How to Write a Fire Inspector Resume (Step-by-Step Guide)

Updated 25 May 2023

Fire inspectors search for and assess fire hazards in public and residential buildings, helping reduce fire risks and keep buildings safe. They ensure people follow fire regulations, and test and inspect fire alarms, sprinklers and other fire prevention equipment. If you're applying for a fire inspector role, learning how to write an effective resume can help you demonstrate your skills, characteristics and experience. In this article, we explain what a fire inspector is, list some steps to help you write your resume, provide some tips and include a template and an example to guide you.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

What is a fire inspector?

A fire inspector inspects buildings and structures to identify potential fire hazards and ensure people adhere to fire safety standards and regulations. They also inspect buildings after a fire to determine the cause or source of the incident and assess the damage, recommending ways to prevent similar fires from occurring. Their role can also involve inspecting and testing fire extinguishing equipment to ensure it works correctly.

Find fire inspector jobs

How to write a fire inspector resume

Here are some steps you can take to create your fire inspector resume:

1. Insert your contact information

Place your key contact details at the beginning of your resume. For example, include your full name, phone number, professional email address and the city and state or territory where you live. Putting this information at the start of your resume makes it easy for a hiring manager to contact you for an interview.

2. Write your professional summary

Your professional summary is two to three sentences summarising your experience and qualifications. It's a great way to introduce yourself to a hiring manager and highlight your most relevant skills. You can also include any key achievements from previous positions to demonstrate the value you can bring to an organisation. For example, you may wish to include details about introducing new safety protocols or implementing changes to help reduce the risk of hazards.

3. List your work experience

Your work experience section allows a hiring manager to understand your capabilities and assess whether you have the experience they seek to perform the role. Start with your most recent or current job, using present tense verbs to describe your job tasks. Then, work backwards in reverse chronological order and use past tense verbs to describe your responsibilities in previous roles.

Bullet points are a useful way for a hiring manager to scan your work history and find relevant information that aligns with their needs. In addition to listing tasks, aim to include details about the outcome of your job roles, incorporating data or statistics where possible to demonstrate your value. For example, list the number of fire extinguishing systems you review annually or details about how you introduced new safety protocols that resulted in cost savings for your employer.

4. Highlight your relevant skills

You can list your knowledge and abilities in a specific skills section on your resume, allowing a hiring manager to identify your suitability for the role. Depending on your preference, you can combine your soft and hard skills or list these separately. For example, for a fire inspector, technical skills can refer to using specific software systems to track hazards, knowledge of fire safety regulations and the ability to use firefighting equipment. Critical soft skills for a fire inspector can include communication, time management, attention to detail and teamwork.

Related: Hard Skills vs Soft Skills

5. Include your education

Employers may seek candidates with specific fire safety certifications or qualifications, such as a Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing or a Bachelor of Science specialising in fire safety and hazard management. Some employers may also prefer candidates who have undertaken a course through the Fire Protection Association Australia. When listing your education and certifications, start with your most recent and include the name of the course and the institution.

Tips for writing your resume

Here are some tips to consider when writing your resume:

Include key achievements

To help make a positive impression on a hiring manager, include some brief anecdotes or key achievements from your work experience. Providing specific examples can help demonstrate the practical application of your skills and might be memorable to a hiring manager reading multiple resumes. For instance, you may include examples of how different testing techniques helped you identify and prevent fire hazards.

Use short sentences

When writing your resume, write short sentences that allow a hiring manager to immediately obtain key information about your capabilities. After drafting your resume, read through it to remove any filler words. Start by looking at your professional summary or work experience section.

Also, ensure you read the job description and incorporate any specific keywords from the requirements section. Matching keywords lets a hiring manager see you have the necessary skills or experience for the role. For example, you may include details about your knowledge of fire safety standards or experience using specific fire extinguisher equipment.

Related: How to Make a Resume

Use simple language

Use simple, non-technical language when writing your resume. Some organisations use their human resources team or external recruitment agencies to process applications, and they may be less familiar with the technical aspects of your role. To ensure your resume is understandable for a broad audience, omit any technical terms relating to fire codes or safety. You can also ask a friend to read your resume to check that they can understand it before sending your application. Use action verbs on your resume, as they can show confidence and demonstrate your value when listing accomplishments.

Fire inspector resume template

Here's a template you can use for your resume:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]

Education
[Qualification] | [Name of Institution]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation], [Year completed or expiration date]

Example resume for a fire inspector role

Here's an example resume that may be useful when writing your own:

Tim Mitchelson, Bachelor of Science +61 049 570 313 | tmitchelson@email.com | Adelaide, SA

Professional Summary

Experienced and dedicated fire inspector with over eight years of experience in residential and commercial buildings. Passionate about developing and implementing fire safety programs to educate individuals and communities about fire hazards. Extensive experience conducting fire investigations and introducing new protocols to create safe and secure environments.

Experience

Fire Inspector | April 2018–Current
Adelaide West Fire Brigade | Adelaide, SA

inspect residential buildings to identify fire hazards, violations and other safety issues
collaborate with the local council to perform plan reviews of new construction projects to ensure all plans meet applicable regulations, resulting in a 20% year-on-year improvement in adherence to regulations
inspect commercial buildings to identify fire hazards and safety violations, including storage of flammable materials, fire drill escape plans and correct installation of exit signs
train five junior fire inspector trainees, offering feedback and providing guidance
investigate all fires within the West Adelaide region to determine cause and liability

Fire Inspector | December 2014–March 2018
East Leagues Fire Brigade | Mt Gambier, SA

performed annual inspections on over 50 office buildings to ensure compliance with fire regulations
assisted building managers with developing fire safety plans and educating teams, including preventative maintenance that helped reduce fire risk by 70%
prepared reports for all inspections, including photographic evidence to support recommendations

Education Bachelor of Science (Fire Safety and Hazard Management) | Adelaide West University