Section 109.774 - Conditions allowing fire investigators to carry firearms(A) A fire investigator may carry firearms while on duty if all of the following apply: (1) The state fire marshal, if the fire investigator is employed by the state; the legislative authority of the municipal corporation served by a fire department, if the fire investigator is employed by a municipal fire department; or the chief of the fire department of the township, the chief of the fire department of the joint fire district, or the fire prevention officer in a township or village where no fire department is established that the fire investigator is serving has specifically authorized the investigator to carry firearms while on duty.(2) The fire investigator has done or received one of the following: (a) The investigator has been awarded a certificate by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission, which certificate attests to satisfactory completion of an approved state, county, or municipal basic training program or a program at the Ohio peace officer training academy that qualifies the investigator to carry firearms while on duty and that conforms to the rules adopted under section 109.7481 of the Revised Code.(b) Prior to or during employment as a fire investigator and prior to the effective date of this section, the investigator has successfully completed a firearms training program, other than one described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, that was approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission.(B) A fire investigator to whom division (A) of this section applies and who is carrying one or more firearms under authority of that division has protection from potential civil or criminal liability for any conduct occurring while carrying the firearm or firearms to the same extent as a law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency has such protection.Added by 135th General Assembly,SB 98,§1, eff. 10/24/2024.