State's arson investigators holding conference in Sanford

May 4—The N.C. Chapter of The International Association of Arson Investigators is holding its annual conference in Sanford for the first time and couldn't be more pleased.

"This has been great, as good as we've had," Wayne DeLancey, chapter president, said as he stood in the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

About 200 state chapter members are attending the week-long event — which explains the number of trucks from across the state parked in the center's lot.

On Tuesday, members were sitting in the auditorium listening to an arson expert describe what to look for in boat explosions.

The chapter includes arson investigators from law enforcement ranging from police to deputies to State Bureau of Investigation agents as well as emergency management directors.

There are private investigators, insurance investigators and representatives from the N.C. Forestry Service who attend, DeLancey said.

"They learn about arson investigations and the different techniques involved in different situations," he said. "They learn about techniques to identify the cause and origin of the fire."

On Monday, a medical examiner briefed members on how to determine if a fire has resulted in a death or the death occurred before the fire, DeLancey said.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey also attended the first day of seminars, DeLancey said.

"Our goal is to combat arson fraud to keep insurance claims and rates down," he said.