AUSTINTOWN Ex-firefighter becomes investigator

He was one of 34 applicants for the job.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- As a state fire marshal investigator, Chuck Hanni digs through the rubble of burned-out homes and buildings, trying to put together a puzzle.
He looks for burns on a wood floor, a black "V" shape in the carpet pointing to an electrical outlet, or the shape of a splash where gasoline was spilled. Anything that can provide him with a clue and lead him to the last puzzle piece.
When the puzzle is complete, Hanni will know how the fire started -- and if he needs to make an arrest for arson.
"There's a lot of satisfaction. The satisfaction of being able to determine what caused the fire and the ability ... to find those responsible," he said.
Hanni, 44, left the Austintown Fire Department last month to take the job as a state investigator for Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties. He works with fire departments in those counties to determine the causes of fires and to make arrests for arson.
Hanni had to complete peace officer training for the job and he carries a gun.
"We are the policemen of the state fire marshal's office," he said.
Hanni replaced Bob Sharp, who was promoted to state assistant chief. Sharp is former commander of Youngstown's fire investigation unit.
Wealth of experience
Sharp said Hanni was picked for the position because of his experience investigating fires. Hanni had served as an Austintown firefighter for 10 years, and he had been one of Austintown's three fire investigators.
Hanni also volunteered as a member of the local Metro Arson Strike Force, a group of firefighters from Mahoning and Trumbull counties that investigates arson.
Hanni "brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the fire and explosives investigations bureau that will greatly enhance our ability to handle fire investigations and arson incidents," said state Fire Marshal Robert R. Rielage.
Austintown Fire Chief Andrew Frost described Hanni as an "excellent firefighter."
"Chuck is always in the middle of things, he's a very aggressive fireman," Frost said.
Hanni said he is now investigating two arsons. Since taking the state job, his cases have included two fatal fires in Ashtabula County and a yacht fire in Ottawa County that caused $400,000 in damage. The state investigator for Ottawa County was on vacation when the fire occurred.
Each of those fires was started accidentally.
Hanni compared going from Austintown to the state fire marshal's office to "going to the big leagues." He was one of 34 applicants for the job.
As state fire investigator, Hanni earns $18.97 an hour. He earned $39,788 in Austintown last year.
hill@vindy.com