Fire Investigation Fleet

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Fire Investigation Vehicle Project highlights a purpose-built vehicle designed to support fire investigation teams while prioritizing investigator health and wellness. This specialized unit enhances mobility, secure equipment storage, scene documentation, and operational readiness, while incorporating clean-cab design principles that help reduce occupational exposure to carcinogenic and toxic materials encountered during fire investigations.

Reducing Exposure to Carcinogenic Contaminants

Fire investigations expose personnel to toxic and carcinogenic byproducts including soot, ash, chemical residues, and fire debris. These contaminants do not remain at the scene — they travel on personal protective equipment, tools, clothing, and evidence containers. Without proper controls, these hazards can migrate into vehicle interiors, creating long-term health risks for investigators.

The OSFM Fire Investigation Vehicle Project is intentionally designed to support a “clean-cab” concept, prioritizing the physical separation of contaminated materials from the passenger compartment.

Alignment with National Standards & Best Practices

The design and deployment of OSFM Fire Investigation Vehicles are guided by nationally recognized standards and recommendations, including:

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidance emphasizes minimizing contamination, separating soiled PPE and tools from clean environments, and reducing exposure to fireground toxins—principles directly supported by clean-cab vehicle designs.
The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Fire Investigator Health and Safety Best Practices - PDF - 3.14 MB recommend:
- Keeping contaminated materials out of passenger compartments
- Using vehicles that support clean-cab concepts
- Ensuring vehicles can be easily decontaminated

OSFM vehicle configurations directly reflect these recommendations.

Open cab-mounted toolbox on a fire marshal vehicle showing evidence collection supplies.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) fire and explosive investigation guidance supports the use of pickup-style and purpose-built vehicles that allow for:
- Separation of hazardous materials
- Secure transport of investigative tools and evidence
- Safer operations for fire and explosive investigators

OSFM’s fleet modernization aligns with these federal best practices.

A Crew Cab pickup truck with a bed slide full of tools and equipment. — A bed slide for the bed of the truck provides easy access to a 2000lb payload of tools and equipment.

The Fire Investigation Vehicle Project demonstrates OSFM’s commitment to:

Reducing long-term cancer and health risks
Protecting investigators from repeated toxic exposure
Providing vehicles that match the realities of modern fire and explosive investigations

By intentionally separating carcinogenic materials from the passenger compartment, OSFM vehicles function as both operational assets and protective equipment—supporting investigator wellness today and long into the future.

Below are images from the OSFM F-250 4x4 Crew Cab pickup truck.

A Crew Cab pickup truck console showing a laptop, radio mount, cup holders, USB/12V charger, and lockbox. — A full console consisting of a laptop mounting solution, radio mount, cup holders, USB/12V charger, and lockbox.

A K-9 Crew Cab pickup truck with a dog sitting that is outfitted with a custom cage. — K-9 vehicles are outfitted with a custom cage and have a Heat Alert which will alert the handler when the vehicle's temperature starts to rise above reasonable temperatures.

Related resources

Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fleet Sustainability and Replenishment Plan, 2025 - PDF - 2.6 MB

National Fire Protection Association