One of the many duties of the City Fire Marshal’s Office is to investigate the origin, cause, and circumstances of all fires. The cause of all fires is reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).  Organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriter Laboratories (UL), and the Consumer Product Safety Council (CPSC) study trends of accidental fire causes.  Future fire prevention and product improvements rely on this valuable information.

 

In other cases a fire may not be an accident.  The Criminal Investigation Division of the City Fire Marshal’s Office aggressively investigates fires determined to be arson.  The City Fire Marshal’s Office maintains a team of highly skilled fire investigators that stand ready with the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney, Morgantown Police Department, West Virginia State Fire Marshal, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in prosecuting the crime of arson.

 

In July 2007, the City Fire Marshal’s court testimony and forensic testing became a key role in the conviction of Michelle Michael, a Morgantown woman that murdered her husband and set fire to their home.  This high-profile arson / murder case gained national attention and was featured on several network television programs.  Special ATF investigators, engineers from the ATF National Fire Research Laboratory, and the City Fire Marshal’s Office participated in forensic full-scale reconstruction and test burns in Maryland.  This year-long process produced groundbreaking scientific forensic evidence that was presented at trial.     

 

Help us Target Arson!    

Report information about arson fires

Arson tip line- (304) 225-3586 (You can remain anonymous)