State Fire Marshal

Forensic Arson Laboratory

Forensic Arson Laboratory services are provided at no cost to the fire service and other law enforcement agencies in the State of Texas. Turnaround time is usually six days.

The laboratory is limited at this time to the analysis of arson debris for ignitable liquids used to accelerate a fire. Explosives analyses require instrumentation and expertise which is currently available from the ATF laboratory system; please do not send these types of cases to this laboratory. The ATF offices and laboratory phone numbers are all listed in the Arson Lab Evidence Collection and Submission Handbook. The Handbook contains information to assist with evidence questions that may arise. Contact the laboratory at phone number (512) 305-7974 to request Handbooks or for further assistance.

Please refer to the Forensic Arson Laboratory Guidelines for Evidence for important information regarding the collection and submission of evidence.

Forensic Arson Laboratory Physical Evidence Submission Form (PDF 42KB)

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For your convenience, the submission form may now be filled out online before printing. Don't forget to sign the form after filling out and printing it. The form cannot be submitted online.

When shipping evidence, address the package to the attention of the Forensic Arson Lab. This ensures that the person who opens the box will be someone intended to be in the chain of custody and that the evidence will be stored in the vault immediately, once the courier's responsibility has ended. Address the package to:

State Fire Marshal's Office
ATTN: Forensic Arson Laboratory
7915 Cameron Road
Austin, Texas 78754-3803

Always use our physical address when shipping evidence to the lab, and provide a physical address on the "send to" section of the submission form. Courier services will no longer deliver to post office boxes, even if a phone number is provided.

For additional information or assistance, contact the laboratory at 512-305-7974.

For more information contact: Fire.Marshal@tdi.state.tx.us