GEICO Trains Fire Investigators in Mississippi

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JACKSON, Miss., July 26, 2007 - GEICO trained approximately 100 Mississippi fire investigators at the Mississippi State Fire Academy facilities this week to help them understand how to investigate vehicle fires thoroughly and put a case together for prosecution when appropriate. The training gives the investigator a basic knowledge of fire behavior, including intentional and accidental causes, and provides some hands-on skills.

"We are extremely pleased with the large number of fire investigators from all over the state who came to participate in this class. The information they learned here will give them invaluable investigative tools to use in the field," said Mississippi Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal George Dale.

T.C. McCarthy, regional special investigations unit manager, said, "We concentrated on vehicle fires through classroom instruction, case studies and four vehicle fire demonstrations. It was practical experience for everyone, because the firemen at the academy gained practice extinguishing the fires, and the investigators gained experience methodically going through the ruins of the vehicles and gathering evidence."

Larry Hinton, senior counsel for GEICO, said, "The automobile fire and arson investigation training was a collaborative effort with the Mississippi Department of Insurance to enhance the education of the state fire investigators. GEICO wants to instruct arson investigators to ensure they have the knowledge to conduct a proper investigation."

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 12 million vehicles. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranked top in customer satisfaction among property and casualty insurers according to the 2006 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

For more information, go to www.geico.com.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States.* GEICO handles auto insurance coverage for 11 million private passenger auto policies and insures more than 17.5 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motor homes (RVs). Coverage for life, boats, homes and apartments is available through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.

*A.M. Best