PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – With more than 100 years of history in the Rose City, Portland Fire & Rescue’s dual badged Fire Investigation Unit works to solve fire-related crimes with both fire and police training. They are the only such unit in Oregon.

“We actually have what is a police department that functions as a police department, specifically tasked by city charter to investigate the crimes of arson and explosive related crimes,” Lt. Jason Andersen, the unit’s chief investigator, said.

Andersen said a spot on the team is considered a specialty assignment. Once a lieutenant or inspector is selected to be a part, they have to get trained up at the basic police academy like any other officer in Oregon.

“It's 16 weeks, 640 hours of training at the police academy,” Andersen said. “Upon the

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