Fire Investigation Unit

To assist Onondaga County fire chiefs fulfill their responsibilities under General Municipal Law 204-d, the Fire Investigation Unit can be requested to determine the cause of a fire or explosion. Requests for the County FIU are directed through Emergency Communications (911).

Fire investigation reports are submitted to the Director of Fire and maintained by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Fire investigation reports can be obtained from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Police Records (315) 435-3010.

In addition to investigating fires, the FIU partners with the Department of Aging and Youth and the City of Syracuse Fire Department to work with juvenile fire setters. Members of the FIU are available to present programs on fire prevention.

APPRENTICE PROGRAM

The FIU Apprentice Program provides a combination of classroom training and field experience for individuals working toward proficiency as a Fire Investigator. Click here for an application form.

FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT HONORED
On May 12, 2016, the New York State Fire Investigators Association Chapter #23 of the IAAI awared the Onondaga County Fire Investigation Unit the Alton L. Lewis Fire Investigation Team of the Year award. 

In 2008, two members of the County Fire Investigation Unit were honored as the James H. McGroarty Memorial Fire Investigators of the Year.