ATF Rules Masjid Al-Huda Mosque Fire as Accidental
KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division announced today that they have finished the scene investigation at the Masjid Al-Huda Mosque in Kansas City, Mo. Investigators have determined the fire was accidental. The fire which occurred at 4608 Saint John Ave., on Feb. 28, caused approximately $600,000 in damage to the mosque and an adjacent establishment.
"ATF, the Kansas City Police Department Bomb and Arson Unit and the Kansas City Fire Department have completed their assignments at the fire scene," said Michael Gleysteen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Kansas City Field Division. "The investigators have taken photographs, inspected and examined artifacts recovered from the scene and conducted interviews. The investigation revealed that the fire was accidental and originated as electrical in nature."
ATF dispatched Certified Fire Investigators (CFI), highly trained special agents, who provide technical support, analysis and assistance to its state and local partners in the areas of fire origin and cause determination and arson investigation.
CFIs are ATF's primary resource in fire-related matters, investigating violent crimes of arson and arson-for-profit crimes, conducting fire scene examinations, making origin and cause determinations, providing expert testimony, assisting other special agents and prosecutors with investigations, and conducting training for ATF agents and other federal, state and local fire investigators.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. For more information about ATF go to www.atf.gov.
CONTACT: SA Group Supervisor Richard Kight, 816-807-6322
SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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