Team Leader - AOP Nicholas Baffes

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Fire Investigation Team to protect the lives and property of the citizens of and visitors to the City of Joliet from preventable fire and arson by investigating and determining the cause and origin of fires. We provide highly trained, professional, and committed personnel to accomplish this endeavor.

Team History

The Joliet Fire Department Fire Investigation Task Force was established in June, 1990 as a joint affiliation with the Joliet Fire Department, Joliet Police Department, Illinois State Crime Laboratory in Joliet, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Currently, the Joliet Fire Department Fire Investigation Team focuses on cause and origin determination – i.e. how and where a fire started, with the Joliet Police Department focusing on the interrogation and arrest of arson suspects.

The fire department contribution to this Task Force consists of 12 members of the Joliet Fire Department.