Emmitsburg -- More than $250,000 worth of computers, software and other office equipment has been reported lost, stolen or missing from the U.S. Fire Administration since 2005, according to public records.Of the 236 missing items, 78 were reported missing because of inattention to details, according to records. The cause of most of the rest of the missing items is listed as inattention to details or willful intent, but the documents do not specify which items were willfully taken. The Frederick News-Post obtained the records through a Freedom of Information Act request. The Fire Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. It provides training and resources to firefighters and rescue workers across the country, and educates the public about fire prevention and preparedness. FEMA investigated cases of missing property at the Fire Administration and determined financial liability for lost items, said Jennifer Raab Barnes, media relations and FOIA coordinator for FEMA's office of external affairs. In response to 231 of the 236 missing item reports at the Fire Administration since 2005, FEMA initiated a policy or procedure change. In all, the items are valued at $251,273.62. If FEMA determines missing property may have been stolen, other agencies are brought into the investigation. These may include Homeland Security, the Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and state or local law enforcement, Barnes said. The records do not specify how many Fire Administration employees, if any, have been disciplined in missing property cases.
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