SBI Update

• In order to help provide better coverage for the state, Special Agent Matt Bivins has agreed to transfer from the Capital (Raleigh) District to the Northern Piedmont (Greensboro) District. As of April 21, 2018, Matt will take over the fire investigations and will be the primary point of contact for that District. That district consists of the following counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham and Stokes. This will give us, at least, one investigator in every District across the state.  

• The SBI is in the process of adding three additional Accelerant Detection K-9s.  On April 20, 2018, SA Bivins, along with SA Tammy Endicott-Powell and SA Joe Bode, graduated from the SBI K-9 Academy. Each of their dogs have begun preliminary training with the assistance of former SA Jerry Webster. They hope to have all three K-9s trained and online by July 1, 2018.  Once they come online, that will give us six Accelerant Detection K-9s for the state.

• The SBI has also been working to provide a streamlined means for insurance company notifications, as required by NCGS 58-79.40. The SBI has added a link to the website, which will allow insurance companies to do online notifications, instead of written letters.  There is also a link on this same page for citizens to issue tips on suspected arsons. The page is currently active. Once either of the online forms is filled out, it will send me an email directly to me, and I will forward it to the appropriate agent and / or local agency. 

If anybody has any questions or comments, feel free to contact me. 

Kevin Oliver
koliver@ncsbi.gov