Fire Marshals Office
Prevention Bureau
The Fire Prevention Bureau is commanded by Fire Marshal Russell Spicola and is responsible for plans review, code enforcement, explosive escorts, fire
inspections, arson investigation. The Fire Marshal is designated by the Fire Chief as
"The Authority Having Jurisdiction" and is empowered by State Statute and The
City of Tampa Code Chapter 11.
The Tampa Fire Marshal's Office through City Charter is responsible
for the Investigation of Cause and Origin of fires and the mitigation of Arson Cases. The
Fire Investigation Division investigates Arson Cases for the Fire Marshal in the City of
Tampa. The Fire Investigation Division has five (5) Investigators, three (3) on 24-hour
shifts and two (2) on a 40-hour work week. An Investigator is available any time of the day.
Fire Investigators for the City of Tampa are required to be State Certified
Firefighters, State Certified Fire Safety Inspectors and complete a basic police
recruit minimum standards program. The Fire Investigator responds to all fires
in the City of Tampa where the cause is arson, suspicious, undetermined or when
there has been a death or serious injury in a fire. The 24-hour Investigator is
responsible to determine the cause and origin of a fire and then continues the
investigation until being relieved in the morning. During a fire investigation
the investigator is required to photograph the scene; collect evidence;
interview witnesses, victims and owners. In the morning before leaving, the
24-hour investigator gives a case synopsis to the on-coming 24-hour investigator
who then take over the case. They are also on call for Arson Task Force
fires (deaths and serious injuries caused by fires) and to assist the 24-hour
Investigator when needed. The 24-hour investigator also performs after hour fire
safety inspections, explosive escorts and cites fire lane violations when
needed. The Tampa Fire Investigation Division has been very successful in Arson
Investigation. They have maintained a high clearance rate (cases brought to a
successful or satisfactory end) and several years in a row have had the highest
clearance rate in the Nation.
The Fire Marshal oversees the following divisions:
New Construction Division - Plans examination and
inspection of new construction projects
Existing Construction Division - Periodic inspections of
existing structures, complaint investigations
Fire/Arson Investigations Division - Origin and cause investigation of fires
Referenced Codes and Ordinances -Applicable laws, Administrative rules, safety codes and city
ordinances in force for the City of Tampa
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