Editing Fire marshal (section)

{{short description|Person who inspects buildings for fire safety}}
{{for|the same job role in the UK|Fire Safety Inspector}}
[[File:F StW WJ赣0732X.jpg|thumb|A {{Ill|China Fire Services|zh|公安消防部队}} [[Lushan City|Lushan]] Battalion fire marshal car]]
{{more citations needed|date=July 2007}}
	 
A '''fire marshal''', in the United States and [[Canada]], is often a member of a state, provincial or territorial government, but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include [[Fire safety|fire code]] enforcement or investigating fires for origin and cause. Fire marshals may be sworn [[law enforcement officer]]s and are often experienced [[firefighter]]s. In larger cities with substantially developed fire departments the local fire departments are sometimes delegated some of the duties of the fire marshal. 
	 
A fire marshal's duties vary by location. Fire marshals may carry a [[firearm|weapon]], wear a [[badge]], wear a uniform or plain clothes, can drive marked or unmarked cars, and make arrests pertaining to [[arson]] and related offenses, or, in other localities, may have duties entirely separate from law enforcement, including building- and fire-code-related inspections. In many areas, the fire marshal is responsible for enforcing laws concerning [[flammable]] materials.