Local fire districts and departments may request the Office of the State Fire Marshal to investigate fires. The State Fire Marshal cannot investigate a fire without a request by the local jurisdiction. The purpose of an investigation is to determine the cause and origin of a fire. If an investigation determines that criminal actions took place, the criminal investigation is referred to applicable law enforcement. The local state's attorney must make any criminal prosecution decisions.
Fire investigation reports issued after January 1, 2025, are available online. To request reports issued prior to January 1, 2025, please contact our office.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal redacts exempt or confidential information pursuant to North Dakota Century Code 44-04-18.7.
Media: For questions or inquiries, please contact our communications team. Please note that reports may include copyrighted material. Media taken by the Office of the State Fire Marshal may be republished without permission.