Avenel firefighters get kits to help investigate arson BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - Fire Official Cory Spillar of the Avenel Fire Prevention Bureau said that unfortunately, there are always going to be arson investigations. That is why for the second time, he reached out to FM Global, a leading property insurer of the world's largest businesses, based in Johnston, R.I., for an arson grant totaling $2,200. The Avenel FPB received its first arson grant of $992 fromFM Global in 2004. "We have to tell them what we would like to do with the items [arson supplies] we would purchase with the grant and why," said Spillar, who said he looks forward to utilizing the funding fromFMGlobal in the new year. Fire prevention bureaus can reach out for the grant every three years. The Avenel FPB was awarded its second arson grant in October 2007. The award will be used to purchase teaching aids and supporting material to enhance the department's fire prevention and education efforts in the community. "We have purchased evidence kits, tool kits, coveralls, fire investigation literature, and a Sparky costume for when we go into the schools for fire prevention week," said Spillar. Over the past three decades, FMGlobal has contributed millions of dollars to fire services and related agencies working to prevent fire in their communities, because fire is the leading cause of commercial and industrial property damage. Through the company's highly competitive Fire Prevention Grant Program, grants are awarded quarterly to fire departments aswell as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide that best demonstrate a need for funding where dollars can have the greatest impact on preventing, preparing for and controlling fire in the community. "At FM Global, we believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable, and we are pleased to make funding available to organizations like the Avenel Fire Prevention Bureau, that share the same philosophy," said John Antola, senior account engineer and fire prevention grant coordinator for the company's New York operations. "After all, it's much better to prevent a loss than to recover from one." Spillar, who has been the fire inspector in the 5th Fire District that covers Avenel, Colonia, Iselin andWoodbridge proper since 2003, said arson fires vary. "In 2006, we had 25 fire investigations," said Spillar, who added that usually 15 to 20 percent on the list of fire investigations are undetermined. "In 2005, we had 34 fire investigations and in 2003 we had 37 fire investigations." FMGlobal was established in Rhode Island more than 170 years ago and provides property insurance and related loss-prevention services to one out of every three Fortune 1,000 companies and similar-size organizations worldwide. The company advises such leaders in industry on how best to prevent damage and business interruption from fire, natural catastrophes and other risks in an ever-increasingly fragile and competitive business environment.