Master Deputy Oliver Alkire Nominated For Statewide Fire Investigator Award
STATEWIDE (June 14, 2024) - Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire has been selected as the Northeast Region nominee for Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year. He will join other investigators chosen throughout the state for the 2023 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award during the Maryland State Fireman's Convention in Ocean City next week.
Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Dexter Hodges, commander of the Northeast Regional Office, nominated Alkire for his efforts not only in Carroll, Harford, and Cecil counties but throughout Maryland, including his duties as an accelerant K9 handler, honor guard member, and lead spokesman for the agency.
"Master Deputy Alkire is one of the agency's most multifaceted employees. He maintains multiple disciplines with an exceptional work ethic and a selfless attitude," wrote Hodges in his nomination of Alkire.
As his primary duty, Alkire led the agency in 52 fire investigations, closing 38% of his criminal cases by arrest. Alkire was partnered with accelerant detection canine Kachina for eight years until her retirement in September. He immediately returned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) National Canine Division in Virginia. He graduated from Class #147 in November with his current canine, Blondie.
As the public information officer for the OSFM, Alkire is responsible for communicating daily information regarding the agency's investigations and activities to the media and the public. In 2023, Alkire spent 180 hours writing and disseminating 115 news releases, 250 notices of investigations, and conducted 32 on-camera interviews. In August 2023, he completed his Advanced Public Information Officer coursework through FEMA. He is tentatively scheduled to obtain his Master PIO through the University of Tennessee in the fall.
"Always willing to assist other agencies, M/DSFM Alkire and Kachina were selected in January 2023 to assist with the ATF Special Agent Basic Training fire investigation curriculum at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia and routinely assists the National Fire Academy, performing K9 scans for their origin and cause class. He also represents Maryland and proctors at the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee conference each year," said Hodges.
Alkire volunteered to join the agency's recently formed Honor Guard unit. He and five other deputies attended the Delaware State Police Honor Guard Conference in September. The training included 40 hours of ceremonial drill techniques, rifle volley, casket watch, and flag folding.
A goal of his for many years, Alkire obtained his Certified Fire Investigator certification from the International Association of Arson Investigators and is currently one of only two within the agency to hold the certification. To obtain CFI certification, investigators must complete an extensive application requiring documentation, earn sufficient points for their education, training, and experience achievements, and pass a comprehensive examination. He is also a certified fire and explosion investigator and instructor through the National Association of Fire Investigators.
Since 2022, Alkire has received an outstanding rating on each of his performance reviews. "M/DSFM Alkire has mastered time management skills that have greatly contributed to the productivity of the Northeast Regional Office and the entire agency," said Hodges.
A native of Westernport, Allegany County, he began his career with the Office of the State Fire Marshal in January 2008. He has been nominated several times and previously won the statewide award in 2015.
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Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver J. Alkire
The
Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of
State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and
explosion through a comprehensive program of education,
inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more
information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: Maryland State Fire Marshal and/or our Facebook Page.
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