An inside look at how Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal investigators probe blazes, explosions

"It's our job to determine the origin and cause of that fire and if there's a way we can prevent a similar occurrence we want to do that ... we want to take proactive steps."

When a major fire or explosion happens, firefighters, police, paramedics, emergency volunteers and journalists often rush to the scene in response.

But when it comes to carrying out the complex, scientific investigations needed during the immediate aftermath to get to the bottom of how and why such a devastating event happened, it falls to a highly trained team of experts with Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) — a provincial agency founded in 1916.

“It’s our job to determine the origin and cause of that fire and if there’s a way we can prevent a similar occurrence we want to do that … we want to take proactive steps,” Steve Wilson, the assistant deputy fire marshal with the OFM, told Global News while also reflecting on the emotional load the office’s responsibilities can sometimes have on its personnel.

“Our investigators, engineers and specialists, we ask them to do some of the most difficult investigations on behalf of the province so it’s important we have the support for our folks in place to help them manage (a psychotherapist is on staff and OFM relies on a peer-support network) … they’re dealing with devastation and death all the time.

“There’s a huge weight put on their shoulders because they want to bring closure to everyone who has been impacted by that incident.”

The OFM gets called in to probe fires where there are fatalities, serious injuries, or suspected arsons. The agency is also tasked with investigating explosions, including ones by clandestine drug labs. When there is significant loss experienced ($500,000 or more in damage, or more than twice the average residential sale price in the community), that will also trigger an investigation.

In 2020, the agency looked into approximately 650 fires and explosions and at a full staffing complement there are 26 primary investigators, plus other scientists and experts who will take charge in those investigations. Under the Fire Prevention and Protection Act, investigators have authority to enter property to conduct probes and they’ll work with police if it’s determined to be criminal. The staff also act as experts in criminal court proceedings as well.

During the summer, Global News spent time with a team of new OFM recruits to get a better understanding of the office and the role it plays.