The Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) is reminding local governments that all fire inspectors and investigators designated under the Fire Safety Act must meet the required training standards by September 30, 2026. More information is available in a recent OFC bulletin.
The OFC launched two free self-paced online courses in December 2025: Basic Fire Inspector Fundamentals, and Basic Fire Investigator Fundamentals. It is estimated that each course will take approximately eight hours to complete. Individuals who require both the fire inspector and fire investigator training are advised to complete these courses simultaneously to ensure they meet the September 30, 2026, training deadline.
Those who already meet the training requirements may complete a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition form in lieu of the training.
Please note that the requirement to designate fire inspectors and investigators applies to all local governments, including regional districts that intend to request that the OFC perform fire inspections and investigations on their behalf, at no cost.
Any questions may be directed to the OFC.