[§132-4.5]  Investigation of fires; immunity
for information received from insurers.  (a)  The fire chief of each county
may require any insurer in writing to release information relating to any
investigation the insurer has made concerning a loss or potential loss due to
fire of suspicious or incendiary origin which information shall include but not
be limited to:



(1)  An insurance policy relating to such loss;



(2)  Policy premium records;



(3)  History of previous claims; and



(4)  Other relevant material relating to such loss or
potential loss.



(b)  If any insurer has reason to suspect that
a fire loss to its insured's real or personal property was caused by incendiary
means, the insurer shall furnish the county fire chief with all relevant
material acquired during its investigation of the fire loss, cooperate with and
take such action as may be required of it by the county fire chief, and permit
any person ordered by the court to inspect any of its records pertaining to the
policy and the loss.  Such insurer may request the county fire chief to release
information relating to any investigation the fire chief has made concerning
any such fire loss of suspicious or incendiary origin.



(c)  In the absence of fraud, malice, or
criminal act, no insurer or person who furnishes information on its behalf,
shall be liable for damages in a civil action or be subject to criminal
prosecution for any oral or written statement made that is necessary to supply
information required pursuant to this section.



(d)  The county fire chief receiving any
information furnished pursuant to this section shall hold the information in
confidence until such time as its release is required in furtherance of a
criminal or civil proceeding.



(e)  The county fire chief, in person or by officers
or members of the fire chief's fire department, may be required to testify as
to any information in the fire chief's possession regarding the fire loss of
real or personal property in any civil action in which any person seeks
recovery under a policy against any insurance company for the fire loss. [L
1979, c 215, §1; gen ch 1985]