Kimberly Cannon | The Valdosta Daily TimesThe Southwest Georgia Arson Investigators held a training meeting Wednesday at the Emergency Operations Center. 

VALDOSTA — Southwest Georgia Arson Investigators met Wednesday at the Emergency Operations Center for training led by the Valdosta Fire Department. 

First responders were instructed on how to protect and preserve the fire scene so evidence is not destroyed and so the point of origin of the fire can be investigated, said Dereck Willis, a Valdosta Fire Department lieutenant. 

Willis explained the importance of the meetings. 

“Having these training sessions keeps us fresh and keeps us up with the new technology,” he said. 

Willis said learning from fire service seniors and about arson trends in different areas is also beneficial. 

“It’s good networking for us and for the citizens of our community,” he said. 

Valdosta and Lowndes County fire departments, law enforcement, a state arson representative, the Georgia Department of Corrections, part of the private sector and other fire departments, such as Albany and Americus, attended the meeting. 

“Working together, we might have one scene, but if we have several sets of eyes, we all see it differently,” said Lloyd Green, Lowndes County fire marshal. “So by working together as a group, we can bounce ideas off of each other.” 

Southwest Georgia Arson Investigators, which has been organized for nine years, meets monthly or every other month. 

Fire investigators will meet at the Georgia Southeastern Annual Training Conference July 23-27 in Savannah. 

To provide a tip on an arson investigation, a person can call 1-800-282-5804. Information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons responsible for arson may lead to a reward of up to $10,000. 

Kimberly Cannon is an Intern Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.