Fire/Arson Investigation

The Fire Investigation Unit consists of a Fire Investigation Supervisor and eight investigators. All investigators are peace officers per California Penal Code Section 830.37(a), carry weapons and regularly receive law enforcement, firearms, use of force, and legal training through contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs’ Department.

All investigative personnel are under the direct command of the Divisions Assistant Fire Marshal.

Our investigators cover 18,353 square miles of San Bernardino County and work closely with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Arson/Bomb Detail, San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office and local law enforcement, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Department investigators also work with the US Consumer Products safety Commission to decide if a faulty consumer product contributed to a fire cause and to determine if this product poses a future hazard to the public.

Contact Information

The Fire Investigation Unit is located at the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) at 620 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA, 92415-0179. The Unit may be reached at 909-347-1771.

Obtaining Fire Reports

Copies of general Fire Reports may be obtained from the Community Safety Division of OFM. The fee is $59.00, and is payable by cash, check, or money order to San Bernardino County Fire. The Fire Investigation Report Request form will not be processed without the required fee.

Copies of Investigation Reports can only be obtained once a case is closed. Some information may be confidential under the law and may not be released.

Reporting Arson Crimes

Because of the destructive nature of fire, not all arson fires are successfully prosecuted. Anyone with information of an arson crime is urged to contact the Fire Investigation Unit at 909-347-1771 and ask to speak with an investigator, as any information received may help achieve a conviction in an arson case.

After business hours, on holidays and/or weekends, an individual may call our 24 hour dispatch center @ 909-356-3805, and leave a contact name and phone number. Dispatch will then have the duty investigator respond to this individual’s request.

We request that if you report a crime that you also supply complete contact information so that we may get in touch with you again as we conduct our investigation. Please note that we are forbidden by law to release your information without a court order. We will accept anonymous information if anonymity is requested.

Youth Fire Setter Intervention Program

Any juvenile (under the age of eighteen) who is found to be involved in the illegal setting of a fire, will be interviewed by a Department Investigator. The Investigator, working in conjunction with the Public Education Section supervisor, will determine, on a case by case basis, utilizing training, experience, common sense and compassion, how best to deal with a given situation within the mandates prescribed by both society and the law.

The Fire Department phone numbers listed on this web site are for the convenience of anyone with information to give, questions to ask, or advice being sought, relative to dealing with a juvenile fire setter.