Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
"Action." Includes nonaction or the failure to take action.
"Authorized agencies."
(1) For the purposes of this act shall include:
(i) the State Police Commissioner and other police officers charged with the investigation of fires at the place where the fire actually took place;
(ii) the fire commissioner or fire chief of all first, second, second class A and third class cities;
(iii) the Attorney General;
(iv) the prosecuting attorney responsible for prosecutions in the county where the fire occurred;
(v) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(vi) the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms;
(vii) the United States Attorney when authorized or charged with investigation or prosecution of the fire in question;
(viii) Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Forestry; or
(ix) the fire marshal of a second class county.
(2) Solely for the purposes of section 3(b), an appropriate authorized agency is:
(i) the State Police Commissioner or his authorized representative;
(ii) the fire commissioner or fire chief of all first, second, second class A and third class cities and the fire chief of any other municipality with a paid fire department when that municipality is not serviced by the State Police Commissioner or his authorized representative for the purpose of investigating fires; or
(iii) the fire marshal of a second class county.
(Def. amended Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.837, No.116)
"Insurance company." Any insurance company authorized to transact the business of insurance in this Commonwealth and empowered to issue policies of insurance against loss by the perils of fire or explosion, including the Pennsylvania Fair Plan created pursuant to the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.738, No.233), known as "The Pennsylvania Fair Plan Act."
"Fire loss." Shall include loss by explosion.
"Relevant." Any information having a tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the investigation or determination of the issue more or less probable than it would be without the information.
Compiler's Note: The Department of Environmental Resources, referred to in the def. of "authorized agencies," was abolished by Act 18 of 1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection.