When property is destroyed or damaged by fire, the municipal fire inspector shall investigate the cause, circumstances and origin of the fire, and especially examine whether it was the result of carelessness or of design. The Attorney General may supervise and direct such investigation whenever the Attorney General determines it to be expedient or necessary. If arson is suspected, the municipal fire inspector shall immediately notify the State Fire Marshal or an inspector of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, who shall cause a full investigation thereof to be conducted. The State Fire Marshal and agents or employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal may investigate or cause to be investigated any fire or explosion within the State. [PL 2011, c. 27, §1 (AMD).] 1. Certain explosions or fires; investigation and securing of evidence. In accordance with the protocol adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this subsection, the State Fire Marshal shall investigate and secure evidence of a gas explosion event. For purposes of this subsection, "gas explosion event" means an explosion or fire caused or suspected to be caused by or that involves natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas and that causes injury or substantial property damage, as determined according to the protocol adopted under this subsection. The State Fire Marshal shall develop a protocol for investigating and securing evidence under this section that: A. Establishes reasonable standards for determining whether an explosion or fire may have been caused by or involved natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas and whether the explosion or fire caused injury or substantial property damage; and [PL 2011, c. 27, §1 (NEW).] B. Establishes procedures for informing local fire officials of the requirements of this subsection and for coordinating the investigation, as appropriate, with local fire officials, the Public Utilities Commission, the utility or other entity that controlled, transported or delivered the natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas and other relevant entities. [PL 2011, c. 27, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2011, c. 27, §1 (NEW).]
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