FIRE CAUSE AND INVESTIGATION

The Special Investigative Services Division is responsible for determining the origin and cause of fires.   The SIS Division is also called the Arson/Bomb Squad due to the multiple duties performed in this Division.

If the cause is determined to be incendiary (deliberate burning of property) the investigator pursues the incident judicially with hopes of making an arrest and assisting the state attorney with the prosecution of the defendant within the court system.

The investigators also prevent fires by providing public education regarding fire safety, counseling of juvenile fire setters and numerous other topics related to fire prevention and public safety.

 Special Investigative Services

The Arson/Bomb Squad, also known as the Special Investigative Services (SIS) division, reports directly to the Fire Chief and is currently staffed by five (5) full-time investigators (one District Chief and four Lieutenants), one (1) Arson K-9 plus one (1) shared administrative assistant.

SIS has three (3) primary responsibilities:
1) Fire Investigation; determine origin and cause of fires.
2) Bomb Squad; intervention and investigation of incidents involving explosives, IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and render safe procedures.
3) Internal affairs investigations involving OFD sworn personnel.

The members of this division are certified firefighters, sworn police officers, and FBI Certified Bomb Technicians. 

The section is responsible for determining the origin and cause of fires. If the cause is determined to be incendiary (deliberate burning of property) the investigator pursues the incident judicially with hopes of making an arrest and assisting the state attorney with the prosecution of the defendant within the court system.   The investigators also prevent fires by providing public education regarding fire safety, counseling of juvenile firesetters and numerous other topics related to fire prevention and public safety.

Additionally, this division is responsible for explosive ordinance disposal (EOD – bomb squad) and post blast investigations.  This includes “render safe” procedures and safe disposal of improvised explosive devices (IED’s), commercial explosives, military ordinance, firebombs and fire works.  The Arson/Bomb Squad conducts in-service training for fellow firefighters (both internally and externally), police officers, and the private sector regarding explosive recognition, bomb threat management and arson prevention. 

The Arson/Bomb Squad is equipped with two (2) Bomb Disposal trucks and a bomb disposal trailer – most of this equipment is currently staged at Orlando Firehouse #6.  Our primary response vehicle and trailer carry specialized EOD equipment, including a Remotec Mark VI robot.  The Mark VI robot allows ‘hands-off’ operations essential during bomb disposal operations.  Additionally, this robot provides a valuable service to the Orlando Police Department SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiating Team as well as OFD’s Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) team.