Welcome to the website of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) UK Chapter. This website has been created as a tool for UK Chapter members and non-members alike. UK Chapter members can also find additional resources in our secure section.

The main objectives of the IAAI-UK are: The preservation of life and property and prevention of crime for the public benefit, in particular by:
(a) developing and maintaining good practice in the investigation of fire and arson by ensuring the highest professional standards of competence;

(b) developing technical knowledge in fire and arson investigation techniques and procedures and making that knowledge available to professionals, service providers and the public.

Please use this link to download a copy of the current IAAI-UK constitution (March 2008)

IAAI-UK Annual Training Conference

Monday 19th January 2009 at 09:30am

The Sir Fredrick Delve Suite, London Fire Brigade Training Centre, 94 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0EG
Please click here to download the programme that includes details of the location and local accomodation. (PDF File - 259kb)

The IAAI-UK Chapter was delighted to receive the Chapter of the year award at the IAAI Annual Training Conference and AGM in Denver (May 2008). Several members of the IAAI-UK committee were attending the 2008 AGM when the announcement was made during the awards ceremony. It is understood that Mr Kirk Hankins (IAAI President 2004-2005) made the nomination. Kirk visited the UK chapter during his presidental year.

Bobby Schaal from the Louisiana Chapter, progressed to Vice President this year, and in 2009 Bobby will become the IAAI President. Bobby has been very supportive of the UK chapter and has kindly assisted in many ways to improve fire investigation training in the UK through a number of initiatives.

The new website for the IAAI-UK was launched on the 14 July 2008. The site has a new style along with a lot of new functions in the members only secure section. The old message/bulletin board section has been totally revised. An up-to-date forum software has been purchased, installed and configured. Members are able to access this forum when they login to the members section. A major change to improve the functionability is that the forum user-names and passwords are the same as the members only section. The secure (members) section is now on a secure encrypted server. You will notice that when you log-in the website address starts with "https" and your web browser padlock icon will be displayed.

The UK Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators was formed on the 31 January 2003 at an inaugural meeting at City Hall, London. Currently we have 700 members, with representation from the fire service, insurance industry, law enforcement, forensic scientists, private fire investigators, fire investigation training providers, and forensic science academic establishments.

The parent IAAI consists of some 9,000 fire investigation professionals from around the world. The IAAI publication, "The Fire and Arson Investigator," contains articles by some of the leading experts in the field, and is published quarterly.

The IAAI also run a Certificated Fire Investigator (CFI) programme internationally. This is now running in the UK, and involves a points system of qualifications, courses and experience to enable an applicant to take an exam. The latest examinations were held in London in September 2007. The CFI programme is designed to ensure that everyone in the fire investigation field is working to a competent standard. An initial application form is available through this website. For more information on the CFI programme please select the CFI Programme link on the left menu.

The IAAI International offices in the US have recently moved locations. The new address is: IAAI 2151 Priest Bridge Drive, SUITE 25, Crofton, Maryland, 21114. USA Phone number: (001) 410 451 3473 Fax number: (001) 410 451 9049