Savage, MN

2026-04-07

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal, the Fire Inspector is responsible for community risk reduction, fire prevention, inspections, investigations, and public education. The role ensures compliance with fire and life safety codes through plan reviews and inspections of new and existing residential, commercial, and industrial properties. The Fire Inspector also assists with fire cause investigations, emergency and pre-fire planning, and community risk reduction efforts. As a certified firefighter, this position will also respond to emergency calls as assigned and may act as Fire Marshal in the Assistant Chief’s absence.

This is a full-time, union position with a regular schedule of five 8-hour workdays, Monday through Friday, requiring flexibility to perform fire investigations, public education activities, or inspections outside of regular hours as needed.

Anticipated starting pay is $87,152 to $97,572 per year, depending on qualifications. Full 2026 pay range is $87,152 to $114,816 per year.

Anticipated Hiring Timeline

Phone Interviews – Week of May 4

Panel Interviews / In Basket – May 20

Chief Interviews – Week of May 26

Pre-Employment Screenings – June and early July

City Council Approval to Hire – July 20

Anticipated Start Date – August 10, 2026

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

* Conduct inspections and enforce fire codes.
* Review construction plans for fire and life safety compliance.
* Review and evaluate life safety systems to ensure proper installation and function.
* Respond to emergency scenes to investigate the origin and cause of fires; support arson prevention and reporting.
* Respond to a wide range of emergency incidents and scenes, as assigned, to control and extinguish fires, contain hazardous materials, deliver emergency medical care; and protect life and property.
* Develop, direct, and assist with community risk reduction programs.
* Collaborate with city departments and community partners on safety initiatives.
* May act as the Fire Marshal in the absence of the Assistant Chief.
* Maintain records, complete reports, and support administrative functions.
* Continued education on fire codes, regulations, and industry best practices through ongoing training and professional development to ensure accurate code interpretation and effective enforcement.
* Conduct training in code enforcement, community risk reduction, fire protection, fire investigation, and other assigned fire-related training.
* Maintain individual firefighting, EMS, and rescue skills, including physical conditioning.
* Assist in other departmental administrative activities as assigned.
* Perform other related work as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

General

* High school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
* Valid driver’s license.
* Must meet the minimum physical fitness standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), including completing an annual physical agility/endurance test.
* Must pass a comprehensive pre-employment background check, physical exam, drug screen, and psychological evaluation.
* Physical ability to perform inspections at all elevations (above, at, and below grade level).

Education & Experience

* Minimum of two (2) years of experience in fire service, fire inspections, or a related field.
* Fire Inspector I Certification (Minnesota or IFSAC Accredited), or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
* Fire Inspector II Certification (Minnesota or IFSAC Accredited), or the ability to obtain within two (2) years of hire.
* IAAI Fire Investigation Technician certification (or equivalent), or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment.
* Fire Instructor I Certification (Minnesota or IFSAC Accredited), or the ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire.
* Proficiency in MS Office and other database management software.

Certifications

* Licensed by the State of Minnesota as a firefighter, or the ability to obtain licensing within one year of hire (Minnesota Statute
* 299N).
* State Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
* Obtain the Local Hazard Zone (BlueCard) Certification within one year of hire.

The City of Savage offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including health, dental, and vision insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; PERA retirement; deferred compensation plans; wellness programs; and paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

01

Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?

* Yes
* No

02

Do you have a valid and unrestricted drivers license?

* Yes
* No

03

Which of the following best describes your experience in the fire service, fire inspection or a closely related field?

* I have some experience, but it totals less than two-years.
* I have two to five years of experience.
* I have more than five years of experience.
* None of the above.

04

For each position you have held in the fire service, please list the department or agency name, your job title, whether that job was paid-on-call, part-time, or full-time, and your start and end date in that position.

05

Which of the following best describes your post-secondary education at an accredited college, university or technical school?

* I possess an Associate’s Degree or higher in Fire Science or a closely related field.
* I possess at least 50% of the credits required for an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science or a closely related field.
* I possess an Associate’s Degree or higher in Public Administration, Public Safety or a related field.
* I possess an Associate’s Degree or higher in an unrelated field.
* None of the above.

06

Please list the name of any college, university or technical school(s) attended, your major field(s) of study and any degree(s) earned. If you have taken coursework but not yet earned a degree, please list an approximate number of credits earned thus far.

07

Are you currently licensed as a firefighter by the State of Minnesota?

* Yes
* No

08

Which of the following best describes your current level of certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians?

* I am a certified Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
* I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
* I am a certified Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
* I am a certified Paramedic.
* None of the above.

09

Which of the following best describes your status regarding Minnesota of IFSAC accredited Fire Inspector 1 Certification?

* I currently possess a valid Certification. (Please attach documentation.)
* I am working toward Certification and am 50% or more of the way there.
* I have started working toward Certification, but am less than 50% complete.
* I have not yet begun working toward Certification.

10

Which of the following best describes your status regarding Minnesota or IFSAC accredited Fire Inspector 2 Certification?

* I currently possess a valid Certification. (Please attached documentation.)
* I am working toward Certification and am 50% or more of the way there.
* I have started working toward Certification, but am less than 50% complete.
* I have not yet begun working toward Certification.

11

Which of the following best describe your status regarding Minnesota or IFSAC accredited Fire Instructor I Certification?

* I currently possess a valid Certification. (Please attach documentation.)
* I am working toward Certification and am 50% or more of the way there.
* I have started working toward Certification but am less than 50% complete.
* I have not yet begun working toward Certification.

12

Which of the following best describes your status regarding IAAI (or equivalent) Fire Investigation Technician Certification?

* I currently possess a valid Certification. (Please attach documentation.)
* I am working toward Certification and am 50% or more of the way there.
* I have started working toward Certification but am less than 50% complete.
* I have not yet begun working toward Certification.

13

Do you speak any languages in addition to English?

* Yes
* No

14

If you answered yes to the question above, please list the language(s) and categorize your proficiency as basic, conversational or fluent.

15

Please describe your experience with fire code interpretation, application and/or enforcement.

16

Please describe your experience with public education and community outreach as it relates to the fire service. Include examples of programs, presentations or initiatives you have participated in or led and briefly describe your role or responsibilities.

17

Please describe why you are interested in becoming a Fire Inspector and how your education, training and experience have prepared you for this role.

* Required Question

Full-time

Not Applicable

Government Administration