Deputy State Fire Marshal

***APPLY BY 9/16/2026***

Are you a POST-certified fire prevention professional with experience in fire code, life safety inspection, or fire investigation, and ready to bring your work to the state level with hybrid telework and a real career pathway ahead of you?

As a Deputy State Fire Marshal with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, you'll step into a sworn peace officer role conducting fire and life safety inspections, plan reviews, and code enforcement work across California's state-regulated occupancies. This position is built for a fire prevention professional who understands California fire code at a technical level, and who's ready to bring that expertise into work with statewide jurisdiction and case variety that most municipal inspectors never see.

This role is ideal for a fire prevention inspector who thrives on technical work with real regulatory reach. You'll conduct fire and life safety inspections of state-regulated occupancies, perform plan reviews for construction and building modifications, enforce California fire code and related regulations, coordinate with local fire authorities and building departments on state-regulated matters, provide technical guidance on code interpretation, and support the broader fire prevention mission of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Strong technical knowledge, careful documentation, and warmth in dealing with property owners, contractors, and code partners are central to the work.

This position is located in Sacramento, California, and is a permanent, full-time sworn peace officer role with hybrid telework. Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) certification is required. The role is posted across two salary ranges, which means there's flexibility in hiring level based on candidate experience and credentials.

This is entry-to-mid-career DSFM work with a clear pathway ahead. Deputy State Fire Marshal is the starting point for a state fire prevention career that grows through DSFM II, DSFM III, and DSFM III Supervisor levels. Many current OSFM leaders started as Deputy State Fire Marshals, and the pathway is genuinely real.

Why CAL FIRE and OSFM?

• State benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement
• Permanent, full time sworn peace officer career opportunity
• Multiple experience levels considered through the two-range hiring structure
• Statewide jurisdiction and case variety through the Office of the State Fire Marshal
• Real career pathway from DSFM to DSFM II, III, and Supervisor levels
• Direct participation in California fire code and life safety work at the state level
• Mission driven law enforcement culture focused on service, readiness, and preventing fires before they start

About Sacramento County

Sacramento County offers a strong mix of urban convenience, government employment density, and proximity to some of California's best outdoor escapes. As the state capital, Sacramento is the operational hub for much of California's public sector work, including the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

With a lower cost of living than the Bay Area or Southern California, easy access to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, the Northern California coast, and the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, Sacramento County is a strong fit for fire prevention professionals who want statewide regulatory work and a quality of life that isn't dominated by commute time.

Popular cities and communities include:

• Sacramento
• Folsom
• Elk Grove
• Roseville (Placer County, adjacent)
• Davis (Yolo County, adjacent)