Arson in Abilene

For the past month I've been part of the Abilene Fire Department's Citizen's Fire Academy (C.F.A.). Every Thursday night after work I go to class where I've been learning about the history of firefighting, Hazmat situations (hazardous materials), the different equipment used to put out fires, arson and much more.

Over a dozen different people are taking the class, many were invited because it benefits their job to have a better understanding of what fire fighters do, I'm one of those people.

Since I've been in the class I've gone to two house fires. Because of what I've learned in the class I've had a better understanding what was going on and then it's easier for me to communicate what happened in my news stories.

One of the fires I went to, within a couple of minutes of the fire being under control the fire investigator was able to tell me the cause of the fire but at the other fire a couple of days later they were still "investigating" the cause.

A week after the fire, investigators were ready to announce what I had begun to suspect- arson was to blame for the fire.

Last week in C.F.A. we were taught all about arson; the different reasons people commit it, what exactly it is, different punishments for being found responsible, etc.

But as everyone knows seeing something on paper and seeing it in real life are two different things- so today I had Fire Investigator and Inspector Clifton Morrison take me through a house that recently burned because of arson.

It was great getting to put my classroom skills to the test. Inspector Morrison was able to point out the different smoke patterns, referred to as a V patterns, and show me how to tell when an excellerant was used and how to tell where the fire originated.

In a couple weeks I'll have another chance to put my new found skills to test- on Saturday October the 24th those in the class will get to head to the fire fighter training field and put all that we learned to use!

Til next time-Courtnee