Arson
& Investigation Division
Definition:
The crime of purposely setting fire to a structure.
Indiana
Arson Law:
A person who, by means of fire or explosive, knowingly or intentionally
damages:
- a dwelling
of another person without his/her consent
- property
of any person under circumstances that endanger human life
- property
of another person without his/her consent if the pecuniary loss
is at least five thousand dollars; commits arson, a class B felony.
The Investigation
Division shall investigate fires, assist the Haz-Mat team in the
investigation of environmental crimes and other fire department-related
incidents to determine origin, cause and circumstance, which involve
loss of life, serious injury or damage to property or the environment.
The Investigation
Division shall also conduct any other investigations as related
to fire department if so directed by the Chief or his designates.
The Investigation
Division regularly assigned to, or assisting as back-up investigators,
shall be commissioned as special police officers through the Board
of Safety had have all rights, duties and authorities for the enforcement
of local codes and all laws as they relate to their assignment.
Goals
- To determined
the origin and cause of fires in a systematic and analytical manner
- To bring
to justice the criminally motivated fire-setter
Objectives
-
Two investigators per shift for investigation safety and to expedite
investigations
- Updating
and replacing vehicles
- Accelerant
Canine Program for division
- Maintain
established communications with other agencies - police, prosecutor's
office, sheriff's department, coroner's office, insurance agencies,
etc. (Arson Task Force Team)
- To
develop a continuing education program for current and back-up
investigators
- To develop
a training program for candidates interested in investigations
- To develop
an outreach program to address the juvenile fire-setting problem
using available social and mental resource agencies from the private
and public sectors
|
Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
| Total
Investigations |
340
|
367
|
324
|
| Arson
Fires |
103
|
112
|
93
|
| Accidental
Fires |
93
|
107
|
85
|
| Undetermend/Other
|
72
|
73
|
84
|
| Fire
Fatalities |
3
|
6
|
2
|
| Juvenile-related
Fires |
52
|
48
|
28
|
|
What
do the Investigators look for at a fire scene?
Fireground investigators and arson investigators differ in several
ways. First, their goals are different. The objectives of the fire
investigator are only to determine the fire's point of origin and
heat source, the reason fire started, and the category of the fire.
The goal of an arson investigator is to investigate the crime of
arson and bring the criminal to justice.
Participants
In Juvenile Fire-setters
FWFD Investigation Division
FWFD Safety Educatin Division
FWFD Fire Prevention Division
FWFD
Allen County Juvenile Probation
Crossroad's Children's Home
Child Protective Services
Park Center/Daybreak
Parkview Behavioral Health
St. Joe Burn Center
North Manchester Fire Department
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel
GOALS OF TASK FORCE TEAM
Agencies working together; arson is Public Safety problem, not
just the fire department. The Task Force Team helps with other
criminal problems as well.
Things always
improve when people work together. Cooperation is essential for
success as an arson prevention and control unit.
The violent effect of arson is everybody's problem
Fire, police
and court systems are here for one reason - to protect the citizens
of Ft. Wayne Allen County under the law
Due to tightened
budgets, it is now more common for police and fire to consolidate
operations and "team" with other agencies to meet demands.
Cooperation effects not only aide in cutting cost, but also increases
effectiveness.
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