Who has the legal responsibility for determining the origin and cause of fire?

• A. Fire Inspector
• B. Fire Chief
• C. Fire Investigator
• D. Fire Marshal

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that determining where a fire started and what caused it is a specialized investigation task carried out by someone with legal authority over fire investigations. The Fire Marshal holds that specific responsibility. They oversee fire investigation programs, coordinate with law enforcement when needed, and issue official findings about the origin and cause of fires. This is distinct from the Fire Chief, who leads the department and handles overall command and administration; a Fire Inspector focuses on safety code enforcement and inspections rather than origin-and-cause determinations; and a Fire Investigator (the on-scene specialist) conducts the technical work, but the formal, legally recognized determination typically rests with the Fire Marshal.