Fire Investigation

FIRE INVESTIGATION

 

The Department has a trained Fire Cause and Origin Investigator. The Fire Investigator is charged with determining cause and origin of fires that occur in the City. The Fire Investigator is a Peace Officer by definition and carry’s out criminal investigations for scene analysis through prosecution in the court system.  The investigator conducts interviews, interrogations, vehicle stops and arrests.  The investigator is trained in the escalation of force and carry weapons.  They work closely with the Police Department and follow all firearms policies adopted by the Police Department. The Crime of Arson to an inhabited dwelling (a single family dwelling) is considered a felony and is listed by the FBI as a Part One crime.  In California, the crime of arson will bring a “strike” in our Three-Strike System.

 The Oakdale Fire Department aggressively investigates all fires to determine cause and origin. The department has one state-certified fire investigator who respond to the scene with specialized equipment to aid on-duty personnel in determining how the fire started and how it might have been prevented.

inspect.jpg Fires determined to be arson are pursued by department investigators in conjunction with detectives from the Oakdale Police Department. In 1999 75% of arson cases were solved with an arrest or citation. The aggressive pursuit of arsonists is a major factor in prevention, sending a message to the community that arson perpetrators will be apprehended and prosecuted.