The Chief of the Fire Division or the officer in charge of the Bureau of Fire Safety shall cause to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the City involving loss of life or injury to any person, or by which property has been destroyed or damaged, and, as far as possible, shall determine whether the fire is the result of carelessness or design. Such investigations shall begin immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire, and if it appears to the Chief or the officer in charge of the Bureau of Fire Safety, or his or her designated investigator, that such fire is of suspicious origin, he or she shall take charge immediately of the physical evidence, shall notify the proper authorities designated by law to pursue the investigation of such matters and shall further cooperate with the authorities in the collection of evidence and in the prosecution of the case.
The Chief or the officer in charge of the Bureau of Fire Safety shall have the authority to examine witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers, administer oaths and enter, for the purpose of examination, any building which has been destroyed or damaged by fire or explosion.
(Ord. 5-91. Passed 4-15-91.)