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Office of The State Fire Marshal The State Fire Marshal has the responsibility for investigating fires and explosions of an incendiary nature. The section responds to fire scenes at the request of fire or law enforcement agencies. No fire is investigated at the request of insurance companies or private individuals. The State Fire Marshal does not have responsibility for building codes or fire statistics (see instead Wisconsin Department of Commerce) or fire fighter training (see instead Wisconsin Technical Colleges). There are eight Special Agents/Deputy Fire Marshals located in six regional offices. All are law enforcement officers, and many are certified fire fighters as well. Each of them has received specialized training in fire origin and cause investigation, and most also have extensive training and expertise in related fields including fire protection systems, evidence collection, and body recovery. The State Fire Marshal is Administrative Director Tina R. Virgil. There is one ignitable liquid detection canine, trained to alert in areas of fires that may contain potential accelerants. This K-9 agent, which is certified by Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), is used by DCI agents during their investigations. DCI cannot accept requests solely for K-9 assistance. Unsolved Arsons If you have information about any unsolved fires or any suspected arson fires, please call 608-266-1671 and ask for a fire marshal. You may also call the Wisconsin Arson Tip Line at 1-800-362-3005. Callers to the Arson Tip Line will remain confidential and may be eligible for cash awards. Obtaining Fire Reports To obtain a copy of a fire investigation report, write to: Mike Myszewski, Administrator Provide as much information as possible, including the date and location of the fire and names of the owners/occupants. If the investigation is closed, a copy of the report will be mailed to you. (The cost for released reports is $.15 per page plus postage. There is no charge for 10 or fewer pages.) If the Fire Marshal's Office was not involved in the investigation, or if the matter is still being investigated and no reports can be released as of your request date, you will be advised in writing. Training The Arson Bureau is committed to providing training opportunities around the sate for both fire service and law enforcement in the area of fire investigation. Special agents also work with local and county arson task forces to provide training, as well as the state's chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). Agencies interested in origin and cause training should contact the Department of Justice DCI Headquarters for information available training.
For Fire Departments
Report Forms for Fire Scenes
There are a number of forms that have proved very useful for investigators at the fire scene. Attached is a report for the first officer on the scene [PDF], a report for general fire incident notes [PDF], a report for structure fire notes [PDF], and a report for observations at fatal fire scenes [PDF]. Local fire departments should feel free to use these templates, making any desired changes as necessary, including adding a department logo. The forms have been provided here in Word format to allow for easy editing by local agencies. Useful Links Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs' Association Wisconsin Chapter - International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Wisconsin State Firefighters' Association
How to Contact Us Fire or law enforcement agencies needing assistance at a fire scene should call 608-266-1671. This telephone number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell the receptionist you need immediate assistance from a fire marshal, and the special agents on duty will be paged. You may also contact 608-266-1671 to request technical assistance, including fire causes, and evidence collection. For further information about the State Fire Marshal Services contact: Tina R. Virgil, Administrative Director |
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