Director of Commerce Donna Owens announced that long-time Arson Investigator Harvey Wilt retired from Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal effective today.

Investigator Wilt served as an arson investigator for Shelby, Darke, Champaign, Union and Logan Counties. He joined the Arson Bureau at State Fire Marshal James McNamee's office on October 31, 1982 after retiring from the Greenville Fire Department as Captain in charge of fire investigations and Line Officer.

"Investigator Wilt performed in exemplary fashion while working with local fire and police departments, sheriffs and prosecutors' offices and other agencies on numerous fire investigations," said Fire Marshal McNamee. "For the last 15 years, he has answered the call and was counted on by officials from 5 counties when they needed his assistance, knowledge of fire scenes and his exceptional investigative techniques."

Wilt has received several commendations during his service with the Fire Marshal's office and numerous letters of praise from area fire chiefs regarding his investigative expertise. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest Arson Seminar and the Planning Committee of the Ohio Arson School, where he served as Dean in 1996.

A native of Greenville and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Harvey and his wife Sherry reside in

the area.

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1998 marks the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Ohio Fire Academy. Since 1978, more than 200,000 fire service, emergency response and related personnel have participated in over 12,000 programs offered through the Ohio Fire Academy. State Fire Marshal James J. McNamee, in reviewing the Academy's accomplishments over the past 20 years, points out that, "By being in the forefront of fire training and education, the Academy provides Ohio's fire service and other emergency responders with the best training available and enhances their capabilities to serve the citizens of Ohio."

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Fire Marshal's Office trains firefighters, enforces the Ohio Fire Code, investigates the cause and origins of fires and explosions, provides fire prevention programs and performs other services. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Commerce regulates financial institutions, securities, industrial compliance, unclaimed funds, and real estate, along with other industries. The former Department of Liquor Control joined the Department on July 1, 1997, as the Division of Liquor Control. The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us.