Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal to investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of a fire or an explosion in which fire is presumed to be a contributing factor in a death, and lists related procedures and requirements. Provides that the reporting of fires, hazardous material incidents, and other incidents shall be based upon the nationally recognized standards of the United States Fire Administration's National Emergency Response Information System (rather than the National Fire Incident Reporting System). Effective immediately.
House Committee Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, upon discovery of a fire-related death at the scene of the incident (rather than just upon discovery of a fire-related death), the chief of the fire department or the chief's designee shall notify the Office to initiate its investigation (rather than shall notify the Office for an investigation of the cause, origin, and circumstances). Allows the Office to request the fire chief or the chief's designee to take reasonable steps to maintain control of the scene and, if making such request, directs the office to provide an estimated time of arrival to the fire chief or the chief's designee (rather than directs the chief of the fire department or designee to maintain control of the scene until a representative of the Office arrives on the scene and initiates the investigation). Provides that, if the fire chief or the chief's designee has agreed to maintain control of the scene, the fire chief or the chief's designee may turn over control of a scene to a law enforcement officer. Provides that the fire chief, designee, or law enforcement officer is not required to maintain a scene (i) after the arrival of a representative of the Office or (ii) upon advisement from the Office that it is no longer necessary to maintain control of the scene, whichever is first.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 425 ILCS 25/6