Government > City Departments/Offices > Fire > Fire Marshal's Office > Fire and Explosive Services

The Fire and Explosive Services Unit exists to investigate all fire and explosive related incidents in the City of Annapolis. The investigators work to determine the origin and cause of fires. When cases are closed, the information is loaded into our reporting system.

The department assesses the information periodically and generates an annual report on the common causes of fires in Annapolis. This data is then used to tailor our fire prevention and public education programs in order to address the community fire problem. Programs to address unattended cooking fires in residences and fireplace ash disposal are a direct result of these efforts.

The Explosives Services Unit maintains a Type I bomb squad here in our state capital. With our partnership and proximity to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department the unit provides explosive device response to the county. The section currently operates with one Lieutenant/Investigator, three First Class Investigators, one Firefighter/Investigator and four Explosive Detection Canines.

All investigators are trained as both firefighters and full law enforcement officers. Members of this section are required to complete a Basic Fire Academy and Basic Police Academy. Yearly In-Service training courses keep the investigators current on investigative techniques and legal updates. Four of the Investigators are Certified Fire Investigators, Certified Post Blast Investigators, Certified Fire Inspectors, and Certified Explosive Canine Handlers.

There are four Investigators that are trained in the Hazardous Devices Course taught by the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama.