Fire Investigations Update: September 2004
Minnesota Dept of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal Division.
Revenue reductions in the State Fire Marshal Division have caused some operational changes in all areas of the division, including fire investigations. In order to develop divisional priorities based on necessary budget changes, statutory authority and mandates to provide services were reviewed. MS 299F.04 assigns the responsibility for fire investigations to the Fire Chief, while allowing the State Fire Marshal to coordinate the investigation upon deeming it necessary.
Based on a current staff of 10 compared to 14 in 1998, and on our interpretation of statute which does not clearly mandate us to perform certain investigations, the following bullet points describe our current direction:
* We are continuing to conduct fire investigations; however, requests for service are being triaged by the investigators. The highest priority for service are those fires or explosions with fatal or serious injuries, those that are known to be or suspected to be arson, and those with very large property losses.
* Investigators are limiting the scope of their investigation to "cause and origin" only according to NFPA 921. Investigators do not conduct law enforcement functions, so cooperative relationships with local law enforcement officials are critical when presenting arson findings. Fire and law enforcement "team" investigations may be conducted with the approval of the Chief Investigator.
* The investigator may provide advice over the phone on how local personnel should proceed with the investigation on lower priority incidents, or provide feedback on what local personnel have already done in their investigation.
* Local fire officials are encouraged to continue to report unusual types or numbers of fires to the division even though it may not be a high priority incident; division investigators cover a large territory and can discover recurring causes or origins that aren't as evident within a local area only.
* County or region wide fire investigation teams are encouraged to handle the lower priority incidents, and to work with Division investigators on higher priority types. Division investigators will support these teams with training and advice, and will act as a liaison from the team to the division.
* Local teams already in existence are encouraged to promote this concept and support neighboring fire officials in developing additional teams. Operating guidelines for a tiered level of response are available from the division.
* In order to support the development of local teams, the Basic Fire Investigation course will be provided through SFM Division and BCA on an accelerated schedule.
* Fire Investigators are currently assisting division fire inspectors with some mandated fire code inspections, but fire investigations remain their priority.