The State Fire Marshal is responsible for enforcing state laws relating to the storage, sale, and use of combustibles and explosives, installation and maintenance of automatic or other fire alarms and fire extinguishing equipment, and for inspections of State buildings, public and private schools, child care facilities, and licensed liquor establishments.
From statehood to the 1960s, the State Fire Marshal reported the Insurance Commissioner. To focus on arson investigations and fire-related crimes, the Fire Marshal's office was moved to the Office of the Attorney General. In 2023, the 68th Legislative Assembly approved legislation that moved the Office of the State Fire Marshal back to the Insurance Department.
Today, the State Fire Marshal is appointed by the Insurance Commissioner. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a division within the North Dakota Insurance Department.
Fire Investigations
The State Fire Marshal’s office assists local fire departments and law enforcement agencies with fire origin and cause investigations. To submit a request for fire investigation, contact State Radio, which will notify the on-call Deputy Fire Marshal to contact the requesting agency and coordinate any response.
Certificate of Existence
The State Fire Marshal’s Certificate of Existence program is required under N.D.C.C Chapter 18-04. The program collects information from fire departments for statistical analysis, legislative reporting, distribution of insurance tax, and other uses. The report is required to be completed by each department’s fire chief between August 1 and October 30 each year. Failure to report may result in the withholding of Fire Insurance Tax Distribution funds.
Fire Reporting
Statute requires fire departments to report fire losses to the State Fire Marshal within thirty days. In addition, any fire-related firefighter or civilian injury or fatality must be reported.
The ND Forest Service, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Emergency Reporting is offering a free web based fire reporting tool that will report fires to both the State Fire Marshal’s Office (NFIRS) and the North Dakota Forest Service. Emergency Reporting has fully integrated North Dakota Forest Service’s wildland fire reporting requirements within the state NFIRS reporting solution. This means that only one report will need to be done to meet both organization’s requirements. More information is available from the Programs and Services page of the ND Forest Service website.
Community Risk Reduction
The State Fire Marshal assists departments by providing materials and resources used to promote fire safety and the responsible use of flammable and explosive materials.