HRS §132-4
Investigating fires and referring crimes to prosecutors
The county fire chief must investigate every fire that damages or destroys property to find its cause and whether it was accidental or intentional. If the evidence suggests a crime, the chief must give it to the county prosecutor. The state fire marshal can help and must coordinate with the chief if they see a crime.
countiesstate agencies
The statute, as written — [OLD] REPEALED
L 1978, c 241, §2(4). §132-4 Investigation of fires; criminal prosecutions. The fire chief of the county in which any fire occurs shall immediately investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of fire by which property has been destroyed or damaged and so far as possible determine whether the fire was the result of carelessness or design. A county fire chief may request the office of the state fire marshal to assist with the investigation of a fire as provided in section 132-33. If after any investigation the county fire chief is of the opinion that the evidence in relation to the fire indicates that a crime has been committed, the fire chief shall present the evidence to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the supposed offense was committed, with the request that the prosecuting attorney institute criminal proceedings as the evidence may warrant. If the office of the state fire marshal is of the opinion that the evidence in relation to a fire indicates that a crime has been committed, the office of the state fire marshal shall coordinate with the relevant county fire chief to present the evidence to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the supposed offense was committed.
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