Transcript Slide 1 - Fire Marshals Archives

 Established by the Florida Legislature in 1941
 Funded by the Insurance Commissioner’s Regulatory Trust Fund
 Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is the State Fire Marshal
 The Division of State Fire Marshal consists of 4 bureaus:
• Fire Prevention
• Forensic Fire and Explosive Analysis
• Fire Standards and Training
• Fire and Arson Investigations
 The Florida Fire Incident Reporting System is a section within the Division.
2
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The Division coordinates Emergency Support Functions 4 and 9
(firefighting and search and rescue) and supports ESF 8, 10 and16.
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The Division coordinates all search and rescue activities during a
disaster.

Since Hurricane Andrew, the Division has deployed teams as part of a
multi-agency state response, both statewide and nationally.
 The only State of Florida forensic laboratory providing forensic analyses specific
to fire and explosion investigations
 Located outside of Tallahassee on the grounds of the Florida Public Safety
Institute in a 12,000 square foot facility
 One of only three State Fire Marshal laboratories in the nation (Florida, Ohio, &
Texas)
 An ASCLD/LAB-International Accredited Laboratory since July 20, 2010
 Forensic Chemical Analysis
Fire Debris and Explosives/Unidentified Chemicals Analysis
(accelerants in arsons, explosives in bombings, or non–drug chemicals
from clandestine drug laboratories)
 Forensic Video Analysis
- Video recordings and extracting digital images from crime scenes
- Digital Image Processing, Archival, and Public Records Processing
 Expert Consultation and Testimony
 The Bureau’s ten employees have an average of 14 years experience in the
Division
 Six analysts have qualified as “Expert Witnesses”
 National and International memberships & representation with professional,
forensic, & standards writing organizations
Member Organizations
Technical Working Group on Fire and Explosions
American Society for Testing and Materials
International Association of Arson Investigators
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
American Chemical Society
American Board of Criminalistics

Law enforcement branch of the Division

Conducts approximately 4,000 fire investigations each year

Make arrests, conduct searches and seizures, serve summons, and carry
firearms.
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Investigators are called to action 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by fire
departments, law enforcement agencies, and those who need assistance
conducting fire origin and cause investigations

Responsible for conducting fire, arson, and explosives
investigations as well as other associated crimes (i.e.
insurance fraud, homicide, motor vehicle theft, terrorism,
etc.) throughout the state

Accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement
Accreditation – Initial 2010 and Reaccredited 2013
District One
Pensacola
NW
Tallahassee (HQ)
N
Jacksonville
Panama City
NE
Ocala
Daytona
NC
Orlando
Tampa
Explosive Detection K-9
Accelerant Detection K-9
Explosive Ordnance
Disposal
District Two
SC
Ft. Myers
Lake Wales
Palm Beach
S
Plantation

The Bureau has six accelerant detection canines and one explosive
detection canine
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Crime Intelligence Analysts allow the investigators more time to pursue the
scene investigation and latent follow-up necessary in a criminal investigation
and also provide criminal information and intelligence for detection and
prevention of arson and related criminal activities
Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Provides device sweeps as part of the physical
security at major events and gatherings of
political significance

4 teams strategically located throughout the
state

Provides local agency in-service training in the
areas of basic explosive and incendiary device
recognition, bomb threats, physical security, and
post blast investigations
Forensic Investigative Support Team (F.I.S.T.)
 In 2001, the Bureau established the Forensic
Investigative Support Team (FIST)
 The primary objective of FIST is to reduce
incendiary fires by effective investigation and
prosecution of those who commit arson
 The FIST provides necessary personnel to
conduct the preliminary investigation to
determine the origin, cause and circumstances
of a fire so the resources of the local field office
are not significantly burdened.
REUTERS/Michael Spooneybarger
 Provides an immediate and sustained
statewide response team for large or complex
fires and explosions with state-of-the-art
equipment and the most qualified personnel