The Fire Prevention Bureau is commanded by Fire Marshal Todd Spear 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 six (6) Investigators all on 24 hour shifts.  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.