Section 15-220. Administering oaths; taking and transmitting testimony  


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  • a.
      The commissioner, the chief and deputy  chief  fire  marshals,  and  the
      assistant  fire  marshals, in conducting any investigation authorized by
      section 15-218 of this title, shall have the power to  administer  oaths
      and  affirmations, and any false swearing under such oath or affirmation
      shall be perjury.
        b.  The  chief  fire  marshal,  or  other   person   conducting   such
      investigation  shall  take  the  testimony,  under  oath, of all persons
      supposed to be cognizant of any fact, or to have means of knowledge,  in
      relation  to  the subject of the investigation, and shall cause the same
      to be reduced to writing and verified. All such testimony, together with
      the report of  the  investigating  officer  setting  forth  his  or  her
      opinions  and conclusions in respect to the matter, shall be transmitted
      to the commissioner.  A  copy  of  such  testimony  and  report  may  be
      furnished,  in  the  discretion  of  the  commissioner,  to  the  police
      department, to the district attorney of the county in which a  crime  is
      believed  to  have occurred, to the New York board of fire underwriters,
      to the owners of the property involved, and to other persons  interested
      in  the  subject  matter  of the investigation. In all cases of supposed
      arson,  incendiarism,  or  fires  due  to  criminal  carelessness,   the
      commissioner,  or officer authorized by the commissioner, shall promptly
      seek the cooperation of such police department  and  district  attorney,
      and shall report to such attorney, without delay, all evidence, with the
      addresses of probable witnesses.