County fire chiefs; powers and duties

(a) Records. The fire chief of each county shall keep in the county fire chief's office a record of all fires occurring in the county and of all facts concerning the same, and shall make compilations and statistical investigations on an annual basis, all of which shall be kept as permanent records in the fire chief's office. All records shall be public, except that any evidence in any investigation may, in the discretion of the county fire chief, be withheld from the public. (b) Investigations, generally. The fire chief of each county shall: (1) Investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires; (2) Supervise and make or cause to be made, on a biennial basis, a thorough inspection record of all property that might constitute a fire hazard within the county pursuant to subsection (c); (3) Summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and production of evidence and hold hearings and make orders in any matter under the fire chief's jurisdiction; and (4) Cooperate with all other governmental officers or agencies having jurisdiction in the matters. (c) On January 1 of each year, the fire chief of each county shall transmit the records and statistical investigations compiled pursuant to subsection (a) to the office of the state fire marshal. On January 1 of each alternating year, the fire chief of each county shall transmit the inspection record of property that may constitute a fire hazard within their county compiled pursuant to subsection (b)(2) to the office of the state fire marshal.