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The U.S.
Fire Administration (USFA) announces the beginning of its twelfth annual
program of providing direct technical assistance to selected State and
local fire investigation agencies. This project is part of USFA's ongoing
effort to strengthen and enhance the work of fire investigation units
across the country. This comprehensive program is offered to interested
fire investigation units at no cost to those jurisdictions selected to
participate in the technical assistance project.
Arson is
increasingly experienced as a violent crime committed for many different
reasons. USFA's technical assistance focuses heavily on improving the
working relationships among fire, police, prosecutors and other state
and federal agencies by suggesting strategies for closer cooperation.
Case prioritization and management, arson data collection and analysis,
investigation reports, training, and time-of-day staffing coverage also
are key components of the site reviews. USFA provides this assistance
to help improve arrest and conviction rates and promote arson prevention
by highlighting the positive features of a jurisdiction's arson control
operations, recommending options for resolving problem areas, and identifying
potential inter-agency and community anti-arson partnerships.
This program
already has proven to be a valuable service to almost 90 State and local
jurisdictions. Any state, county, or city fire investigation agency interested
in participating should meet the following criteria:
Have a sincere
interest in ascertaining the strengths and problem areas of their fire
investigation and arson control programs and operations;
Investigate
an average of 200 fires per year, a significant portion of which are determined
to be incendiary;
Be willing
to provide the necessary application materials and background information,
and cooperate with the designated technical assistance team in scheduling
the field work; and Implement as many of the recommendations as feasible.
For more
information or to apply, please contact:
USFA-Arson
Investigation Technical Assistance Project
Hollis Stambaugh, Project Director
TriData Corporation
1000 Wilson Boulevard, 30th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 351-8300; Fax: (703) 351-8383
E-mail: hstambau@sysplan.com
The application deadline is December 31. An application may be downloaded
from the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/napi/techasst.htm
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