One of the graduates of the most recent Anchorage Police Department academy was fire inspector Brian Dean, who went through the class to learn more about arson investigations.
He already had been lending a hand when the Anchorage Fire Department's sole fire investigator, Brian Balega, is unavailable. The city has needed a second investigator since budget-cutters pared back the department in 2009, Balega said.
"I've pretty much been working by myself since then, and I think some may think that we're adding a second investigator because there is a recent need for one, but the need has been there, just from the normal caseload," he said.
Dean has been handling inspections for the Anchorage Fire Department for five years. That former position still takes priority, and there are months of field training ahead before he can lead and finish investigations on his own.
Cases not being investigated due to caseload
Balega said he believes the number of arsons has increased since he took the investigator position.
He estimated he had handled about 50 cases in 2015 with some carrying over from the previous year. About 30 of those cases were arson investigations, he said.
The numbers are overwhelming, Balega said.
"There are cases I just can't work," he said, "and those won't be in the statistics, because they're not being followed up on."
Arson investigations can take years. A series of arsons at a local park recently wrapped up in Anchorage Superior Court through plea deals.
Arsonists target schools
Schools are often the target of arson. Balega said many arsons involve kids "experimenting" with fire. He encouraged schools to keep their grounds illuminated so curious minds aren't able to hide in the dark and wait for the right moment to vandalize.
The number of arsons at schools prompted Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, to hold a town hall meeting at Willow Crest Elementary on West Tudor Road in mid-October. Present at the meeting were Anchorage police officers, Anchorage School District Superintendent Ed Graff, a municipal parks representative and members of the Taku Campbell Community Council.
Cameras were installed at the school following a playground fire, they said.
School officials encourage students to talk about the arsons, and other goings-on, and share what they know with adults, including school resource officers.
"We need to be conscious that we shouldn't make it easy for people to set fires," Balega said. "When it starts getting dark out, people need to make sure their homes are secure and remove access to things that could be used to start fires, like gas cans."