Ricky Davis - State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal

Ricky joined the Mississippi Department of Insurance/State Fire Marshal’s Office in July 1990 as a Deputy Fire Marshal in fire investigations and promoted as Assistant Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Supervisor of the Southern District in the state.

On July 1, 2006, Ricky Davis was promoted to State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal.

Ricky’s prior employment was with the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office in which he served as Chief Investigator, County Fire Investigator/Coordinator, and Fire Chief of the volunteer fire department.

Ricky resides in Jeff Davis County Mississippi with his wife and daughter.

Mission

The mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office is to foster, promote and develop ways and means of protecting life and property from fire and related perils through direct action and coordination with Mississippi fire and law enforcement services.

The Commissioner of Insurance is by virtue of his office the State Fire Marshal and shall appoint the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal. The Chief Deputy Fire Marshal along with other members of his staff have the primary duties of investigating the origin of fires occurring within this state to which his attention is called by the Chief of the Fire Department or other local law enforcement authority of any county or municipality.  It is the duty of the Chief Deputy Fire Marshal to investigate or have investigated any fire requested by any party in interest, whenever in his judgment, there is sufficient evidence or circumstances indicating that such fire may be of an intentional or incendiary origin, Miss. Code Ann. § 45-11-1.

The State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal is charged with the enforcement of Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, Miss. Code Ann. § 45-11-101, regarding the inspection of all buildings owned by the state or state agencies, places of public assembly and sprinkler systems of high-rise buildings. In addition, the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal is charged with regulating Manufactured Housing, Miss. Code Ann. § 75-49-1, which requires licensing of dealers, manufacturers, and independent contracted installer/transporters. Also, the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal serves as the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for the Department of Housing Urban Development for the State of Mississippi.