Fire Officer Interview Preparation Guide

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The Fire Safety Order came into force on October 1st 2006 and replaced the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations. It is now the primary fire safety legislation. The Order affects all non-domestic premises and even applies to certain activities taking place outdoors. The Fire Safety Order places the emphasis towards risk reduction and fire prevention.

The Division of Fire Safety recommends the battery in smoke detectors be changed twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. At a minimum, smoke detector batteries should be replaced annually. Detectors should also be checked monthly to be sure the audible alarm is operating properly.

The Division of Fire Safety recommends you keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home, preferably one extinguisher per level. A fire extinguisher should be placed in your kitchen near cooking appliances in case of emergencies. An extinguisher should also be available in the garage area or where mechanical rooms (furnace, water heater, electrical panel) are located.

Yes, if your home has any gas-fired or wood burning appliances (cooking stove, heating appliance, water heater, fireplace, etc.) or has an attached garage, then a carbon monoxide detector is needed. Generally, the carbon monoxide detector should be installed in a central location so occupants can hear the audible alarm. Carbon monoxide detectors should NOT be installed inside a furnace or mechanical room.

The Division of Fire Safety establishes regional testing dates and locations throughout Missouri. Please refer to our testing and course calendar for dates and locations.

You must complete the certification process within one year of the course completion date. You will be required to retake the course if you want to become certified and have failed to meet the one year requirement.

Yes. In order to be certified to the Fire Fighter I and II 1001-current standard you must have documentation that you have successfully completed the Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations courses and then passed the appropriate State Certification Exams for both.

No. All Division of Fire Safety State Certification written exams must be administered or proctored by a Division of Fire Safety staff member.

If you are unable to take the exam on the scheduled region date/location or need to retest, you may test at any of the regional testing dates or at the Division of Fire Safety, located in Jefferson City, every third Saturday of the month. Deadline dates for these Saturday exam dates can be found on the testing and course calendar.

No. You may test at any location throughout the state. Just remember to submit your application and required documentation by the due date listed on the testing and course calendar.

The Division of Fire Safety will score all exams and students will be notified by letter or certificate accordingly within 30 days of the exam.

No. Certification test scores are not released to any individual, instructor, fire chief, agency or organization, and they are not retained in the individual's file. A letter of notification of pass/fail status is forwarded to each student completing the exam at his or her home address.

A student failing the exam may retest 14 days after receiving notification of failure. Visit the testing and course calendar for test dates and locations or contact the Division of Fire Safety offices. Also, if a student does not retest within one year of the course completion date, his or her records will be deemed inactive.

Two months. Failure to do so will result in automatic failure.

This differs slightly for each certification level. Please refer to the appropriate certification booklet for clear examination requirements.

Yes. Please refer to the certification booklets found in each certification level on the training unit homepage for recertification requirements.

Most of the time it is because you have moved and we were not notified of your new address. It is important that you update your information with the Division of Fire Safety so that you are properly notified when your recertification is due. Failure to do so may result in expiration of that level.

The only classes currently approved for the certification process are offered by the University of Missouri, Fire and Rescue Training Institute.

Each certification level uses different reference material for the generation of the test questions. Please refer to each certification booklet for references used.

No. We do not issue replacement certificates for any level. Once the original State Certificate is issued, we cannot reproduce a certificate. While we will not replace certificates, we can issue an official verification letter on our letterhead stating the levels for which you have been certified.

Services can only be requested by representatives of law enforcement and fire service agencies. Citizens or representatives of the insurance industry cannot request investigative services.

No, although these types of investigations are similar in nature and often parallel each other, investigations conducted by the Division of Fire Safety are completely separate from investigations conducted by insurance investigators on behalf of an insurance company.

Knowingly burning, which is when a person knowingly damages property of another by starting a fire, is a Class D felony.

When they start a fire with criminal negligence (should have been aware of the risk) that causes damage to property of another.

When they recklessly (was aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk) damage or destroy a building or inhabitable structure of another by starting a fire.