OVERVIEW OF THE FORENSIC LABORATORY
In 1973 with funds from LEAA, a federal law enforcement grant program, Ohio became the first state in the nation to develop an arson laboratory. The Arson Laboratory, now known as the Division of State Fire Marshal Forensic Laboratory, was created to provide services to fire departments and law enforcement agencies in the State of Ohio (ORC 3737.22(6), (8)). In 1977, the laboratory moved from its original Grant Avenue location in downtown Columbus to its present location at the Ohio Fire Academy in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
The Laboratory was accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Director’s Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB) in April 2007. In order to achieve this designation, a laboratory must demonstrate that its management, operations, personnel, procedures, equipment, physical plant, security, and health and safety procedures meet established standards.
Forensic services are provided in the form of scientific examinations of ignitable liquids, fire debris, explosives, latent prints and general examination of any physical evidence involved in a suspected arson fire, explosive incident, hazardous situation, or other criminal activity.