How do you decide who has the lead on dual scenes?

Do you as an investigator have charge of the scene or if it involves a death or is a crime scene, does law enforcement take the lead?

In Florida, fire department is required to determine the orgin and cause of all fires.We have the state fire marshal to assist departments with major fires or loss of life and they have super reasources

How does the rest of you interface with law enforcement?

Personally i like to let law enforcement take the lead and help them because to me a crime scene investigation takes presidence over a fire investigation because my activities might destroy evidence the police need to do their job

 

what are your feelings on this and how do you work with agencies in your area? 

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Ohio is the same.  This is an area that both the fire invesigator & law inforcement must work hand in hand.  They may not have the slightest idea of handling a fire invesigation but are probably better at interviews and processing evidence.  My advise is to get to know them on a first name basis before and try to get them involved with you on normal fire invesigations.  Before my retirement we had fire invesigators cross trained & sworn as officers by the PD & SO.  We worked hand in hand with detectives on the scene.  By doing so you will learn what both of your needs are.  You don't have to be sworn to work with them.  Just intaducing yourself & inquiring will be a good start.  You never know they may just like looking a fires also.  My experiance has been great with them & we work well together.

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