Cape fire, police create joint investigation team

In certain crimes, the evidence is just simply laying around to be found. But in others, that evidence may be around, but it is charred black, burned or become ash.

For the first time in about 10 years, a joint fire investigation team between the Cape Girardeau fire and police departments is being assembled to help investigations into suspicious fires run more smoothly.

"We just recognized that the effort wasn't as seamless as we wanted it to be," fire chief Rick Ennis said of how current investigations are run. "We know we could be doing a better job."

The formation of the team was not because current investigations had been going poorly, but to simply improve upon them, he said.

In current fire investigations, it is up to the fire department to determine the cause and origin of the blaze, Ennis said. If the fire is determined to be suspicious in origin, the investigation is then handed over to police detectives.

But the detective assigned to the investigation may not have anything to do with it until a file about the blaze is placed on his desk, police chief Carl Kinnison said. With the new team, that investigating detective will be called out to the scene immediately and will be involved in the entire procedure, from speaking with witnesses and firefighters to securing evidence at the scene.

The new team will be composed of at least four police officers and about five fire officials, all of whom will work together in investigating a suspicious blaze.

When firefighters come upon a suspicious fire, an apparent arson, or another blaze where the origin can not be immediately determined, the new team will be activated and two or three representatives will be sent to the scene, with at least one from each department.

Ennis estimated that about a third of the fires that the department responded to in 2005 would have prompted the activation of the team.

"We're not really doing anything new or dynamic that we haven't been doing," Ennis said. "We're just trying to improve the way in which we do it."

A fire investigation team had existed about 10 years ago, but it deteriorated due to a lack of funding and interest, and several team members whose certifications lapsed.

"The concerted team approach effort had gone by the wayside, and we're just trying to get that built back up," Ennis said.

Kinnison hoped the members of the team would be identified in about a month, but added that training could take longer. While there are currently some police and fire officials capable of investigating fires and collecting evidence, others do not have the necessary training.

"Investigating explosions and arson are very, very different than what we're normally are accustomed to doing," Kinnison said. "It takes a different level of expertise."

Officials are currently determining the training levels of the proposed team members, how much additional training is needed, and they are also developing policies and procedures on how to activate the team, Ennis said.

As the team will be composed of current police and fire employees who will work in the unit in addition to their normal duties, the only cost would be training, which is already included into the departments' budgets.

Even after the initial training, team members would receive ongoing education, funding for which Kinnison said would be made available to help keep the team active.

The team will also look into past, unsolved fires.

Last year, there were about 10 arsons, which the police department defines as an intentionally set blaze in an inhabitable structure. Of those, two have been solved, according to police department spokesman Jason Selzer.

In addition to the investigation aspect of the team, members will eventually conduct arson awareness programs, speak with juvenile fire setters and give talks on fire safety at schools.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127