The fire marshal shall investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of every fire occurring within this city by which property has been destroyed or damaged, and shall especially make investigation as to whether such fire was the result of carelessness or design. Such investigation shall be begun within twenty-four (24) hours, not including Sunday, of the occurrence of such fire.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
The fire marshal shall have the authority, at all times of day or night, when necessary in the performance of the duties imposed upon him by the provisions of this article, to enter upon and examine any building or premises where any fire has occurred, and other buildings and premises adjoining or near the same, which authority shall be exercised only with reason and good discretion.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
(a) 
The fire marshal, when in his opinion further investigation is necessary, shall take or cause to be taken the testimony, on oath, of all persons supposed to be cognizant of any facts or to have means of knowledge in relation to the matter under investigation, and shall cause the same to be reduced to writing.
(b) 
The fire marshal shall have the power to summon witnesses before him to testify in relation to any matter which is, by the provisions of this article, a subject of inquiry and investigation, and may require the production of any book, paper or document deemed pertinent thereto. The fire marshal is hereby authorized and empowered to administer oaths and affirmations to any persons appearing as witnesses before him.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
All investigations held by or under the direction of the fire marshal may, in his discretion, be private, and persons other than those required to be present may be excluded from the place where such investigation is held, and witnesses may be kept separate and apart from each other and not allowed to communicate with each other until they have been examined.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
Any witness who refuses to be sworn, or who refuses to appear or testify or disobeys any lawful order of the fire marshal, including an order to produce any book, paper, or document touching any matter under examination, after having been summoned to give testimony or provide such book, paper, or document in relation to any matter under investigation by the fire marshal as provided in this article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine as provided in section 1.01.009 of the Code of Ordinances.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
If the fire marshal is of the opinion that there is evidence sufficient to charge any person with the crime of arson, or with the attempt to commit the crime of arson, or of conspiracy to defraud, or criminal conduct in connection with such fire, he shall cause such person to be lawfully arrested and charged with such offense or either of them, and shall furnish to the proper prosecuting attorney all such evidence, together with the names of witnesses and all of the information obtained by him, including a copy of all pertinent and material testimony taken in the case.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
The fire marshal, upon complaint of any person having an interest in any building or property adjacent, and without any complaint, shall have a right at all reasonable hours, for the purpose of examination, to enter into and upon all buildings and premises within the city, and it shall be his duty, monthly or more often, to enter upon and make, or cause to be entered and made, a thorough examination of all mercantile, manufacturing and public buildings, together with the premises belonging thereto. Whenever he shall find any building or other structure which, for want of repair, or by reason of age or dilapidated condition, or for any cause, is especially liable to fire, and which is so situated as to endanger other buildings or property, or so occupied that fire would endanger persons or property therein, and whenever he shall find an improper or dangerous arrangement of stoves, ranges, furnaces or other heating appliances of any kind whatsoever, including chimneys, flues and pipes with which the same may be connected, or a dangerous arrangement of lighting devices or systems, or a dangerous or unlawful storage of explosives, compounds, petroleum, gasoline, kerosene, dangerous chemicals, vegetable products, ashes, or combustible, flammable and refuse materials, or other conditions which may be dangerous in character or liable to cause or promote fire or create conditions dangerous to the firemen or occupants, he shall order the same to be removed or remedied, and such order shall be forthwith complied with by the owner or occupant of such building or premises. If the owner or occupant deems himself aggrieved by such order, he may, within five days, appeal to the city manager, who shall investigate the cause of the complaint, and, unless by his authority the order is revoked, such order shall remain in force and be forthwith complied with by such owner or occupant. Any owner or occupant who fails to comply with such order shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
The fire marshal shall keep in his office a record of all fires, together with all facts, statistics and circumstances, including the origin of the fires and the amount of the loss, which may be determined by the investigation required by this article.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)
As may be required by state law, at the end of each month, the fire marshal shall report to the state fire marshal all existing hazardous conditions, together with a separate report on each fire in the city during the month.
(Ordinance 2025-25 adopted 9/16/2025)