(a) 
Fire Marshal. The County Commissioners of Worcester County are hereby authorized to create and establish the office of Fire Marshal of Worcester County and to appoint a Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal shall be an employee of Worcester County and shall enjoy all benefits and privileges of a regular employee of the County; provided, however, that the Fire Marshal may be removed by the County Commissioners for cause, upon written and sworn charges, after a hearing at which the Fire Marshal shall have an opportunity to be heard. The Fire Marshal shall receive such compensation as the County Commissioners shall determine. The salary and expenses of the office of the Worcester County Fire Marshal shall be paid by the County Commissioners and shall be in such amounts as the County Commissioners may from time to time determine necessary and appropriate.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by Bill No. 19-9]
(b) 
Appointment of incumbent. The County Commissioners, upon the effective date hereof, may appoint the then-serving Fire Marshal as Fire Marshal of Worcester County hereunder.
(c) 
Powers and duties. The Worcester County Fire Marshal shall be the official charged with the administration and enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code of Worcester County and shall have such other powers and duties as the County Commissioners may from time to time determine.
(d) 
Fire investigation authority. The Worcester County Fire Marshal shall be the official charged with investigating and determining origin and cause of fires. The Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshals and Fire Investigators shall have the powers and authority of a police officer so far as relates to violations of law pertaining to fire-related matters. The powers of fire investigators also include, but are not limited to, those referenced in the Annotated Code of Maryland, as from time to time amended.
[Added 10-20-1998 by Bill No. 98-23]
The Fire Marshal and any inspectors which may be appointed to enforce the Fire Prevention Code and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall have the power and authority at all reasonable times to enter upon and into any and all public buildings, stores, warehouses, factories or any other structures or premises, except private single-family dwellings, within the limits of Worcester County for the purpose of examining and inspecting the same for the purpose of making effective the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code and the rules and regulations adopted under authority of this Subtitle or other law.