The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the City by which property has been destroyed or damaged, and, so far as possible, shall determine whether the fire is the result of carelessness, intention or design. Such investigation shall be begun immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire, by the primary fire investigation officer or assistant fire investigation officer and if it appears to the officer making such investigation that such fire is of suspicious origin, the Chief of Police and Chief of the Fire Department shall be immediately notified of the fact. The primary fire investigation officer of the Bureau or assistant shall take charge immediately of the physical evidence, shall notify and report their findings to the proper authorities designated by law to pursue the further investigation of such matters and shall further, where appropriate, arrest those persons responsible for such suspicious fires and assist in the prosecution of those responsible persons.
Provided, however, that the primary fire investigation officer or assistant charged with the duties herein, shall not have the power to arrest any suspect, without the assistance of a police officer, until such fire investigation officer or assistant has completed training in law enforcement and arrest procedures as provided in West Virginia Code Chapter 30, Article 29, et seq.
(Ord. 0-728. Passed 3-22-94.)