The chief of the division of forestry may appoint forest-fire wardens and forest-fire investigators, whose jurisdiction shall extend over fire protection areas established under section 1503.08 of the Revised Code. Forest-fire investigators shall conduct investigations and gather evidence for purposes of the enforcement of this chapter and sections 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.06, and 3767.32 of the Revised Code with respect to forest fires in fire protection areas. Any forest-fire warden or forest-fire investigator shall hold office until the warden’s or investigator’s successor is appointed, but any such warden or investigator may at any time be summarily removed by the chief.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 1503.09

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

The chief may designate a forest-fire warden as a forest-fire investigator. The chief shall establish a policy for the required training of forest-fire investigators, which shall include successful completion of basic wildland fire suppression training and training as a peace officer. Division (D) of section 1501.24 and section 1501.25 of the Revised Code apply to a forest-fire investigator in the same manner as those provisions of law apply to a natural resources officer. Forest-fire investigators shall have jurisdiction, with permission from the chief, to enter public and private lands.