Fire Investigation Bureau
The Fire Investigation Bureau was organized on February 1, 1938 and was originally known as the Fire Incendiary Bureau. The name was subsequently changed to the Fire Investigation Bureau on April 21, 1958.
Fire Investigation Bureau responds on all working fires, fatalities, multiple alarms and all fires considered suspicious by the officer in charge of the fire scene.
The investigators provide this type of response 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once on the scene the investigator has the sole responsibility of determining origin and cause. When the investigator determines the fire to be incendiary they request Police Arson and exchange all the information learned from the investigation. The investigator oversees the photography of the crime scene and directs in the collection of the evidence. When an arrest is made they qualify as expert witnesses in origin and cause of the fire.
Due to the changing legal challenges being placed on fire investigators across the country, the entire bureau is currently looking towards certification under the N.F.P.A. 1033 program and by years end this will be achieved.
The Bureau handles all false fire alarms, from the initial investigation, taping of false calls, to interviewing prospective witnesses, to the writing of a statement of charges and testifying in the court system.
It is also the responsibility of the bureau to keep daily documentation on the conditions and prognosis of all burn victims from date of admission to the date of discharge.
We maintain a juvenile/adult suspect card file with over 60,000 suspects. The filing system contains date and location of the incident, incident number, name and age of the suspect and other pertinent information. This file dates back to 1938.
Hard copies of investigated fires are kept on file for 4 years, at the and of each year the files are purged and the oldest date put on microfilm. These microfilmed investigated fires date back to 1938.
To request information on a particular investigation call (410) 396-5690.