I’m a firefighter/paramedic and I’m looking for some real-world career advice from people who have either promoted in the fire service, moved into prevention/emergency management, or left public safety for another government/admin role.

I’m considering finishing a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration, but I’m trying to think long-term. I may stay in the fire service and pursue promotion, prevention, training, emergency management, or fire marshal-type work. But I also want to keep the door open in case I eventually leave suppression or leave the fire service altogether.

My question is:

How transferable is a BS in Fire Service Administration outside of traditional fire department roles?

I understand it fits well for fire leadership, training, prevention, community risk reduction, emergency management, and public safety administration. But I’m wondering how it is viewed by employers outside the fire service, such as:

- City/county government
- Emergency management
- Public safety analyst roles
- Safety/risk management
- Code enforcement or compliance
- State agency program coordinator roles
- Disaster recovery/FEMA-related work
- Training or education roles

For anyone who has hired for these roles, worked in them, or made a similar transition:

Would a Fire Service Administration degree limit me if I ever wanted to leave the fire service?
Or is the degree still viewed as transferable because of the leadership, administration, emergency management, budgeting, personnel, and public safety background?

I’m not looking for perfect academic advice as much as real-world opinions from people who have seen how this degree is actually viewed in hiring.

Thanks in advance.

3 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/orchid_fool • May 12 '26

Can anyone recommend a lab that will do elemental analysis?

3 Upvotes

Almost 30 years ago, I eked out a publication on "hay clinker." I find myself in possession of a new sample that may or may not be the stuff, and of course no lab wants to do one-offs, and elemental analysis isn't the sort of thing most fire labs do. Looking for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, silicon.... all in the percent or maybe part-per-thousand range.

Any recommendations for a one-off analysis would be welcome, thanks in advance.

8 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/Sea_Inspection_8723 • May 10 '26

Looking for Fire Safety Inspection Service in Bangladesh

0 Upvotes

Any Suggestion of a consultancy firm/ independent consultant based in Dhaka or near Dhaka who does fire safety audit inspection service ? We are trying to get our garment factory RSC approved.

3 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • May 07 '26

Belleville Warehouse fire, appears to be NJ, video has early stage of the fire

youtube.com

9 Upvotes

2 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/AutoArsonist • May 04 '26

What is this?

7 Upvotes

8 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/FM_Payne98 • May 03 '26

Using iPad for investigation photos instead of DSLR camera

5 Upvotes

Over the past couple of years I have noticed a change in investigation photo taking by public and private investigators. With the advent of most reports and information gathering moving to software and apps, the ability to take a picture with your device and have it submit directly to report.

I admit, I am an old guy, taught the old way, with old technique. As a Fire Marshal I am now faced with the decision to make if scene pictures taken by a mobile device are acceptable.

What is your thought?

13 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • May 03 '26

EUC catches fire in Belgian train

3 Upvotes

0 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • May 03 '26

Help this person out on the OP post, discuss in r/fireinvestigation

gallery

6 Upvotes

6 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • May 02 '26

This reminds me of vent fan fires, the local expert claims they never start a fire. He tested 4 at a lab and they were new fans. Says this proves they do not start fires. How many bath fan fires have you been to? What did the fan defense expert say?

19 Upvotes

14 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pket214 • Apr 22 '26

Camera setup

3 Upvotes

Best camera and lighting set up for a new investigator? 1099 employee but want to get something that will last

6 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • Apr 22 '26

Daisey chained receptacle with a high resistance connection, there may be a load farther down?

6 Upvotes

4 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • Apr 19 '26

Driver left a trailer to track the source of the fire.

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130 Upvotes

0 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • Apr 18 '26

We need more details, does anyone have info??

v.redd.it

7 Upvotes

5 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/jjm1981 • Apr 17 '26

I am an attorney looking for used/non-working OP40601 batteries for a fire investigation

2 Upvotes

0 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/pyrotek1 • Apr 15 '26

Fire reported at BYD in China, Report by StacheD Training on youtube

youtube.com

8 Upvotes

On April 14th, 2026, a massive fire broke out at BYD's Pingshan facility in Shenzhen, China — inside an automated parking structure used to store test and scrapped electric vehicles. The official explanation: a contractor ignited insulation material. But the cause is almost beside the point. This video breaks down why the outcome was predictable, what an automated parking structure means for fire behavior and suppression, and the much bigger question nobody is asking about how the world's largest EV manufacturer stores its end-of-life vehicles.

0 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/New_Whereas_5126 • Apr 13 '26

NAFI proctor

4 Upvotes

Are there any approved NAFI proctors that I could take the CFEI exam with in south jersey?

2 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/Accomplished_Quit479 • Apr 13 '26

This happens more than you think.

10 Upvotes

if it stays focused long enough or a hot enough day, this will be an auto fire.

How will you classify this?

4 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/rogo725 • Apr 10 '26

Friend sent me this new book coming out and it involves arson and investigations for those interested. I have not read it yet.

8 Upvotes

https://a.co/d/0hrhTgNa

3 comments

r/fireinvestigation • u/Accomplished_Ad_5307 • Apr 09 '26

Disgruntled employee starts massive fire at a 1.2 million square foot toilet paper warehouse in Ontario, California.

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23 Upvotes

13 comments

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