Arson Reporting

Fire and Arson Investigations

State Fire Marshal’s Investigation Unit works 24/7 to conduct fire origin and cause examinations for the insurance industry, fire service, and law enforcement agencies across the State. When requested, the Unit also assists insurance companies and local, state, and federal authorities with their investigations.

The Unit's primary focus is criminal investigations. When incendiarism (arson) has been determined, officers collect and preserve criminal evidence for presentation to the appropriate judiciary system for prosecution. 

You can learn more about fire investigation criteria by reading this document published by Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, John F. King.

Unit Structure

The Unit employs 15 fire investigators, including 9 fire investigator/accelerant detection canine (K9) handlers who work across Georgia’s 159 counties. The state is divided into 9 regions, with a fire investigator assigned to each region. 

The Unit's 9 accelerant detection K9 teams cover the entire state and, upon request, are used by the State Fire Marshal’s Office to provide service to local, state, and federal authorities. For these teams, the state has been divided into 9 regions, with an accelerant detection K9 team assigned to each region.