Halifax Regional Municipality

Coverage Area - Fire and Explosion Investigation Division

Organization
Halifax Regional Municipality

Author
Stephen Nearing

ESRI Software
ArcGIS 9.1

Data Sources
Halifax Regional Municipality, Province of Nova Scotia

Description
The Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency's Fire and Explosion Investigation Division (FEID) is mandated through Provincial Statute (Fire Safety Act, Province of Nova Scotia) to investigate all incidents involving fire and/or explosions within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The FEID utilizes GIS to perform mapping and arson analysis. Arson mapping has become a new analytic tool for the fire and explosion investigator. GIS allows FEID investigators to spatially manipulate and display fire related data.

The ability to store and integrate GIS data with fire department report data has produced a powerful arson analysis tool. Geographically coded information from fire department records is used to detect arson trends and patterns, confirm the presence of arsonists within specific geographical areas, and to identify areas for increased fire inspections.