The Fire & Explosives Investigation Unit (FEIU), otherwise known as “FIB”, is charged with the responsibility of investigating all fires, explosions, or other emergencies within Anne Arundel County with unknown causes. The FEIU investigates approximately 400 fire incidents and 100 explosive related incidents annually.

Fire Investigators are sworn police officers who enforce fire and explosive laws of the State of Maryland and Anne Arundel County.

The Fire Investigation Unit is responsible for:

• The enforcement of the fire and explosives laws of the State of Maryland and Anne Arundel County

• The reduction/elimination of arson, bombings, and other fire service-related crimes

• The determination of the origin and cause of all fire and/or explosive incidents within

the county

• Working with partners to help prevent and reduce accidental fires through the identification of fire-cause

• Bring to justice all violators of the fire and explosive laws of the State and County.

There are multiple aspects of a fire investigation including: scene examination, evidence collection, photography, interview & interrogation, and effecting an arrest when appropriate. During large scale or more complex investigations, multiple investigators, supervisors, and Fire Investigation Units from surrounding Local, State and Federal jurisdictions may respond to the incident.

The Fire Investigation Unit works in direct partnership with the with the U.S. Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), assigned to Baltimore Field Division, Group I - Arson and Explosives. Our team currently has 2 Federally sworn task force officers (TFOs) that conduct investigations involving fires, arsons, explosives, and violent crime while enforcing criminal laws at the federal level.

The Fire Investigation Unit currently operates an accelerant detection canine team. The accelerant detection canine team is certified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). Canines can detect minute traces of accelerants often used in fires, and can lead investigators to a specific location where physical samples can be taken, analyzed and confirmed by special forensic laboratories. Our current ATF ADC Team is made up of Handler Inv. M. Winchell and K9 Jessie. 

Over the last year, members of the investigation unit, including our K9 team, have been out educating the public. From local schools to Colleges and Universities, our team has been busy presenting the job we do as it relates to the field of forensic science. 

The Fire Investigation Unit also assists with new hire background investigations, internal investigations, and burn/explosive injury investigations and assists neighboring agencies requesting fire investigation services.

FEIU Investigators are required to maintain the high demand for continued annual training. Over the last year, investigators travelled across the United States to enhance their fire investigation knowledge, training and experience in subject matter areas such as fire scene fatalities, vehicle fires, marine fires, post blast explosion training through the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as well as many other areas. The amount of training time our team puts in averages over a few hundred hours a year. 

The Fire & Explosives Investigation Unit continues to maintain 11 “CFEIs”, Certified Fire Explosion Investigators by the National Association of Fire Investigators. Three investigators within the unit currently hold the “CFI' designation, Certified Fire Investigator, by the International Association of Arson Investigators. Currently, only approximately 4000 investigators hold this designation worldwide. We would like to congratulate Lt. Pat Kinnier for becoming the most recent “CFI” this year. Additionally, two members of the FEIU maintain their FAA Part 107 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drone) license. This is a true testament to the high level of professionalism and expertise that the members of the Anne Arundel County Fire & Explosives Investigation unit possess.

Fire Investigation Stats

Fire Investigation Unit 2024 (As of 12/5)

• # responses 407

• # cases 143 

• # cases closed 103

• # cases closed by arrest 14

• # fatalities 1

Dollars loss Building: $8,018,366 Contents: $2,349,455