Division of State Fire Marshal
Bureau of Fire and Arson
Investigations
Mission
Statement
“To effectively
prevent, discourage, investigate and
prosecute arson and arson-related crimes for
the protection of Florida citizens and
their property.”
The Bureau of Fire and
Arson Investigations is the law enforcement
branch of the Division, which is responsible
for conducting fire, arson, and explosives
investigations
as well as other associated crimes (i.e.
insurance fraud, homicide, motor vehicle
theft, terrorism, etc…) across the
state.
The Bureau was originally established in
1973 as part of the Office of State Fire
Marshal and was formed for the purposes of
the “Suppression
of arson and the investigation of the cause,
origin, and circumstances of fire.”
In 1976, the Bureau became recognized as a
sworn law enforcement agency.
Even today, our investigators
are sworn state law enforcement officers
with the ability to make arrests, conduct
searches and seizures, serve summons, and
carry firearms.
The State Fire Marshal’s
investigators are called to action 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, by fire departments,
law enforcement agencies and even citizens
who need assistance conducting fire origin
and cause investigations.
The Bureau has several
investigative field offices located across
the state to better serve our customers.
For office locations and contact
information, click here
(BFAI
Office Locations).
Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, who
we are…
Did
you know that the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations
conducts approximately 4,000 fire
investigations each year?
The field of fire and arson investigations
is perhaps one of the most challenging
fields a law enforcement investigator can
pursue.
Fire investigations are complex,
difficult and potentially dangerous.
Naturally, the Bureau does not
investigate every fire that occurs within
the State.
However, upon request, the Bureau
will respond to assist city, county, state
and federal agencies and private citizens in
investigating fires and explosion-related
incidents (or other complex criminal
investigations as requested).
Did
you know that Arson is a felony?
Arson is a serious crime and the penalties
associated with this crime are tough.
In Florida, arson is a crime
punishable by imprisonment, fines and
restitution.
Currently under Florida law, anyone who willfully starts a
fire that damages a structure occupied by a
person, a dwelling or any structure where
persons are normally present is guilty of a
first-degree felony punishable by up to 30
years in prison.
Did
you know that the Bureau of Fire and Arson
Investigations has accelerant detection
canines?
In
1998, the Bureau teamed up with the State
Farm Insurance Company to establish the
Bureau’s Canine Unit.
These specially trained canines and
their handlers have been teamed up to
enhance the Bureau’s fire scene
investigations through an increased ability
to identify possible evidence of liquid
accelerants being utilized by arsonists.
Did
you know that the Bureau of Fire and Arson
Investigations utilizes an arson tip hotline
and has an arson rewards program?
The
Bureau has teamed up with the Florida
Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention (FACAP)
to be able to offer rewards of up to $2,500
for information which leads to an arrest of
individuals responsible for committing
arson.
Anyone with information concerning an
arson fire is encouraged to contact:
ARSON TIP HOTLINE
1-877-NO-ARSON or 1-877-662-7766
Please
do not contact this number if you are not
reporting an arson tip.
If you need to contact a local office
of the Bureau of Fire and Arson
Investigations click here
(BFAI
Office Locations).
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