Chief Deputy Connie Dolan
Connie Dolan joined the SFMO in September 2018 as a Deputy Fire Marshal in the Fire Investigations Division. She was later transferred to the Liquefied Compressed Gas Division as a Regulatory and Compliance Inspector. While in the LC Gas Division, she was instrumental in the development of the online training program (Certified Employee Training Program) for employees working in the Propane Industry. She also assisted the division in converting to a paperless inspection program. In June 2021, she was promoted to State Assistant Chief Deputy Fire Marshal by State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. In January 2023, she was promoted to State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal. Dolan is the first female to hold this position.
As State Chief Deputy, Dolan oversees over 50 employees in seven Divisions: Fire Investigations, Factory-Built Homes, Fire Code Enforcement, Mississippi Electronic Protection, Fire Services Development, Fire Safety Education and Liquefied Compressed Gas.
Prior to joining the SFMO, Dolan worked for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Vicksburg Police Department where she served in the Traffic Divisions as a State Certified Accident Reconstructionist. She received her law enforcement training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Academy in Pearl, MS. She is a graduate of Alcorn State University and has attended various law enforcement, leadership and fire services training. She is passionate about helping to promote life safety and is dedicated to improving all divisions of the SFMO through training, promoting professionalism and building relationships with other agencies, including networking with State Fire Marshal Offices throughout the nation. Dolan is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of State Fire Marshals, International Association of Fire Chiefs, MS Fire Chiefs Association, MS Fire Fighters Association, MS Fire Investigators Association and the MS Sheriffs’ Association.
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 the office, the State Fire Marshal and shall appoint the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal. The Chief Deputy Fire Marshal along with other members of the division have the primary duties of investigating the origin of fires occurring within this State when 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, 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.
The State Fire Marshal section provides the following information and resources. Click on a link to go directly to a particular topic.
