The Firehouse Yak: Bill Niemann - Big Blazes, Fire Investigations and Arson Arrests
Peter Matthews talks with Bill Niemann, who spent nearly two decades in the Prince William County, VA, Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Bureau. During that time, Niemann and his team relaunched the department’s arson investigation unit and logged many headline-making arson arrests.
Niemann provides insight into his 17-year assignment in the fire marshal’s bureau and the relaunch of their fire investigation unit, which they mostly built from scratch because there were no investigation standards or policies at the time. From attending the police academy to creating their own processes, Niemann and his small crew handled hundreds of arson fires annually.
He reflects on some close calls and big blazes during his time as a line firefighter and some of the most memorable and impactful fire investigations and making high-profile arrests and how a serial arson case led him to the end of his career.
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About the Author
Bill Niemann
Bill Niemann retired as assistant fire marshal with Prince William County, VA, Department of Fire and Rescue. During his 30-year career, he served as a firefighter, firefighter/paramedic, company officer, and station commander. He was one of the first 150 paramedics in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The last 14 years of his career, he was a lieutenant/assistant fire marshal assigned to the arson crimes unit with the county fire marshal’s office. Niemann served 17 years with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, retiring with the rank of flotilla commander. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in fire science, administration, and safety engineering. Niemann is currently a senior partner with Fire Technology Consultants LLC. He is the author of Heavy Fire Showing, also available as an audio book. When not devoting time to investigations, he enjoys hunting, fly-fishing, and restoring a 1987 Ford Mustang GT.
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.