A bill for an act relating to the duties of fire officials and reports of fires and emergency responses.

SF 451 requires fire department chiefs or their designees in Iowa cities and townships to investigate all fires causing property damage, injury, or destruction to determine if they resulted from natural causes, negligence, or intentional action. It mandates that fire officials file monthly reports with the state fire marshal for fires causing $50 or more in damage (or emergency responses), including property details, fire origin, and incident circumstances, while requiring immediate notification for fires involving death, serious injury, or $200,000+ in damage. The bill also grants law enforcement-certified fire officials access to vehicle registration data and the national crime database during investigations. These provisions aim to standardize fire cause determination and reporting across the state.