Amid fire investigations, Utica adds another fire marshal

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Amid fire investigations, Utica adds another fire marshal

By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jul 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM EDT

UTICA - The City of Utica strengthens its very overworked fire marshal's office in the wake of nearly two dozen arson fires in a matter of weeks.

Two fire marshals worked around the clock on the recent rash of arson fires. It was obvious they needed help.

Now they're getting it.

That's nearly two dozen arson fires since the beginning of the year, 19 of them happened in about a two week period in May.

Fires obviously don't happen on a schedule so the city's Chief Fire Marshal Ray Beck and Marshal Bob Stevens were working all kinds of hours around the clock with little or no sleep.

And the arsons kept piling up. So the city added another fire marshal firefighter Gary Heinz.

Utica's Public Safety Commissioner met just Thursday with the District Attorneys Office about the rash of arson fires - a very long meeting, we're told.

Commissioner Dan LaBella says the cases are by no means cold - he's optimistic that arrests will be made.

Monday, Jul 21 at 7:11 PM Patronage Jones wrote ...

How was this job filled? Was it advertised? Is this person related to those in power? Seems the answers are: patronage, no, and yes....as usual....clean it up Mr. Mayor

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Monday, Jul 21 at 9:56 AM Fire marshal Lou wrote ...

I be work need some but then not what?

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Friday, Jul 18 at 2:32 PM Who's relative got hired this time... wrote ...

Its the mayor who is starting the fires anyway

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Friday, Jul 18 at 12:22 PM Fire Marshal Bill wrote ...

I applied for that job,I'm related to the Mayor but because my last name is OAmidski .not fair!

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