In 1962 the Department assigned three staff members to full time fire investigation duties. As this unit developed it garnered the respect of the entire department and in 1971 was assigned an additional officer. Fire investigation had arrived and undergone a transition from a methodical approach to an advanced science. Staff members were receiving training in the police sciences as well as that directed toward investigation and resolution of the crime of arson. A ground swell of local and national interest in fires, intentionally set, resulted in inter-department cooperation between the police and fire departments. Throughout this time, members of the Fire Department developed into experienced fire investigators who had been trained and were providing training for other fire departments.

1979 saw the epitome of cooperation at the local level when law enforcement and fire agencies in Sedgwick County applied for and received a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration for the purpose of organizing an Arson Task Force. This galvanized the community's efforts toward a systematic attack on arson. When funding for the grant was no longer available, the Wichita Fire Department continued to investigate fires of all causes and maintain an effective response to fires intentionally set.

This close knit group of highly trained and skilled personnel consist of six investigators. Their work includes a juvenile fire setters program, where youth involved in fire setting or other dangerous fire activities receive counseling from trained fire personnel; annual investigation of approximately 500 fires ranging from minor residential incidents to vehicle fires to those intentionally set to kill or maim. Though some of the activities require court appearances in civilian attire, they are recognized as members of the department who will do the "dirty work". At the scene of a fire incident they operate from a white converted rescue unit and are easily recognized in their unique green coveralls. Those "work clothes" feature the section uniform patch designed by former Chief Investigator Jack Schrader and current Chief Investigator Ray Mauck.