JOHN ROBBINS/Bullet News
FORT ERIE – Police and fire officials in Niagara have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at making it easier and more efficient to conduct joint arson investigations.
The agreement, which was signed during a brief ceremony at Fort Erie Town Hall on Tuesday morning, is the product of years of work bringing all of the parties together to develop a protocol that better defines roles and responsibilities, allows for improved information sharing and education and the development of digital mapping and an investigation database.
Arson is a problem across Ontario and Niagara has had its share of problems, said Ontario Fire Marshal Ted Wieclawek, who was on hand for the signing of the agreement.
“You can infer there is an issue with arson fires in this part of the province,” Wieclawek told reporters during a question and answer period prior to the signing.
“We recognize it’s a serious problem.”
Some of the key points in the cooperation agreement include:
- promotion of enhanced identification and preservation of evidence for documentation at suspicious and criminal fire scenes;
- The creation of a database to track fires and help identify patterns such as serial arsons, potential fire crimes and other fire-safety issues;
- working with municipalities to ensure that vacant buildings are secure from fires and inhabitation;
- streamlining the sharing of reports and information between parties.
“It’s our first priority to keep our communities safe,” said NRP Deputy Chief Joe Matthews, who signed the cooperation agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, on behalf of the police service.
Matthews said the protocol and improved cooperation that comes with it will allow for more focused and efficient investigations, and, where possible, prevention.
“We can respond to arson fires in a systematic way,” said Matthews. “Information is the life-blood of any investigation process.”
Grimsby Fire Chief Mike Cain signed the document on behalf of the Niagara Region Fire Chiefs Association.
Cain said the agreement is a “unique partnership” that reinforces the ability of three levels of government agencies to work collaboratively to create an “effective and efficient” service delivery model.
“(The agreement) is symbolic of what can be achieved when bureaucracy becomes secondary to cause,” Cain said.
