Necessity of Granting Independent Firefighting Investigative Authority to Arson Offenders

Fire is the oldest danger in human history, beginning with its discovery, and is still an object of existential fear. In particular, arson is a destructive, antisocial, and deliberate crime that causes great human and economic damage to society. Therefore, this study aims to discuss the investigation rights of firefighters, which are necessary to establish a professional and scientific investigation system for arson, and to explore the question of what the fire organization should have. Above all, although firefighters have expertise in controlling fire, and are authorized to investigate crimes, arson is beyond the scope of their investigation and so they do not have the authority to directly investigate such crimes. Therefore, to strengthen the capabilities of the special fire police and increase their investigative power over arson and related crimes, the legal system should be improved so that the special fire officers can be given the primary right to investigate them.