Fire Prevention & Life Safety Division (Fire Marshal's Office)
The Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division is staffed with one Fire Marshal, one Captain, three Lieutenants and one Specialist. This division has multiple responsibilities. They are responsible for the enforcement of fire codes and life safety codes. They perform plan reviews for all new construction or major remodeling and issue permits for tank removal, outdoor burning, and pyrotechnics.
This division also performs daytime inspections of businesses and night inspections of nightclubs and bars to ensure the safety of the public. Along with the Suppression Division, they perform numerous public education programs and maintain all fire reports and records for the Waco Fire Department.
About Us
The Fire Prevention Division, referred to as the Fire Marshal’s Office, is also responsible for investigating fires. This includes conducting criminal investigations of arson fires, arresting those responsible for setting fires or committing crimes associated with fire and presenting testimony in the appropriate court of law. The personnel assigned to this division are certified firefighters, fire inspectors, and fire investigators or arson investigators.
Those that are arson investigators are certified by the State of Texas as peace officers. The individuals that are assigned to this division are responsible for the compliance of close to 5,000 businesses to fire codes and life safety codes.
Fire Marshal - Jerry W. Hawk
After beginning his firefighting career with the Austin Fire Department, Fire Marshal Hawk joined the Waco Fire Department as a firefighter on February 26, 1977.
Previously, he has held the position of Engineer, Station Lieutenant, and Prevention Lieutenant. He was promoted to Fire Marshal on June 17, 1998 where he supervises the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division.
