Fire and Prevention Supervisor Career Assessment
Leading fire crews and fire prevention work
Welcome
Fire and prevention supervisors lead firefighting crews. They are the Captains, Lieutenants, Battalion Chiefs, and Fire Marshals.
This is a promotion job, not a starting job. You will explore what it takes to get there and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Fire and Prevention Supervisor?
A fire supervisor directs a crew at fires and emergencies, decides how to attack a fire, and keeps their people safe. Off the fire ground, they run training, schedule shifts, handle paperwork, and inspect buildings. Fire Marshals and inspectors focus on preventing fires before they start.
The Reality: You do not start here. Almost every supervisor spends years as a firefighter first. When something goes wrong at a fire, the decisions and the blame land on you. The same strict background rules that apply to firefighters apply here.
Your Responsibilities:
- Lead a crew at fires and emergencies
- Decide how to attack a fire and keep the crew safe
- Run daily training and drills
- Schedule shifts and manage staffing
- Inspect buildings for fire code violations
- Investigate what caused a fire
- Write reports and manage a budget
- Coach and evaluate firefighters
You keep your crew safe and make the calls that count.
A Day in the Life
7:00 AM — Shift change briefing. Go over calls from the night before.
8:00 AM — Check staffing and fill an open spot for tomorrow.
9:00 AM — Lead a training drill on search and rescue.
11:00 AM — Fire code inspection at a new restaurant.
12:30 PM — Lunch with the crew.
2:00 PM — Structure fire. You take command, set up the attack, and call for another engine.
4:30 PM — Back at the station. Write the incident report.
6:00 PM — Sit down with a new firefighter for a performance review.
Leadership, paperwork, and command decisions under pressure.
Training in North Dakota
You work your way up from firefighter. The path is years of experience plus officer-level certification. Many ND departments also want a degree for higher ranks.
Training Pathways:
- Promote from within (most common): Several years as a firefighter, then Fire Officer certification and a promotion test.
- Degree while you work: An AAS in Fire Science or a bachelor's in a related field helps you compete for Chief-level jobs.
- Prevention track: Move into fire inspection or investigation, then Fire Marshal.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Fire Science, AAS; includes Fire Instructor I and technical rescue coursework (ndscs.edu/program/fire-science)
- ND Firefighter's Association — Fire Officer I and Fire Instructor I certification; state fire school (apps.nd.gov/NDFA)
- Bismarck State College — Paramedic Technology, AAS, for supervisors on the EMS side
- National Fire Academy (free federal courses for ND fire officers) — apply through your department
Before You Start: Years of experience as a firefighter. Firefighter I and II certification. Usually EMT. Strong writing and people skills. Many departments require a clean record and a promotion exam.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
Officer certification plus your firefighter certifications. The ND Firefighter's Association certifies Fire Officer I and Fire Instructor I under the national NFPA standards. NDFA is Pro Board accredited.
What Supervisors Usually Hold:
- Firefighter I and II — the base
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Fire Instructor I — to run department training
- Fire Officer I — the officer-level certification
- Fire Inspector or Investigator — for prevention roles
- EMT or Paramedic — required by many departments
The Exams: Written test (70% to pass) plus a hands-on skills test for each level. Departments add their own promotion exam and interview.
Cost: NDFA sets fees and they change. Departments normally pay for their officers. Call the NDFA at 701-222-2799.
Keeping It Current: Ongoing department training all year. EMT and medical certifications must be renewed.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Worker Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $30.68–$30.90/hour ($63,820–$64,260/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $39.85/hour ($82,880/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $49.89–$58.28/hour ($103,780–$121,210/year)
What that means: ND pay runs below the national median, but it is well above what ND firefighters earn. This is a small group in ND (about 160 jobs), so the numbers can jump around. Overtime and holiday pay can add more.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 160 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 170 (about 6% growth). Expect about 10 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 3% growth — average.
Outlook: Steady but small. About 10 openings a year in ND. Most come open when an officer retires, and they are usually filled from inside the department.
Who Hires in ND: City fire departments, larger rural fire districts, the State Fire Marshal's office, airports, and industrial fire brigades.
Work Setting: A fire station and an office, plus fire scenes and building inspections. Long shifts and call-back for big incidents.
Physical Demands: High. You still wear gear and work fires, though you spend more time directing than dragging hose.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 33-1021); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Lieutenant or Captain — Lead one station crew.
Path 2: Battalion Chief — Oversee several stations.
Path 3: Training Officer — Run the department's training program.
Path 4: Fire Inspector — Enforce the fire code.
Path 5: Fire Marshal or Investigator — Lead prevention and find fire causes.
Path 6: Fire Chief — Run the whole department.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Much better pay than entry firefighting
- You shape a crew and a department
- Mix of field work and office work
- Free officer training through your department
- Strong benefits and pension
- Respected leadership role
What's Hard:
- You cannot start here — it takes years
- The hard calls are yours to make
- Discipline and staffing headaches
- Still dangerous work
- Same strict background rules as firefighters
- Only about 10 openings a year in ND
Be Honest: This is a promotion, not an entry job. Plan on several years as a firefighter first. The hiring rules for that first firefighter job are strict: a felony record, a domestic violence conviction, recent drug use, or failing a polygraph or psychological exam can disqualify you at most departments, and rules vary by department. Ask the department directly before you spend money on training. Leadership also means being the one who writes the report when something goes wrong.