FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday August 1, 2013

New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Receives Two Awards for Arson K-9 Unit

Arson Team Acknowledged By Peers for Success in Investigations of Fires and Explosions



TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety’s Arson K-9 Unit received prestigious awards from both the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and IAAI’s New Jersey Chapter for success in investigating the origin and causes of fires and explosions. The international association, which represents more than 5,000 fire investigation professionals around the world, announced the international “Outstanding Achievement” award as part of National Arson Awareness Week during its annual conference in Orlando, Florida. In addition, the Arson K-9 Unit received recognition by the IAAI’s New Jersey Chapter at their annual Training Conference in Atlantic City earlier this year, where they received the Chapter’s “Investigation Unit of the Year” Award.

“Our Division of Fire Safety Arson K-9 Unit continues to play an important role in identifying arson and the scourge it represents in communities across our state. I’m pleased that they’ve been recognized for their work in the origin investigation of fires and explosions,” said the Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. “Their efforts to train and educate New Jersey's fire service community and the general public through the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code, public education programs and firefighter training programs is commendable.”

IAAI “Outstanding Achievement Award” awardees included:
  • Unit Supervisor Christopher Eckert
  • Investigator Jeffery Silver and his K-9 partner “Scout”
  • Investigator Rodman Meyer and his K-9 partner “Ashes”
  • Investigator Stephen Letts and his K-9 partner “Hunter”
  • Investigator Jason Spiecker

“Every day, the men and women in the Division of Fire Safety, whether by providing public education programs and firefighter training or by enforcing the State's Uniform Fire Code, we are committed to keeping New Jersey families safe. It is an honor to be recognized by our peers from around the county for the work being done in communities throughout New Jersey,” said Acting State Fire Marshal William Kramer, Jr.

The Arson K-9 unit is responsible for conducting origin and cause investigations of fires and explosions that occur in any municipality where the Division of Fire Safety is the fire code-enforcing agency. In addition, this unit has the primary responsibility for fires in any owned, leased, or occupied state facility. The unit also has the statutory responsibility to investigate any serious injury or fatality that occurs to a firefighter in the line of duty.

For more information about the DCA’s Division of Fire Safety, visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dfs/.

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty
Sean Conner
(609) 292-6055