Bullhead City Fire Department :: www.bullheadfire.org

Investigations

Fire Prevention has been given the authority through the community and Fire Chief to enforce and maintain the Uniform Fire Codes and any adopted Board Resolutions and National Fire Protection Association Standards. Under these set of laws and rules, there are times that the department must respect and follow the rights of individuals that are set forth under the Constitution.

In some cases, actions require the department to obtain warrants to pursue the public health, safety and welfare interest, or in extreme circumstances, as with criminal activities, a warrant may be pursued to search and preserve evidence.

In the State of Arizona, such warrants fall under the Arizona Revised Statute 13-3912 – Search Warrants. Unlike other jurisdictions, the State does not have a specific statute for administrative warrants. These warrants are mainly used in cases of code violations or hazardous conditions. This type of warrant protects and allows fire personnel into the property to check for unsafe and hazardous conditions. This type of warrant basically protects owners from unreasonable and harassing searches of their property.

The Administrative Warrant is located with in the criminal codes under the search warrant section. The Federal Code has more definitive set of steps for the use of administrative warrants. The Search Warrant is more restrictive and limited to locating evidence of criminal activity. Arizona Revised Statute 13-3912 has set forth six specific uses of the search warrant. One of those is the “administrative warrant”.

Search Warrants can be obtained through the city or county court system. Jurisdiction and circumstances dictate which authority will be used.

Because both types of warrants can only be served by Law Enforcement Personnel, it is important to work with the Law Enforcement agencies involved.

Search warrants are limited and must meet all the constitutional requirements. Serious legal and libel repercussions can result to you and the department if the constitutional requirements are not followed.

In the Uniform Fire Code, the fire chief is given the responsibility to investigate the origin and cause of all fires within in his/her jurisdiction. The reason for this investigation has many functions. The information gathered provides invaluable data about why fires start and how they may spread. This information helps the fire service with ideas on building construction, fire protection systems, early detection systems, early suppression systems, exiting and escape routes, fabric and material design, and fire fighting techniques. On the bleak side, the information will help determine whether a fire was accidental or intentionally started. It will help cut the loss of property, the loss of monetary values in property taxes and jobs, the dangers to other citizens, the increase in insurance premiums, and the loss of life!!! The information facilitates fire and law enforcement agencies into better understanding why individuals use fire for destructive purposes.

The Origin means where the fire originated. In determining, the Origin the fire investigator must look at several factors in attempting to pin down the area where the fire started. There are fires patterns, fire spread, rate of burning, fire loading, air movement, fuel sources and even aging and weathering play a part in examining and evaluated the point of origin. This requires the fire investigator to keep constantly updated of the new materials, fuels, building construction, fire suppression techniques, and fire dynamics theories.

The Cause is what started the fire. Fire Cause is generally divided into four categories. The first cause is classified Natural. This group of fires are started by natural means (act-of -God). Examples would be lightning, earthquakes, volcanoes, friction (wind), sparks from a rolling rock, and spontaneous combustion. The second category would be Accidental. These fires are usually caused by man’s carelessness, machinery failure or the improper use of fire or machinery. The third classification is Incendiary. Incendiary fires are intentionally set by man. This means a person used some type of heat source to start an item on fire. Example would be lighting charcoal, burning weeds, causing an arc with two electrically charged wires, striking a match, or shooting off fireworks.

Not all Incendiary fires are Arson! The key to this charge is the mental status of the person. By the legal definition, a person who willfully, knowingly, and /or recklessly set a fire that destroys or unlawfully damages any structure or property. With wildland fires, the addition of element of criminal negligence can be used. Criminal negligence is where a reasonable person does an act that can result in something bad happening. For example, a person decides to burn a pile of trash in high winds and it results in a barn catching on fire.

In this current state of affairs we live in, there are so many things that can affect our lives. Many of the dangers are of our own undoing, because of the lifestyles we have chosen to accept. Other dangers come from the simple differences of each man’s belief about Life.

The everyday buzz acronym, WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) is a very scary, evil sounding set of letters and words. What WMD is, is any item used by a person or group to destroy property, scare, injure, or kill a mass number of people. The items that are considered WMD are biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical, and explosives. Each in themselves can be very deadly and are used in war settings. But most of the threats can be reduced by being prepared and reacting in a calm matter.

To accomplish this mind-set, the Fire Department has started preparing by developing response plans, training personnel, purchasing specialized equipment and strengthen all the communication links between other response agencies.

Because WMD attacks are unannounced and effect many people, it will require joint efforts from all the response agencies. For this reason the Fire Department has been actively involved in training exercises within the tri-state agencies. They are looking at several more training events in the coming year. The Department has and will continue to provide the most accurate information through the media.

The Department has supported and encourages the citizens to prepare themselves for such a crisis. One of those ways is to get citizen participation in the CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team). The CERT provides training, organization and information for the community to prepare itself for a three day self sustaining survival in time of crisis. Along with this program, the Department has provided numerous written materials and media releases from FEMA and the Red Cross that deal with WMD issues.

The other danger is Hazardous Materials (HazMat). Our lifestyles have evolved us into dangerously, reliance for the chemicals. There are chemicals every where. They are in our clothes we wear; the furniture we sit in; the medicines we take; the fuels we use in our vehicles; the air we breathe; the water we swim in and even in the food we eat.

Most chemicals are very safe if used, stored and disposed of properly. Once that chemical is spilled, wrongly mixed, or illegally dumped, it becomes a hazard and nuisance. It may burn, explode, put off gas, or even pollute the environment. The response to these type situations can be very dangerous, time consuming, and costly to handle. For this reason, the Fire Department maintains a HazMat Team with special trained Technicians and Toxic Medics. This prepares the Department to response to any event within the Bullhead City Area.

The best method to handle HazMat is through prevention. The Fire Department has several ways of dealing with the issues. First, through the Uniform Fire Code, all commercial buildings are required to follow the codes covering chemicals, UFC 80. Each building/business is assessed from the blue print stage right through the annual inspections.

Secondly, information is continually given out through varies medias. There have been notices sent out in water bills, a cooperative pamphlet with the city was designed and distributed, press releases, and consumer friendly ombudsman.

Third, to help the citizens get rid of there household hazardous items, the Fire Department plans and assist in accepting old hazardous materials at the annual collection day. With turnouts of 300 or more cars, these collection days provide environmental friendly means for citizens to dispose of hazardous materials.

Fireworks are illegal to own, store or set off in the State of Arizona. The only fireworks allowed are those in authorized shows. Each show must comply with the Uniform Fire Codes, NFPA 1123 &1124, and ATF regulations. Firework displays in Bullhead City must be approved by the Fire Marshal once site plans, City Event License, proof of insurance, a safety plan, and a list of fireworks have been provided.