§ 153A-234.  Fire marshal.

(a) A county may appoint a fire marshal and employ persons as his assistants. A county may also impose any duty that might be imposed on a fire marshal on any other officer or employee of the county. The board of commissioners shall set the duties of the fire marshal, which may include but are not limited to:

(1) Advising the board on improvements in the fire-fighting or fire prevention activities under the county's supervision or control.

(2) Coordinating fire-fighting and training activities under the county's supervision or control.

(3) Coordinating fire prevention activities under the county's supervision or control.

(4) Assisting incorporated volunteer fire departments in developing and improving their fire-fighting or fire prevention capabilities.

(5) Making fire prevention inspections, including the periodic inspections and reports of school buildings required by Chapter 115 and the inspections of child care facilities required by Chapter 110. A fire marshal shall not make electrical inspections unless he is qualified to do so under G.S. 153A-351.

(b) The fire marshal, or the fire marshal's designee, shall obtain a criminal history record check for an applicant over the age of 18 prior to offering that applicant a paid or volunteer position with the fire department. The criminal history record check shall be conducted and evaluated as provided in G.S. 143B-1209.23 [G.S. 143B-1209.24], or, if an applicant has been a resident of North Carolina for over five years and reports no charges or convictions on the application, the record check requirement of this section may be conducted through the county clerk of court or a third-party vendor.  (1959, c. 290; 1969, c. 1064, s. 2; 1973, c. 822, s. 1; 1997-506, s. 62; 2022-8, s. 3(c); 2023-104, s. 3; 2023-134, s. 19F.4(v); 2024-29, s. 12.2.)