Fire Investigators

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Fire Investigators

Conduct investigations to determine causes of fires and explosions.

Activities
Degrees
Abilities
Interests
Knowledge
Wages
Related
Skills
Tasks
Environment
Personal Styles
Personal Needs
Personal Values

Degrees

Fire Protection and Safety Technology + Technician

Fire Science + Fire-fighting

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to see details at a distance.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Speed of Closure

The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Control Precision

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Visual Color Discrimination

The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Auditory Attention

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Extent Flexibility

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Manual Dexterity

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Multilimb Coordination

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Static Strength

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Depth Perception

The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Hearing Sensitivity

The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Dynamic Strength

The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Spatial Orientation

The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.

The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.

Glare Sensitivity

The ability to see objects in the presence of glare or bright lighting.

Response Orientation

The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

The ability to see under low light conditions.

Gross Body Coordination

The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.

Gross Body Equilibrium

The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Peripheral Vision

The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.

Sound Localization

The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

Speed of Limb Movement

The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.

Wrist-Finger Speed

The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Interests

Third Interest High-Point

Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

First Interest High-Point

Primary-Rank Descriptiveness

Second Interest High-Point

Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Personnel and Human Resources

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Sociology and Anthropology

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Philosophy and Theology

Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

Therapy and Counseling

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Communications and Media

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Economics and Accounting

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Sales and Marketing

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Foreign Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

History and Archeology

Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

Food Production

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Wages

Iowa	$58,080.00

Ohio	$42,500.00

Utah	$42,650.00

Related Careers

Criminal Investigators & Special Agents

Investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution.

Fire Inspectors

Inspect buildings and equipment to detect fire hazards and enforce state and local regulations.

Government Property Inspectors & Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

Occupational Health & Safety Specialists

Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

Police Detectives

Conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.

Private Detectives & Investigators

Detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment, or seek, examine, and compile information for client.

Product Safety Engineers

Develop and conduct tests to evaluate product safety levels and recommend measures to reduce or eliminate hazards.

Transit & Railroad Police

Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.

Skills

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Equipment Selection

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Teaching others how to do something.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Operation Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Technology Design

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Management of Material Resources

Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Management of Financial Resources

Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Tasks

Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.

Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.

Instruct children about the dangers of fire.

Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.

Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.

Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.

Swear out warrants, and arrest and process suspected arsonists.

Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.

Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.

Conduct internal investigation to determine negligence and violation of laws and regulations by fire department employees.

Test sites and materials to establish facts, such as burn patterns and flash points of materials, using test equipment.

Dust evidence or portions of fire scenes for latent fingerprints.

Career Activities

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

communicate technical information

make presentations

serve arrest, search or seizure warrants

serve or issue summonses or subpoenas

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes

use interviewing procedures

use knowledge of fire, building or other codes

use knowledge of investigation techniques

use knowledge of materials testing procedures

use oral or written communication techniques

use public speaking techniques

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

recognize public safety hazards

Processing Information

compile evidence for court actions

compile information on findings from investigation of accidents

investigate complaints, disturbances, or violations

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

cooperate with court personnel or other law enforcement agencies

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

apprehend or arrest suspect or perpetrator of criminal act

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

conduct fire hazard inspections

determine negligence or violation of laws or regulations

review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved

Getting Information

gather physical evidence

interview crime witnesses or victims to obtain descriptive information

Analyzing Data or Information

analyze existing evidence or facts

analyze test data

determine fire causes

test materials or solutions

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

testify in court for accident and criminal cases

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

explain government laws or regulations

Performing Administrative Activities

maintain records, reports, or files

prepare reports

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

estimate size or characteristics of fire

Controlling Machines and Processes

operate cameras

Career Context

Electronic Mail

Freedom to Make Decisions

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment

Structured versus Unstructured Work

Deal With External Customers

Face-to-Face Discussions

Exposed to Contaminants

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Contact With Others

Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Letters and Memos

Frequency of Decision Making

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions

Physical Proximity

Work With Work Group or Team

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather

Responsible for Others' Health and Safety

Consequence of Error

Coordinate or Lead Others

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results

Outdoors, Under Cover

Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled

Frequency of Conflict Situations

Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People

Exposed to Disease or Infections

Level of Competition

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings

Deal With Physically Aggressive People

Exposed to High Places

Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions

Spend Time Walking and Running

In an Open Vehicle or Equipment

Spend Time Standing

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection

Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks

Career Styles

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Concern for Others

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Adaptability/Flexibility

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Social Orientation

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Career Needs

Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

Ability Utilization

Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

Workers on this job have steady employment.

Workers on this job are looked up to by others in their company and their community.

Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

Workers on this job have something different to do every day.

Company Policies and Practices

Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.

Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

Workers on this job receive recognition for the work they do.

Workers on this job try out their own ideas.

Supervision, Human Relations

Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.

Workers on this job have co-workers who are easy to get along with.

Workers on this job give directions and instructions to others.

Workers on this job are paid well in comparison with other workers.

Workers on this job do their work alone.

Supervision, Technical

Workers on this job have supervisors who train their workers well.

Workers on this job are busy all the time.

Workers on this job have opportunities for advancement.

Workers on this job have work where they do things for other people.

Working Conditions

Workers on this job have good working conditions.

Career Values