Fire Investigation

The Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for investigating fires in order to determine the cause and origin and if necessary to identify and apprehend those persons responsible for the commission of arson and crimes related to arson in Worcester County. All fire investigations occurring in corporate limits of The Town of Ocean City are handled by the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office.

All investigators in our office are Certified Fire Investigators, primarily assigned to respond to incidents to determine origin and cause. The Certified Fire Investigator title is a nationally recognized certification determined by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. All Investigators have police powers as it relates to fire investigations.

Equipment

The department uses several tools to assist in fire investigations such as photography equipment, measuring equipment, hydrocarbon detection meters, our K9 unit, and other miscellaneous tools.

Reporting an Arson Crime

Anyone with information of an arson crime is urged to contact the Fire Marshal's Office at 410-632-5666 or the Maryland Arson Hotline at 800-492-7529 to report a crime, you can remain anonymous.

Obtaining Copies of Fire Reports

Copies of completed fire reports can be obtained from our office for a fee of $25.00 for the cover page and $1.00 for each additional pages. To order a copy of a fire report contact our office via writing and be sure to include payment.

Juvenile Fire Setting

Juvenile fire setting has become more evident as a problem over the years. Early recognition and mitigation can reduce the probability that juvenile fire setting with continue. More Information about Juvenile Fire Setter's and the Juvenile Fire Setter's Program.

Worcester County Fire Statistics