Editing Fire marshal (section)

=== New York City Fire Marshals ===
[[File:NY - NYC Fire Marshal.png|thumb|right|New York City Fire Marshal patch]]
New York City's Bureau of Fire Investigation, a division of the [[New York City Fire Department|FDNY]], currently employs about 140 Fire Marshals, 30 Supervising Fire Marshals (equal in [[New_York_City_Fire_Department#Ranks|rank]] to Captain) as well as several Commanders (equal in rank to Deputy Chief), an Assistant Chief Fire Marshal and a Chief Fire Marshal. The position of fire marshal is a promotional civil service title and all officers have served several years as active firefighters. Unlike many other jurisdictions, the New York City fire marshals are armed police officers with full [[powers of arrest]] who generally work in pairs and investigate serious fires with the New York City Police Department. New York City Fire Marshals undergo comprehensive police training to include annual weapons qualification at [[Camp Smith (New York)|Camp Smith]]. Investigations are conducted in cooperation with the [[New York City Police Department]], with whom they have a close relationship. In a typical year they are assigned about 4,000 fires within the five [[borough (New York City)|borough]]s of the city. New York Fire Marshals often receive special training at the [[FBI]] academy in [[Quantico, Virginia]], as well as attending investigative classes conducted by the NYPD and explosives training classes sponsored by the federal government in [[Socorro, New Mexico]]. Under [[New York State Consolidated Laws]] Article 35.00 section 35.20 "deadly physical force may be used in order to terminate or prevent commission of arson."

The city's first fire marshal, George H. Sheldon, was appointed in 1873, eight years after the reorganization of the fire department into a career department in 1865. [[Robert O. Lowery]] became the first [[African-American]] fire marshal in 1946. Lowery would ultimately rise to the top of the department, being appointed the city's fire commissioner in 1965.

Fire marshals have conducted a number of significant investigations, including the [[Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire]] of 1911. They investigate insurance fraud involving arson, and more recently, potential terrorism. They also function as expert witnesses in arson cases. At times New York fire marshals work undercover and conduct surveillance operations. They also coordinate with federal, state and local law enforcement because arsonists are frequently involved in other criminal activity as well, and some investigations, like the [[World Trade Center bombing|1993 bombing]] of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], require multiple agencies' skills.

The first line of duty NYC fire marshal death was from the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001]], attacks when Marshal [[Ronald Paul Bucca]], disregarding the danger, rushed into the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] to assist in the rescue of civilians trapped within the towers. Bucca, badge 317, a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran, reached the 78th floor of the South Tower along with Battalion Chief [[Orio Palmer]], before the South Tower collapsed. The pair had worked on the 1993 investigation at the same site.

Professional training outside the state at the [[FBI Academy]] at Quantico, Virginia, and other locations for New York City marshals was made possible through federal counter-terror grants, subsequent to 9/11, actively supported by Mayor Mike Bloomberg{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}.

New York State Executive Law, article 6c, sec 159, created an [[arson control board]] that mandated every jurisdiction prepare an arson control plan and a strong coordinated arson control program to include certification of investigators in compliance with NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033. A state standard of level I and level II fire investigator certification was developed. New York City Fire Marshal's training exceeds the requirements of level II.