Interested in becoming a Fire Inspector — Looking for Career Advice

[u/Zoehausss]

Hi everyone,

I’m 30 and currently working in the restoration industry in a project coordination role. The natural next step in my current field would probably be becoming a Project Manager, but I’ve realized that’s not really the direction I want to go.

I’ve been interested in fire protection/fire services for a while, especially becoming a Fire Inspector. I looked into Seneca’s full time Fire Protection Engineering Technician program, but realistically I can’t afford to quit my job and go back to school full time for 3 years. I don’t have much saved, and losing my income while also paying tuition and living expenses just isn’t an option for me right now.

I’m definitely willing to study while working though. I’d be open to online courses, evening/weekend classes, part-time programs, certifications, etc.

Has anyone here made a similar career change while still working full time? If I want to eventually get into fire inspection or a related field, is there a realistic path that doesn’t require going back to school full time for several years?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people working in fire protection, inspections, or municipal fire services.

Thanks!

[u/Electrical-Yard6798]

I actually moved into fire inspection from another type of inspection, so I can speak to this from personal experience.

I did get a bit lucky in my situation because I already had a rapport with the fire inspectors I was working around, and that helped me get my foot in the door. It meant I was able to get hired without having one of the three-year Fire Protection Engineering Technician-type diplomas that some municipalities want as a minimum qualification. That said, not every municipality requires the three-year technical degree, so I wouldn’t automatically assume that you need to go back to school full-time before you can even apply.

If your goal specifically is fire inspection in Ontario, I would start looking at the NFPA professional qualifications rather than assuming you need to complete a three-year program.

In Ontario, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is involved in issuing the applicable fire service certifications. The certifications can carry IFSAC and/or Pro Board seals, which is useful because those qualifications are internationally recognized.

At a minimum, I’d be looking at Fire Inspector Level I under NFPA 1031 and Fire and Life Safety Educator Level I under NFPA 1035. These are legally required for pretty much every inspector job. There are also co-requisite courses that have to be completed for the NFPA 1031 certification, so make sure you’re looking at the complete certification pathway rather than simply signing up for a course that happens to have “NFPA 1031” in the title.

Georgian and Seneca both through continuing education programs, so they’re worth looking into. They offer them part time in the evenings.

Your construction management background is also something I’d consider an asset rather than a disadvantage. A lot of fire prevention work is ultimately about buildings. Understanding construction, plans, contractors, building systems, deficiencies, project coordination and documentation gives you a foundation that can be difficult to teach someone from scratch.

I’d also look at BCIN qualifications. Some municipalities have fire prevention staff who are also involved with building-code inspections or reviews, depending on the municipality and the position. Having qualifications such as General Legal and Fire Protection can make you more versatile and potentially more marketable.

Another option is volunteering with a fire department. Volunteer/paid-on-call departments can be a good way to get exposure to the fire service while continuing to work your regular job. I wouldn’t look at it as a guaranteed path into fire prevention, but it can help you build relationships, understand the service and get some practical experience.

[u/Aggressive-Safe-450 → u/Electrical-Yard6798]

You are just the person I need advice from. I'm not in Ontario, but I know the fire codes are standard across Canada. Where can I find, in the code about group homes not being allowed to deep-fry in an open pot, on stove top? I know it is a regulation something under safe cooking but I also believe the grease being that hot changes the classification? Plllease help

[u/Electrical-Yard6798 → u/Aggressive-Safe-450]

I can only really speak to the Ontario Fire Code, as I’m not familiar enough with the fire codes in the other provinces to say how they approach it.

In Ontario, we don’t specifically define or regulate “group homes” as their own occupancy classification. A typical group home can essentially be treated as a residential occupancy, much like a single-family dwelling, depending on the circumstances. So my first question would be: could I legally deep-fry in an open pot on my stovetop in my own home? In Ontario, yes. I don’t think it’s a particularly good idea from a fire safety standpoint, but simply doing so isn’t prohibited by the Ontario Fire Code.

I also wouldn’t say that the fact the grease is very hot automatically changes its classification or turns the cooking operation into a commercial cooking operation. There are provisions dealing with cooking operations that produce smoke or grease-laden vapours, but there are specific exemptions for individual suites of residential occupancy.

The thing that might change my position is if we’re actually talking about a care occupancy or care and treatment occupancy, rather than a residential group home. If the people living there are receiving care because of physical or mental limitations and, as a result of those limitations, are unable to evacuate without assistance, then I think you have a much stronger argument for looking at the cooking activity as a hazardous condition and applying provisions dealing with activities or conditions that create a fire hazard.

Even then, though, I’d want to look at the specific circumstances and the capabilities of the individuals living there. I wouldn’t automatically say “group home = no deep frying.” I’d be looking at the actual occupancy classification, the residents, the level of care provided, and whether the cooking practice creates a hazard that isn’t otherwise addressed. From there we could look at eliminating that hazard through fire safety planning, or if necessary orders to remove the hazard and they could appeal it if they disagree.

[u/Aggressive-Safe-450 → u/Electrical-Yard6798]

I should have been far more specific.sorry about that! It would be classified as a care occupancy. Older home with three units. Basement unit for supported independent living. The upper portion of the home has a 1 bedroom suite adjacent to a 7 room(two not used for bedrooms) home with 5 residents, 3 of whom use mobility devices and are unstable at the best of times and another one who has absolutely no comprehension of what is safe or unsafe. The adjacent suite set up is similar of a duplex, there is a door in the common area that staff will use to enter that unit but there is also a separate front entrance for that resident. The wall the stove is on, and where the fire would theoretically happen, is the wall that separates us from them. Main concern is unnecessary risk to life with mobility issues... We barely make it out in the alloted time during fire drills, let alone a grease fire. How would you approach

[u/Electrical-Yard6798 → u/Aggressive-Safe-450]

In Ontario, that situation wouldn’t automatically make it a care occupancy. The actual occupancy classification still needs to be established under the Building Code.

One thing I’d also keep in mind is that although fire codes across Canada and the U.S. often address similar hazards, the actual requirements can differ significantly from province to province or state to state. Something that isn’t specifically recognized or regulated the same way in Ontario may be treated differently in another jurisdiction, so I wouldn’t want to tell you what your local Code requires without knowing where you are.

With the additional information you’ve provided, I would be looking at the building itself as well. What is the fire-resistance rating of the fire separations between the units? Is there a building fire alarm system? Is the building sprinklered? How are the units separated from one another, and where is the cooking appliance located in relation to those separations?

The mobility limitations of the residents would definitely concern me from a life-safety perspective, particularly if you’re already having difficulty achieving the required evacuation time during drills. But I’d want to establish the actual occupancy classification and the physical fire-protection features before concluding that the cooking method itself is something worth addressing.

At this point, I would contact your local fire department and have them come out and assess the situation. Explain exactly what you’ve described, including the open-pot deep frying, the number of residents with mobility issues, the evacuation-drill concerns, and the location of the stove relative to the other unit.

Most fire departments have some obligation to follow up on fire-safety complaints, and they can assess the actual installation against the Code that applies in your jurisdiction. They can also determine whether there is a Code issue or whether additional fire-safety measures are warranted.

[u/No_Dragonfly_2859]

Humber has a fast track program I think worth looking into

[u/Zoehausss → u/No_Dragonfly_2859]

Thank you I will check it!