CORSICANA FIRE DEPARTMENT
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
September 29, 2009
Leigh Tomlin, Commission Coordinator
Texas Forensic Science Commission
Sam Houston State University
College of Criminal Justice
Box 2296, 816 17th Street
Huntsville, Texas 77341-2296
Re:
Willingham Matter
Dear Ms. Tomlin:
Thank you for providing me with a copy ofDr. Craig Beyler's report on the Willingham and
Willis criminal arson cases. I have not studied his findings regarding the Willis case. You have
asked that the Corsicana Fire Chiefs office respond to the report and, to the extent that I am able,
I will do so. However, because of my lack of firsthand knowledge of the incident, I don't believe
my response will be as complete or thorough as you might want.
I have been the Corsicana Fire Chief since January 1999. I wasn't employed by the City of
Corsicana at the time the Willingham incident occurred or at the time it went to trial. My knowledge
of the case is very limited. I have only recently (after we received your letter of August 31, 2009)
attempted to review the trial transcripts and the witness statements involved in the investigation. I
don't have access to Fire Marshal Vasquez's report, Assistant Chief Fogg's report, the physical
evidence or the video and audio tapes. The video tapes and photographs might be very helpful.
Because of the short time I was given to respond, I had to get some assistance in drafting this
response.
I will focus on Assistant Chief Fogg, but may comment from time to time on issues
regarding Fire Marshall Vasquez.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
I.
Dr. Beyler is correct that NFPA 921 is a reliable source of information for the
documenting and investigating incidents involving fire and arson (p. 1-2 of his
report).
But, by Dr. Beyler's own admission, NFPA 921 wasn't published until
after the Willingham incident (and trial) occurred. Dr. Beyler says that even though
NFPA 921 was well established by 1995, it was not universally acknowledged until
more than three years after that.
That is probably true. Therefore, it