(a) The fire marshal and his or her assistants are authorized to investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire within the state which causes injury to any person or which causes damage or loss of property in excess of $200.00. The fire marshal and his or her assistants shall make a special investigation of any fire of suspicious origin. In any investigation carried out by the fire marshal, he or she shall cooperate with the local fire department.

(b) The chief of a volunteer or paid fire department or his or her designee and, in towns lacking a fire department, the first selectman, shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in his jurisdiction which causes injury to any person or which causes damage or loss of property in excess of  $200.00. He or she may make a special investigation as to whether a fire was the result of carelessness or accident and shall make a special investigation of any fire of suspicious origin. (Amended 1973, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)