When It Was Fun & He Carried a Gun with Bill Niemann

About this episode

Bill Niemann shares his experiences in the fire service from 1976 and discusses his unique role in arson investigations.

When Bill Niemann joined the fire service in 1976, the landscape looked very different. This was a time of rubber boots, and riding the tailboard of the engine. SCBAs were the newest thing, and not everyone got to have one. When Bill Niemann joined the fire service in 1976, the landscape looked very different. This was a time of rubber boots, and riding the tailboard of the engine. SCBAs were the newest thing, and not everyone got to have one. But for the second half of his career in the fire service, Bill carried a gun. He was an assistant fire marshal assigned to the Arson Crimes Unit of Prince William County, Virginia. Back then, there were no rules for fire investigations. Just wait until you hear how he wrote his own rulebook. Speaking of writing, Bill has also written a novel. It’s titled “Heavy Fire Showing.” But for the second half of his career in the fire service, Bill carried a gun. He was an assistant fire marshal assigned to the Arson Crimes Unit of Prince William County, Virginia. Back then, there were no rules for fire investigations. Just wait until you hear how he wrote his own rulebook. Speaking of writing, Bill has also written a novel. It’s titled “Heavy Fire…

People in this episode

Host: Scott Orr

Guest: Bill Niemann

Topics covered

• fire service history
• arson investigation
• firefighter experiences
• writing
• career transitions

Keywords

• fire service
• arson
• investigation
• firefighter
• career
• novel
• history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Prince William County

Books & works: Heavy Fire Showing

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