FIRE / ARSON
INVESTIGATIONS
UNIT
Fire Captain Mike Macalinao
December 17, 2024
Received After Agenda Printed
12/17/2024 - Regular Meeting
CITY MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
Presentation
Fire / Arson Investigations Unit
Established 2023
• Conduct thorough Fire Investigations.
• Enhance Criminal Investigations.
• Prevent Repeat Arson Incidents.
• Improve Community Safety.
A partnership between Murrieta Fire & Murrieta Police
Fire / Arson Investigations Unit
Established 2023
MFR
•1 - Full-Time Lead (grant funded)
•3 - Shift/Eng Investigators as of 2024
•3 - New Shift Investigators 2025-2026
•Total of 2 Investigators per Shift (6)
A partnership between Murrieta Fire & Murrieta Police
MPD
•Lt. Durrant
•Sgt. Therien
•Detective Leitch
Established Relationships
RCATF - Riverside County Arson Task Force
ATF – Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms
DA – District Attorney’s Office
Fire / Arson Investigations Unit
Levels of Training
• Origin & Cause Investigator – 208 Hours
• Arson Investigator – 104 Hours
• Approx. 8 Weeks of Total Training
5 • 33,395 reported arson cases in the U.S.
(2019)
• 42.2% involved structures
• 22.6% involved mobile property
• 35.2% involved other property types
• Only 26.6% of cases resolved (2023)
• Over 70% of cases remain
unresolved
• Need for improved resources and
investigative strategies
(Sources: FBI, California DOJ, Statista)
National Arson Statistics
FIRE / ARSON
INVESTIGATIONS
UNIT
QUESTIONS