Prairie Township will soon have a new fire marshal

(by Brandi Daniels - January 18, 2011)

With more than 18 years of experience in fire service and in fire and explosion investigation, Mike Altomare will be sworn in as the new Prairie Township fire marshal on Jan. 26 and begin work on Feb. 1.

Altomare is a 1988 graduate of Grove City High School and is now enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in fire science and safety engineering.

Altomare attended fire investigation courses from around the United States, including federal agencies, in the field of origin and cause investigation, evidence collection and preservation, explosive devices, post blast investigations, and court room testimony.

Altomare, a firefighter/paramedic with Prairie Township since 1992, is also a certified safety inspector and a certified fire and explosion investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). In 1997 Altomare was assigned as unit investigator.

“Mike has been training extensively in fire investigation since 1997 and has seen three of our arson cases through court turned into convictions,” said Prairie Township Fire Chief Steve Feustel.

Altomare became the assistant fire marshal in 2005, which meant he was in charge of all of the fire and explosion investigations.
Feustel said that, a little over a year ago, Altomare earned the coveted title of certified fire investigator (CFI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). He is also an Ohio state certified fire safety inspector (CFSI) and a juvenile fire setter educator.

The First In Service website notes, “Mike’s experience and training in fire, arson, and explosion investigations far exceeds the minimum standards as set forth by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators.”

Altomare maintains several professional memberships in the field of fire and explosion investigations.

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