Fire Investigations

Section 3 - FIRE PREVENTION

PURPOSE:

To establish a guideline for the investigation of fires within the City limits of Maitland. This procedure is to be followed for all fire investigations. This guideline is applicable to all members of the Department. Authority to deviate from this procedure rests with the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal or their designee, who is solely responsible for the results of any deviation.

PROCEDURE:

• In order to be consistent and to assure all fire investigations are conducted properly, the Fire Marshal or a State Certified Fire Investigator (State Investigator) shall be the preliminary investigator and will investigate each fire within the jurisdiction of Maitland Fire/Rescue in efforts to determine possible cause and origin.
• The Fire Marshal representative shall determine if the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) shall be notified with a request for an investigator to respond to the incident utilizing the guidelines set forth in Chapter 69A-61, RULES OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE AND ARSON INVESTIGATIONS, Florida Administrative Code.
  

Later consideration must also be given in the contact of the City’s Building Official and/or Code Enforcement Officer for informational purposes. The investigator shall work to establish the cause and origin of a fire / explosion incident through careful investigation and analysis of the available evidence.

All Certified Fire Investigators who may conduct an origin and cause investigation will complete at least 40 hours of fire investigation training annually.