Fire Marshal: Fire Investigations

The Collin County Fire Marshal's Office performs fire investigations, explosive investigations and hazardous spills investigations throughout unincorporated Collin County. However, if the fire is suspect in nature, we are limited on what information can be released.

For further information, please select from the following:

Education and Information

Topic
Description
Arson
It's A Crime!

Statistics show that arson is one of the United States most expensive crimes in the United States. In 1994, almost 20,000 fires in Texas were classified as suspect. That equals 1 in every 5 fires. Of those fires, there were 22 deaths, 418 injuries and more than $87 million in property damage.

Arson touches all aspects of our society. For example, if a business is seriously damaged by fire it may result in closing that business for a short time or permanently. This can cause a loss of income for employees or worse their jobs, loss of productivity and possibly product which, in turn, can be costly to other businesses that may rely on the product produced by the effected business. This can then affect their employees and their product. The trickle-down effects can be enormous and may even affect you personally.

The Affects Of Arson

Here are some ways that arson can affect you, even if it wasn't your property that was damaged:

  • Increased taxes to support law enforcement and fire departments
  • Increased insurance rates (medical, life, property, etc.)
  • Increased costs of products
  • Jobs
Don't Ignore It - Report It!
  • Always be observant and report unusual activities in your neighborhood. This includes suspicious people, unusual moving activities, changes in lifestyles, etc.
  • Report any information you may have about a fire in your area

Arson Reward Hotline

Call 1-800-835-6422 if you have any information regarding any arson incident. If your information leads to the arrest of the person responsible for the fire, you may receive a reward of up to $1,000.00.

Curious Children and Fire

The National Fire Prevention Clearinghouse has developed a 3-step approach to answer a child's questions regarding fire. If you have further questions you may contact our office or the National Fire Prevention Clearinghouse at (800) 603-3100.

Step One: Teach Your Child About Fire
  • "What Is Fire?" Fire is a natural energy source which provides heat, light and energy. Fire is a tool that we use in our everyday lives to produce heat, cook food and heat our homes.
  • Fire is a useful tool, for use by adults. Fire can be dangerous, it is not a toy or a plaything.
  • Fire can easily get out of control.
  • Only adults can safely use fire and must follow special fire safety rules.
Step Two: Control Your Child's Access to Fire
  • Create a safe home environment.
  • Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of young children. A two-year-old child can operate a lighter or strike a match.
  • Never - not even for a moment - leave a stove, lighted candle or fire in a fireplace unattended.
  • Teach your children that matches or lighters are too dangerous to even touch. Teach your children not to touch lighters or matches they may find, but to tell you where they are.
  • Remember to praise your children for following your instructions.
Step Three: Set A Good Example
  • Children learn by watching and imitating adults. Set a good example for them.
  • Point out the safety precautions you use for cooking, heating, fire safety.
  • Post emergency numbers by the telephone and teach children how and when to use them. Emphasize the importance of getting out, then call for help from another location. Items such as toys and pets can always be replaced, but a child cannot.
Juvenile Firesetters
​Understanding why children set fires is the beginning to understanding firesetting behavior. Parental involvement and activism is key to getting help to children and possibly saving not only property and lives but also the intervention of a firesetter at a young age may stave off a future of adult firesetting tendancies.
Interesting Facts

Curiosity Firesetters usually are 2-7 years old who find fire facinating and begin to play with it to find out how it feels, how it burns and what it does. At this age they usually do not understand how dangerous fire is.

Though curiosity is normal, parents and others need to take it very seriously when they discover that a child is playing with fire.

Problem Firesetters can be very young but are usually around the ages of 5-17 years old. These children usually light fires because of emotional or mental problems rather than out of curiosity. Their problems may be minor or severe. Chronic behaviors such as cruelty to animals, extreme mood changes, bad relationships with other children are some traits data on juvenile firesetters has revealed.

What Can You Do?
  • Teach your children about fire and fire safety
  • Control your child's access to fire
Topic
Arson
Description
It's A Crime!

Statistics show that arson is one of the United States most expensive crimes in the United States. In 1994, almost 20,000 fires in Texas were classified as suspect. That equals 1 in every 5 fires. Of those fires, there were 22 deaths, 418 injuries and more than $87 million in property damage.

Arson touches all aspects of our society. For example, if a business is seriously damaged by fire it may result in closing that business for a short time or permanently. This can cause a loss of income for employees or worse their jobs, loss of productivity and possibly product which, in turn, can be costly to other businesses that may rely on the product produced by the effected business. This can then affect their employees and their product. The trickle-down effects can be enormous and may even affect you personally.

The Affects Of Arson

Here are some ways that arson can affect you, even if it wasn't your property that was damaged:

  • Increased taxes to support law enforcement and fire departments
  • Increased insurance rates (medical, life, property, etc.)
  • Increased costs of products
  • Jobs
Don't Ignore It - Report It!
  • Always be observant and report unusual activities in your neighborhood. This includes suspicious people, unusual moving activities, changes in lifestyles, etc.
  • Report any information you may have about a fire in your area

Arson Reward Hotline

Call 1-800-835-6422 if you have any information regarding any arson incident. If your information leads to the arrest of the person responsible for the fire, you may receive a reward of up to $1,000.00.

Topic
Curious Children and Fire
Description

The National Fire Prevention Clearinghouse has developed a 3-step approach to answer a child's questions regarding fire. If you have further questions you may contact our office or the National Fire Prevention Clearinghouse at (800) 603-3100.

Step One: Teach Your Child About Fire
  • "What Is Fire?" Fire is a natural energy source which provides heat, light and energy. Fire is a tool that we use in our everyday lives to produce heat, cook food and heat our homes.
  • Fire is a useful tool, for use by adults. Fire can be dangerous, it is not a toy or a plaything.
  • Fire can easily get out of control.
  • Only adults can safely use fire and must follow special fire safety rules.
Step Two: Control Your Child's Access to Fire
  • Create a safe home environment.
  • Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of young children. A two-year-old child can operate a lighter or strike a match.
  • Never - not even for a moment - leave a stove, lighted candle or fire in a fireplace unattended.
  • Teach your children that matches or lighters are too dangerous to even touch. Teach your children not to touch lighters or matches they may find, but to tell you where they are.
  • Remember to praise your children for following your instructions.
Step Three: Set A Good Example
  • Children learn by watching and imitating adults. Set a good example for them.
  • Point out the safety precautions you use for cooking, heating, fire safety.
  • Post emergency numbers by the telephone and teach children how and when to use them. Emphasize the importance of getting out, then call for help from another location. Items such as toys and pets can always be replaced, but a child cannot.
Topic
Juvenile Firesetters
Description
​Understanding why children set fires is the beginning to understanding firesetting behavior. Parental involvement and activism is key to getting help to children and possibly saving not only property and lives but also the intervention of a firesetter at a young age may stave off a future of adult firesetting tendancies.
Interesting Facts

Curiosity Firesetters usually are 2-7 years old who find fire facinating and begin to play with it to find out how it feels, how it burns and what it does. At this age they usually do not understand how dangerous fire is.

Though curiosity is normal, parents and others need to take it very seriously when they discover that a child is playing with fire.

Problem Firesetters can be very young but are usually around the ages of 5-17 years old. These children usually light fires because of emotional or mental problems rather than out of curiosity. Their problems may be minor or severe. Chronic behaviors such as cruelty to animals, extreme mood changes, bad relationships with other children are some traits data on juvenile firesetters has revealed.

What Can You Do?
  • Teach your children about fire and fire safety
  • Control your child's access to fire