Deputy Receives International Recongnition

Deputy State Fire Marshal Christopher Fenzel received international recognition for his wo

rk as a fire investigator with the Office of the State Fire Marshal on Tuesday, April 11th in Las Vegas. The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) held their annual International Training Conference at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 9th through April 14th. The International Association of Arson Investigators consists of 80 chapters worldwide one of which is the Maryland/DC chapter. At an awards presentation on Tuesday night, Deputy Fenzel was presented with an “Award of Recognition” by IAAI President George Codding. DFM Fenzel was selected as 1 of 3 among his peers internationally to earn this award. His supervisor, Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Matthew Stevens, nominated him for the award months ago and was notified by the IAAI that Deputy Fenzel was chosen to receive it shortly before the conference.

In the nomination application, Deputy Chief Stevens stated that DFM Fenzel had an 88 percent closure rate for his assigned arson cases. This is well above the national average of about 18 percent. In addition, DFM Fenzel was instrumental in the arrest of a suspect for setting fire to an $800,000.00 home nestled on the Chesapeake Bay in March of 2016. Stevens also noted his eagerness to field train a newly hired Deputy State Fire Marshal upon his completion of the police academy. Stevens stated in the nomination application that the investigations completed, the training given, fire safety inspections completed and the cases closed by arrest by DFM Fenzel in 2016 earned him the nomination. Deputy Chief Stevens said Deputy Fenzel is always willing to assist his co workers in any way and always looks out for what is best for the agency, and felt that DFM Fenzel was a good candidate to for the IAAI’s “Award of Recognition”.

DFM Fenzel is a Talbot County native with six years of experience in law enforcement. He was previously employed by both local and county law enforcement agencies prior to joining the ranks of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office in 2015. Deputy State Fire Marshal Christopher Fenzel is currently assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Upper Eastern Regional Office in Easton as a fire investigator and inspector. This region conducts fire investigations in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s upper eastern shore.

DFM Fenzel with IAAI President George Codding (Photo courtesy OSFM)

Deputy Fire Marshal Christopher Fenzel (L) with Deputy Chief Matthew Stevens (R) (Photo-OSFM)