Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 1182. Inquiry into origin of fires; reports

Each of the aforesaid assistants shall inquire into the origin, cause, and other circumstances of every fire by which any property or life has been destroyed, damaged, or endangered, occurring within the territorial limits of their respective cities, boroughs, towns or townships, and shall make every effort to determine whether such fires were of incendiary origin or the result of design, carelessness, or accident.

Upon the occurrence of any fire, such assistant shall report the same to the Pennsylvania State Police within five days after its occurrence. If the fire appears to the assistant making such inquiry to be of such character and origin as shall require thorough and exhaustive investigation, he shall immediately notify the Pennsylvania State Police and shall, when directed by the Pennsylvania State Police, assist in the making of such investigation. The reports of any such fire shall be made in writing, and in the manner and form prescribed by the Pennsylvania State Police, on the blanks furnished for that purpose. Such reports shall, in every case, contain a statement of: (a) All the facts relating to the cause of such fire that can be ascertained; (b) the extent of the loss and damage to each property; (c) the loss of life and personal injuries caused thereby or resulting therefrom; (d) the amount of insurance upon each property destroyed or damaged; and (e) such other information as may be required by the Pennsylvania State Police.

The assistant shall notify the closest Pennsylvania State Police installation immediately of the occurrence of any incendiary fire.

The duties hereinabove prescribed to be performed by the said assistant may be limited by the Pennsylvania State Police so as to reasonably accord with their pre-existing public duties.

Any of the aforesaid assistants who shall neglect or refuse to report to the Pennsylvania State Police, or who shall neglect or refuse to make reports or investigations of fires as provided in this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, or to undergo imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or both.