OC Firefighters conducting Arson Training this week

Oconee County, in conjunction with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, will be hosting a training program in Arson Investigation throughout the week of August 11th-16th.  The training will focus on investigative techniques, fire behavior, case studies and report/scene documentation. Investigators and firefighters are concerned with the cause of fires for two primary reasons; prevention of future loss and prosecution of a criminal act. Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King says, “If we are able to determine the cause of the fire to be unintentional (heating, chimney soot buildup, electrical, etc.) we are able to educate the public in ways to prevent those events in their home and business. If the fire is determined to be intentional, then we will certainly pursue those that are responsible to ensure the safety of the public. The two agencies rely on the expertise that each group possesses to make the program successful. A crew of 11 specially trained firefighters is able to couple their experience in fire behavior, burn patterns, and fire chemistry with the decades of criminal investigative experience of the Sheriff’s Office. The team concept allows for each agency to work each case was a group, but the individual focuses on his specialty.”