Texas Department of Insurance

State Fire Marshal

The State Fire Marshal is the chief investigator in charge of the investigation of arson and suspected arson in the State of Texas. By statutory authority, the State Fire Marshal commissions peace officers to act as fire and arson investigators and to perform other law enforcement duties.

Fire/arson investigation assistance to local communities is one of the most critical services provided by the Texas Department of Insurance through the State Fire Marshal's Office. Upon a request from an authorized entity, or by order of the State Fire Marshal, the Fire and Arson Investigation Services Division will dispatch appropriate resources to the scene of a fire. The purpose of these services is to determine the cause and origin of the fire and to assist local officials in the collection and analysis of evidence that may lead to prosecution of an alleged arsonist. The State Fire Marshal's Office also makes the use of specially trained canines to aid with evidence collection.

Field Investigators may be assisted by the State Fire Marshal's Forensic Arson Laboratory in the analysis of evidence. Forensic Arson Laboratory services are also provided at no cost to the fire service and other law enforcement agencies in the State of Texas.

Texas experiences tens of thousands of fires each year. Due to this immense potential need for fire/arson investigation services, the State Fire Marshal's Office has adopted an investigation protocol as a guide for allocation of its resources. At the top of the protocol are fires that are catastrophic in nature. These are fires that have resulted in death, significant property damage or pose a serious threat to public health and safety. The protocol also identifies fires where the fire is believed to the work of a serial arsonist, related to hate crime, or where the operation of vital public institution is compromised.

While the State Fire Marshal's Fire/Arson Investigation Services Division provides assistance to any community faced with a fire-related incident, demand for resources dictates implementation of a systematic means of assigning those resources in the most effective manner.

For fire/arson investigation assistance, call 512-305-7900 (24 hours a day) and follow menu directions.

For additional fire/arson investigation information, contact Mark Lockerman, Director Fire/Arson Investigations Division, at 512-305-7920.

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