A. Investigations Required: The Chief of the Fire Department shall be responsible for having the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the Village, investigated to determine as to whether such fire was the result of carelessness or by design. Such investigation shall begin as close to the occurrence of the fire as possible and not later than two (2) days. The assigned person responsible for making such investigation shall notify the Chief of the Fire Department and the National Fire Service Incident Reporting System as soon as the cause of the fire is determined.
B. Bureau of Cause and Origin:
1. Bureau Established, Chief Investigators: A Bureau of Cause and Origin in the Fire Department of the Village is hereby established which shall be operated under the supervision of the Chief of the Department. The Chief of the Fire Department shall designate a member of said Department as Chief of the Bureau of Cause and Origin who shall hold this office at the pleasure of the Chief and who shall be known as the Chief Investigator.
2. Duties:
a. The Chief Investigator and his assistants shall enforce all the fire laws and regulations of the Village and the State of Illinois in the manner provided in this Chapter.
b. It shall be the duty of the Chief Investigator or such other members of the Bureau of Cause and Origin assigned as a fire investigator to determine the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires of suspicious nature, fires where arson (incendiary nature) is suspected, fires where death(s) occurred, fires where the cause(s) cannot be readily determined, and to other fires or fire related incidents as required.
3. Arrest Powers: Any fire investigator who is a sworn, paid and full-time member of the Village Fire Department who is authorized to investigate fires or explosions and/or to deter mine the cause, origin and circumstances of such fires or explosions that are suspected to be arson or arson-related crimes, is designated a peace officer and shall possess the same powers of arrest, search and seizure and the securing and service of warrants as police officers of the Village.
4. Authority to Carry Weapons: While in the performance of an actual investigation and matters incident or related thereto, any such fire investigator may carry such weapons as may be necessary; provided, that such fire investigator has satisfactorily completed both a training program offered or approved by the Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board which substantially conforms to standards promulgated pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act ("An Act in relation to firearms training for peace officers," approved August 29, 1975, as amended) 1 and a course in fire and arson investigation at the National Fire Academy (120 hours) or one approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (80 hours). In addition, any such fire investigator shall also successfully complete the Police Training Institute course (240 hours).
5. Privileges Restricted: Any such fire inspector may only exercise the powers enumerated in this Section during the actual investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire or explosions that are suspected to be arson or arson-related crimes. (Ord. 81-32-62)
Notes
| 1 | 1. S.H.A. ch. 85, §§ 501 et. seq. |