(A) The Fire Chief and/or his or her designated representative are hereby authorized to investigate all fires occurring within the city.
(B) The Fire Chief or his or her designated agent shall promptly investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the city in which property has been destroyed or damaged or people have been killed or injured. If it appears to the officer making the investigation that the fire is of a suspicious origin, he or she shall then take immediate charge of the physical evidence and pursue a criminal investigation of the person responsible for the incident. For this purpose, the Fire Chief or his or her designated agent is hereby designated a conservator of the peace pursuant to ILCS Ch. 20, Act 2910, §§ 0.01 et seq. to the extent authorized in this section. When acting in the scope of his or her investigative duties as provided in this section, and while engaged in the actual investigation and matters incident thereto, the Fire Chief or his or her designated agent shall be possessed with all powers of peace officers referred to in ILCS Ch. 20, Act 2910, §§ 0.01 et seq., including powers of arrest, search and seizure and possession and use of firearms necessary to carry out the duties of the office. It is understood that no Department personnel will act in the capacity of conservator of the peace until all requirements provided for in the section are complied with and until the investigator is fully certified to act in this capacity pursuant to ILCS Ch. 20, Act 2910, § 1.
(Ord. 84-19, passed 5-29-1984)