Fire Marshal Staff

Inspector/Investigator Frank Cantu started his law enforcement career in 1988 with the Texas Department of Public Safety. He served in the Texas Highway Patrol Service for 10 years stationed in Fort Bend County.

In 1998 he was promoted into the Motor Vehicle Theft Service stationed in the Houston region. Almost 28 years of service he retired from DPS in 2015.

In November 2015, Mr. Cantu was hired by Fort Bend County as an Environmental Enforcement Investigator. In August 2017, Mr. Cantu joined the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal team as an Inspector/Investigator and is currently assigned to the Enforcement Division where his duties include the enforcement of the county's Junkyard/Salvage Ordinance.

Investigator/Inspector David Zietz has been employed as Investigator/Inspector with the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office since December of 2014. He has 17 years of experience as a firefighter and 8 years of experience as a police officer.

Mr. Zietz is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through National Association of Fire Investigators. He has a Bachelor’s Degree through Columbia Southern University and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science through Blinn College. He is a Master Inspector, Master Plans Examiner, Master Arson Investigator, and a Fire Officer II with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He is also an Advanced Peace Officer, Fire Arms Instructor, Patrol Rifle Instructor, and Field Training Officer with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Mr. Zietz is a graduate of the Fire Executive Management Training at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.

 Mr. Zietz also holds several other Certifications with PROBOARD, TCOLE, and TCFP including: HAZMAT Technician and HAZMAT Incident Commander with Cargo Tank, Tank Car, and Intermodal Specialties; Trench Rescue; Confined Space Rescue; and Rope Rescue Technician. He is also an EMT-Intermediate through Texas Department of State Health Services.

Investigator/Inspector Brandon Venegas has been employed as an Investigator/Inspector with the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office since October of 2020. He has 11 years of experience in public safety, including 6 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic.

Mr. Venegas holds multiple certifications, including Intermediate Inspector, Intermediate Arson Investigator, Intermediate Structure Firefighter, Plans Examiner, and Instructor with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He is also a Basic Peace Officer with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
 

Investigator/Inspector Larry Jenkins began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Constables Office for 3 years. He then transferred to Harris County Sheriff's Office for 15 years before returning back to Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Constables Office for 4 more years serving as a Sergeant in the Civil Division. Mr. Jenkins has multiple Certificates in Law Enforcement and is a Master Peace Officer, and a recipient of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award. In December 2018, Mr. Jenkins joined the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal team as an Inspector/Investigator and is currently assigned to the Enforcement Division where his duties include the enforcement of the county's Junkyard/Salvage Ordinance.

Plans Examiner/Fire Safety Educator Mike Voorhies   started his career serving the public in 1987 when he joined the U.S. Army.  After four years as an infantry soldier, Mike returned to the civilian sector and became a police officer in late 1991.  In 1992 he became an EMT.  In 1998 he attended the fire academy and soon after started working for the Lake Worth Fire Department as a firefighter.  In 2001 while serving with Lake Worth Mike re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves where he served with the 301st Fighter Wing until this Afghanistan Veteran retired from military service with over 20 years of combined military service in November of 2018.  Mike spent over 20 years with the Lake Worth FD rising through the ranks to Division Chief of Fire Prevention and Emergency Management.  He spent his final 13 years with Lake Worth as the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator until he retired in July 2019.  

Mr. Voorhies has an Associates Degree from Tarrant County College in Criminal Justice.  He is a Master Arson Investigator, Master Fire Inspector, Master Firefighter, Hazmat Technician, Hazmat Incident Commander, Plans Examiner I, Officer II, Incident Safety Officer, Driver Operator, Instructor II, and Basic Wildland Firefighter with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.  Mr. Voorhies is a graduate of the Fire Executive Management Training at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.  He is also a Master Peace Officer and Instructor with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.  Mr. Voorhies joined the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office on August 19, 2019.

Inspector/Investigator Monica Wagers In 1995 I started my career in the fire service at the age of 15 as a Junior Firefighter with the Katy Fire Department. In 2004 I became employed part-time with the City of Katy Fire Department , then in 2007 I moved to a full time position as a firefighter. In 2016 I was promoted to the position of Engineer Operator. I served in that capacity for 4 years until I left City of Katy to join the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office in February 2020.

I have an Associates Degree with Houston Community College and currently working on my Bachelors Degree through the University of Alabama. I hold several certifications which include Advanced Fire Inspector, Advanced Fire Investigator, Master Structural Firefighter, Plans Examiner, Fire and Life Safety Educator I, Driver Operator, Fire Officer I, and Instructor I. In addition I am also an AEMT through the State of Texas. I do plan on attending the Police Academy very soon.

Inspector/Investigator Joseph James Hernandez began his career in public service alongside his family as a volunteer firefighter for the City of Alamo Fire Department in the Rio Grande Valley in January 2000. After graduating from the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council - Regional Fire Academy, he transitioned into full-time service with the City of Alamo in April of 2003. In 2007, Joseph became the first employee to be promoted as the Lieutenant for “C” shift as the department shifted into a career department with 24-hour coverage. In 2016, Joseph was promoted to the position of Fire Marshal after finishing the LRGVDC Regional BPOC Academy. He was also appointed as the City’s Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator in 2018.

Joseph also served the public as an Emergency Medical Technician from 2001 to 2008, primarily in 9-1-1 response. In 2013, he was elected as the Treasurer for the South Texas Fire Investigators Association and ultimately served as the organization’s Vice-President and President in 2014-2016. Joseph also served as a Disaster Technical Search Specialist for Texas Task Force 1 - Region III in South Texas. Among his certifications are Master Level Structure Firefighter, Master Fire/Arson Investigator, Master Fire Inspector, Plans Examiner I, Texas Peace Officer - Intermediate, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Fire Service Instructor II, Fire Officer I – Pro Board, Hazardous Materials – Technician, Structural Collapse Technician, Disaster Technical Search, Wide Area Search, Driver/Pumper Operator, and has finished his FEMA Professional Development Series certificate. Joseph also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration from Texas A&M University - San Antonio and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Joseph joined the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office on March 16, 2020.
 

Inspector/Investigator J.R. Ramirez began a new career path with the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office in October 2017, after working in the private sector for 20 years.

Mr. Ramirez is a Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators.  He is also an Instructor, Field Training Officer, and Taser Instructor through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.  He is a Certified Property and Evidence Specialist through International Association of Property and Evidence and a Basic Property Technician through Texas Forensic Science Academy. 

Mr. Ramirez is currently certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TFCP) as a Fire Inspector, Plans examiner, and Arson Investigator.  He earned his Basic Peace Officer's License by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) in June 2018.  He is also an FAA Certified Small Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot.

Inspector/Investigator Charles Terry started his career with the City of Lancaster Fire Department in 1992 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. In 2005 was promoted to Engineer/Paramedic and in 2013 was promoted to Fire Marshal and retired in 2015. He has a total of 20 years of experience in Suppression/EMS and 3 years of experience in Inspections/Investigations.

After retirement from the City of Lancaster, Charles worked for the Denton County Emergency Services as a Deputy Fire Marshal II from 2015 until 2018.  His certifications are as follow; TCFP – Advanced Structural Fire Fighter; Basic Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Arson Investigator. TCOLE – Basic Peace Officer, NAFI – Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator. Mr. Terry joined the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal team as an Inspector/Investigator on January 2, 2019.