Executive Summary
- The Columbus arson unit maintains a clearance rate of over 30%, surpassing the national average of 24%.
- K-9 Harry, trained to detect 12 types of ignitable liquids, is a primary asset for recovering evidence from fire scenes.
- The unit operates with nine investigators, each handling approximately 160 cases per year.
- Nearly half of all local arson cases are estimated to be linked to domestic violence incidents.
- Investigators hold dual certifications as firefighters and police academy graduates.
The Columbus Division of Fire’s arson unit is utilizing specialized canine assets and dual-trained investigators to maintain case clearance rates significantly above the national average, even as the department operates with limited staffing and high individual caseloads. According to department officials, the unit relies on a combination of forensic science and field expertise to investigate suspicious blazes throughout the city.
Fire investigator Jordan Schmitt described the inherent difficulties in arson cases, noting that the fire itself often acts as a weapon that destroys evidence and conceals motives. To bridge the gap between destruction and discovery, the unit employs Harry, a three-and-a-half-year-old black Labrador retriever. Trained to detect 12 distinct types of ignitable liquids, the K-9 can identify trace amounts of accelerants that human investigators might miss amidst the debris. Jeremy Thoma, an arson K-9 handler, stated that the dog’s olfactory capabilities are among the most valuable tools available to the department for identifying toxic chemicals used to start fires.
Despite the efficacy of these tools, the unit faces resource challenges. Columbus currently employs nine arson investigators, a figure Schmitt suggests is insufficient for the city’s needs. He drew a comparison to Houston, which has a comparable fire department but employs approximately 80 investigators. Currently, each Columbus investigator manages up to 160 cases annually, averaging a new investigation every three days. Data provided by the Columbus Division of Fire indicates that despite this workload, the unit solves more than 30 percent of its cases, surpassing the national clearance rate of 24 percent.
The unit’s operational structure requires every member to be a police academy graduate, providing them with dual training as firefighters and sworn peace officers. This expertise is applied to a wide range of incidents, including a recent house fire on Freedom Trail that resulted in three fatalities, and a separate arson incident at a three-story apartment building on Dublin-Granville Road. Investigators estimate that between 38 and 48 percent of local arson cases are connected to domestic violence.
The department also tracks juvenile involvement in arson. Records show that since 2020, 270 juveniles have been involved in starting fires, resulting in charges filed in 82 cases. The department operates a youth fire prevention and intervention program to address this demographic. Additionally, the unit continues to pursue cold cases, including the 2003 off-campus fire that killed five Ohio State University students, with Schmitt confirming that investigators still receive and review information regarding that tragedy.
Investigative Outlook and Resource Allocation
The operational data from the Columbus arson unit highlights a critical efficiency model in municipal public safety, where specialized training and K-9 units are used to offset personnel shortages. While the unit’s clearance rate exceeds the national average, the high caseload per investigator poses potential risks for long-term sustainability and thoroughness in complex investigations. The significant correlation between arson and domestic violence suggests a need for continued cross-departmental collaboration between fire investigators and social services. It is important to note that all individuals charged with crimes, including those mentioned in recent investigations, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
