FLORIDA DIVISION OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL

1. FLORIDA DIVISION OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION OVERVIEW

2. History of the Division of State Fire Marshal • 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.

3. Florida Division of State Fire Marshal Disaster Response • The Division coordinates Emergency Support Functions 4 and 9 (firefighting and search and rescue) and supports ESF 8, 10 and16. • 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.

4. Bureau of Forensic Fire and Explosives Analysis • 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

5. Bureau of Forensic Fire and Explosives Analysis Services Provided • 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

6. Bureau of Forensic Fire and Explosives Analysis • 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

7. Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations • 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. • 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

8. Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations District One NW Tallahassee (HQ) Pensacola N Jacksonville Panama City NE Ocala Daytona NC Orlando SC LakeWales Tampa Palm Beach Ft. Myers Explosive Detection K-9 District Two S Plantation Accelerant Detection K-9 Explosive Ordnance Disposal

9. Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations • The Bureau has six accelerant detection canines and one explosive detection canine • 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

10. Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations 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

11. Bureau of Fire and Arson 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. • 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 REUTERS/Michael Spooneybarger