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CONSUMER
SERVICES HELPLINE
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Mary Fields, SFM
Ron McCardle from SFM, on the right, during set up for
the burn.
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FLORIDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ARSON
PREVENTION (FACAP) MEETS
30th Annual Training Session at Florida State Fire College, in Ocala
November 14-16, 2007
 From
all over the state, 138 fire fighters registered for the annual training
event. The morning was kicked off with a welcome from Captain Jeff Merritt
of the State Fire Marshal's office, who is also the president of FACAP.
Thursday evening was highlighted by the presentation of the
FACAP Investigator of the Year award.
The 2007 award winner is Detective Thomas Barron of
the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Tommy is in the Northwest Region of the
Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations
and has been with the State Fire Marshal's office since 1998 and previously
was assistant chief of the
Lynn Haven Fire Department. He is a member of the SFM Forensic Investigative
Support Team and was recognized as the Northwest Region Detective of the
Year for 2006.
Tommy Barron
The surprise of the evening went to the longest
serving employee of the SFM,
Mary Fields. Mary retired from the Bureau in 2006; however, she has
maintained an active role in the FACAP organization. She was presented with
the Meshalko Distinguished Service Award.
After the welcoming ceremonies, the meeting moved to the live fire
training building that had been constructed through the efforts of FACAP in
1991. With thermal couplings and cameras in place, a fire was set on a small
couch.
Less than three minutes later flashover occurred, and then the fire was
extinguished. Flashover typically happens at 1,000 to 1,200 degrees when all
contents of a room reach their ignition temperature at about the same time.
Training participants watched through the open door or on the television screen
providing pictures of the event.
An identically set-up room on the opposite side of the
building had the same small flame set; however, this time an accelerant was
used. The comparison of the two fire settings was then used as the focus for
classroom discussions.
Classes and workshops provided training for
those new to the industry as well as those professionals who have experience
in the field of fire/arson, insurance fraud investigations, and for those
whose primary duties are working with claim files. The training provided both
public and private sectors with a unique and highly educational experience
with the focus on various aspects of fire and fraud investigations.
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