Missouri Division of Fire Safety
Office of the State Fire Marshal
Fire Investigation Unit
Investigation
Response Criteria
Division fire investigators are stationed throughout the state and respond to requests for assistance from local fire departments and law enforcement agencies for fire and explosion investigations.
Division investigators have arrest authority in these investigations and are trained not only in fire investigation techniques but also in evidence collection, interviewing, fraud investigation, and other aspects of criminal investigation. The state fire marshal shall conduct investigations and may conduct hearings into the cause, origin, or circumstances of fire losses and shall cooperate with the appropriate fire or police officials of this state or its political subdivisions in investigations of the cause, origin, or circumstances of fires, explosions, or related occurrences involving the possibility of arson or related offenses.
The state fire marshal and the marshal's paid investigators, who have attained proper certification as peace officers pursuant to chapter 590, RSMo, as approved by the director of the department of public safety shall be deemed to be peace officers and shall notify the local law enforcement agency of the existence of the investigators and shall have the power of arrest for all offenses incident to the investigation of the cause, origin, or circumstances of fire, explosions, or like occurrences involving the possibility of arson, or related offenses, and in connection with any offenses when aiding and assisting the sheriff of any county or the chief of police of any municipality, or their designated representatives, at their request.
The Division also has two specially trained explosive detection canine teams. Explosive detection canine can be used to detect explosives in packages, do sweeps for detection of possible explosive devices and post blast residue.
Investigation Response Criteria -
Division of Fire Safety Fire Investigators are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with every other weekend off duty. The Jefferson City office can be contacted at 1-800/877-5688, Monday through Friday, except holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you are unable to contact an investigator, the closest Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters should be contacted and requested to assist with locating an investigator.
Basic Requirements to request a Division investigator are
- Official request from a fire or law enforcement agency
- Fire must be fully extinguished
- As much information as possible about the incident should be transmitted to the investigator. If at all possible, the investigator needs to speak directly with someone at the incident scene or who has been at the scene.
Priority Responses
- Fires involving fatalities or injuries
- Fire with supporting evidence of arson
- Explosions
- Discovery of explosive devices
- Major disasters
General Responses
- Total loss fires (with consent)
- Out buildings
- Vehicles
- Fire exposure to inhabitable structures
- Insurance fraud
- Fireworks complaints/violations
No Response
- Natural cover fire
- Hay bales
The Division does not answer requests for investigations from citizens or insurance company representatives.
To request the services of one of the Canine teams the following information is required. Type of incident and circumstances known at the time; time and location of incident; type of structure or scene involved; additional information available about the report or incident; any witness information available at the time; if explosive device is involved, time device is to detonate; and any information about recent incidents or problems of a similar nature at the location.
Structure Fires -
Investigators are available to assist with the investigation of structural fires which may involve the possibility of arson, fatalities, or in the case of a major loss fire. If adequately trained personnel are locally available, they should be utilized to conduct an initial fire scene examination to determine the necessity for requesting a Division investigator.
It is important to remember that if an investigator is going to be requested, overhaul operations should be limited only to needed areas and the scene must be kept as free of contamination as possible.
Scene Security -
Scene security is extremely important during any fire investigation. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the investigation of a fire must be a continuation of the initial response to that fire.
To properly secure a fire scene while waiting for an investigator, entry must be limited to only those authorized personnel with duties in the structure. Personnel need to be posted at all points of entry into the structure to keep unauthorized individuals out. If the scene has been unsecured, it is necessary to get either the voluntary consent of the owner/occupant or a search warrant for investigators to enter the property.
If an investigator will be assisting, evidence should be left where it is found unless there is a possibility of further destruction by fire. If local personnel seize evidence, it must be secured in unused air-tight metal or glass containers. At a later time, personnel who have seized possible evidence may be called into legal proceeding to identify the evidence and the procedures used.
Fatal Fires -
Fires involving fatalities have the highest priority for the Division of Fire Safety. It is vital that the scene of a fatal fire be secured until the investigation has been completed. If there is a chance of foul play being involved, the body should be protected and left where found until the investigator can arrive.
Many times, the area surrounding the victim and the body, itself, may contain valuable evidence. All efforts must be made to advise other agencies with duties involving a fatal fire of the necessary precautions to protect any possible evidence and the need to conduct a thorough investigation.
Vehicle Fires -
The investigation of vehicle fires presents additional problems for both the fire department and the fire investigator due to scene security and the preservation of possible evidence.
Should you require assistance with a vehicle fire investigation, contact the investigator. During night hours and weekends, the investigator may advise that the vehicle should be towed to a secure area and be examined it at the first available time. This is an acceptable procedure for Division of Fire Safety investigations.
You should provide the investigator with contact information for the owner./driver, fire personnel and the location of the tow facility.
Total Loss Fires -
The major problem encountered in total loss structural fires is the difficulty in determining the area of origin when a structure burns to the ground. Division of Fire Safety investigators are available to assist with the investigation of total loss fires, however due to the problems in establishing an exact cause, these fires normally will have a lower priority in their case load.
The exception to this procedure is when a fatality has occurred. In the event of a fatality, the investigator will respond to the scene as soon as possible while the fire department remains to secure the scene.
Natural Cover Fires -
Division of Fire Safety investigators do not investigate natural cover fires involving grass, brush, or hay bales. Although these fires may be common, the heavy case load and limited number of investigators prohibit involvement with these types of fires.
Explosions/Bombings -
Explosions and bombings typically cause a great deal of concern among local authorities. Since these types if incidents are not common, specially trained investigators may not be locally available.
Division of Fire Safety investigators have received specialized training for the investigation of explosions and bombings. The unit also has two certified Explosive Detection Canine Units to assist in investigations of actual bombs and/or post blast investigations.
Scene security can be extremely difficult in these incidents due to the wide-spread destruction and scattering of debris over a large area. All precautions should be taken to protect any possible evidence and the incident scene. Personnel should take extra care at the scene of an explosion. Structural stability is always questionable following an explosion. If there is a possibility that the incident was the result of an explosive device, there is a chance of undetonated explosives or a secondary device being present.
If assistance is needed in these type of incidents, a Division investigator should be contacted immediately. The investigator will make arrangements for additional investigative assistance.
Division of Fire Safety investigators are not trained or equipped to disarm potential bombs. The closest bomb squad or Highway Patrol Explosives Unit should be contacted for any "render safe" procedures. Division investigators are available to assist with the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the construction and placement of the device.
Undiscovered Losses -
Division of Fire Safety investigators do not investigate fires to which a fire department did not respond or fires which were unreported to a fire department and discovered at a later time.
Note: The division does realize there are exceptions to all cases and will assist if the case so warrants.
Follow-up Investigations -
An important part of any fire investigation is the follow-up investigation if it has been determined that a crime was committed.
As certified law enforcement officers, Division of Fire Safety investigators are trained in criminal investigation techniques and will assist local authorities in any follow-up investigation or incidents they have become involved with.
In addition to arrest authority in investigations, the Division of Fire Safety also has the power to issue subpoenas to assist in obtaining some of the information required to develop a successful case.
Follow-up investigations of incendiary fires, bombings, and fatal fires take the highest priorities for Division investigators. However, local agencies should be aware that an investigator may be called to another fire scene as a follow-up investigation is underway.
Special Services -
The Division of Fire Safety operates two K-9 Units to assist with explosion investigations. Specially trained canines and their investigator/handlers are available to examine areas where explosions have occurred and to search for any evidence of explosives. Depending on their work load and schedule, these teams are also available to assist any department with an investigation.
Several Division investigators are also trained in the operation of Computerized Voice Stress Analysis equipment. This equipment has proven to be invaluable during follow-up investigations. These investigators are available to assist in other major investigations.
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(updated 9/7/2006)
Questions?
contact:
Missouri Division of Fire Safety
Fire Investigation Unit
2401 E. McCarty St.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 751-2930
FAX - (573) 526-4600
Bill Zieres, Law Enforcement Mngr.
Bill.Zieres@dfs.dps.mo.gov
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1-800-39-ARSON
1-800-392-7766
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