NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER’S

FIRE INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 25, 2005 – WOODLAND

In Attendance:

Matthew Million -Woodland Fire

James DiGrazia- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Bonnie Terra- Alameda County Fire

Mike Dobson- Sac Metro Fire

Ron Branigan- Woodland Fire

Vern Canon -Nevada County Consolidated Fire District

This was the inaugural meeting of the committee. We held a roundtable discussion to identify the initial goals for the committee:

Develop working relationships with other groups and agencies involved in fire investigation including the California Conference of Arson Investigators, local arson task forces, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including terrorism task forces, etc.

Work closely with the Legislation Committee to monitor legislative activities including arson registration and the three-strike laws.

Develop an effective means of sharing information related to fire investigation statewide.

Our initial efforts will be directed towards developing an effective means of sharing information. We discussed developing a system similar to AIRS or a secure website where fire investigators could share information. It was decided that a list serve, similar to the Los Angeles Area Fire Marshal’s Discussion List, might be the most effective means of sharing information. An investigator could send an E-Mail to a specific address where it would be rebroadcast to all participating investigators. Membership on the list would need to be approved to ensure that sensitive information could be shared. A list serve would provide a rapid method for investigators to share information or obtain assistance on specific topics. We will contact the administrators of the Los Angeles list and work with Fort Hartsfield, our Webmaster, and explore the possibilities of developing the program and to estimate the cost of operation.

Ron Branigan volunteered to be a Co-Chair for the committee and will work with his Chief and the Executive Board for the necessary approvals.

Respectfully Submitted,

Vern Canon

Co-Chair Fire Investigation Committee

Nor-Cal FPO’s