees which includes: health care; paid holidays, vacation time, sick leave, retirement, longevity, tuition reimbersemet and more.
To learn more details, vist our
01
Which of the following certifications or qualifications do you currently possess?Select all that apply.
- Texas Certified Fire Inspector
- Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Investigator Certification
- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer Certification
- Experience and demonstrated ability reviewing fire plans
- Other fire prevention, investigation, inspection, or related certification
- I currently possess some, but not all, of the qualifications listed above
- I do not currently possess any of the qualifications listed above
02
How many years of professional experience do you have in fire prevention, fire inspections, fire investigations, fire code enforcement, or a closely related field?
- 10 or more years
- 7 to less than 10 years
- 5 to less than 7 years
- 3 to less than 5 years
- 1 to less than 3 years
- Less than 1 year
- No related experience
03
Which statement best describes your experience conducting fire investigations?
- I have extensive experience independently determining fire origin and cause, collecting and preserving evidence, preparing investigative reports, and testifying regarding findings.
- I regularly participate in fire investigations and have independently handled some investigations.
- I have assisted with fire investigations but have limited experience serving as the primary investigator.
- I have fire-service or inspection experience but limited direct fire-investigation experience.
- I do not have fire-investigation experience.
04
Which statement best describes your experience reviewing fire plans and applying fire codes to construction, development, or occupancy?
- I independently review fire plans, evaluate fire-protection systems, interpret applicable fire codes, and provide technical direction to architects, engineers, developers, or contractors.
- I have experience reviewing fire plans and applying fire codes but occasionally consult others on more complex projects.
- I have participated in inspections or plan reviews but have limited responsibility for independently approving or evaluating plans.
- I have fire inspection experience but limited fire-plan review experience.
- I do not have experience reviewing fire plans.
05
Which statement best describes your supervisory or management experience?
- I have significant experience supervising employees and managing departmental operations, budgets, performance, training, and work assignments.
- I have direct supervisory experience and have been responsible for staff assignments, performance, or departmental operations.
- I have served in a lead or acting-supervisor capacity but have limited formal management experience.
- I have extensive technical experience but little supervisory experience.
- I do not have supervisory or leadership experience.
06
Which statement best describes your experience working with law enforcement or conducting enforcement-related activities?
- I have direct law-enforcement experience, including investigations, evidence handling, warrants, arrests, and/or criminal case preparation.
- I regularly collaborate with law-enforcement agencies on investigations or enforcement matters but do not independently perform all law-enforcement functions.
- I have some experience working with law enforcement through fire investigations, inspections, or public-safety incidents.
- I have limited direct law-enforcement experience but understand the importance of interagency collaboration.
- I do not have related experience.
07
This position requires call-back availability for fire investigations and hazardous-material incidents after normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Which statement best describes your availability?
- I am fully available for after-hours, weekend, and holiday call-back as required.
- I understand the requirement and can generally accommodate unscheduled call-backs, although occasional circumstances may affect my immediate availability.
- I have some after-hours availability but may have difficulty responding consistently to unscheduled call-backs.
- I am generally unavailable for nights, weekends, or holiday call-back.
Required Question
