IAAI-UK Training Strategy

The IAAI-UK supports the need for training and education in all areas of fire science particularly in the discipline of fire investigation. This document sets out the training strategy for the UK chapter and encourages members to increase their knowledge and skills within this discipline through a variety of training and education options.

If you have any enquiry in relation to training please contact Mike Chivers (Training & Education) or contact the Regional Representative for your area.

Certified Fire Investigator Program (CFI)

The Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) Program is a voluntary certification program administered by the International Association of Arson Investigators. The goal of the CFI program is to acknowledge demonstrated competence in the field of fire Investigation. Once successfully completed, the CFI program is a real distinction that acknowledges an individuals demonstrated competency in all phases of fire investigation through completion of a detailed application and written examination process.

The CFI program has several benefits, these include:

• It allows the Fire Investigation Professional to be recognised as having demonstrated competency in all phases of fire investigation.
• It encourages continuing education and training in the field of fire investigation.

The CFI certification program requires minimum levels of Education, Training, and Experience in the field of fire investigation. It seeks a realistic balance between those areas to insure that an applicant's experience is well rounded and not purely academic.

The CFI program is now operational in the UK and members are encouraged to work towards this certification which is an acknowledgement of a standard measure of an individual's competence in all phases of fire investigation.

View the CFI area at the International's website for more information. Or click here to view more infomation about the IAAI-UK's CFI programme.

Fire Investigators Training (FIT) Programme

In recent years discussion has taken place about how those who do not yet meet the standards for CFI certification can get professional recognition for their education, experience and training.

The Fire Investigation Technician (FIT) Program has been designed to cover these investigators.

The Fire Investigation Technician Program is designed to verify an applicant’s fundamental knowledge as measured against core job performance requirements of established professional qualification standards for Fire Investigators defined in NFPA 1021, NFPA 1033 and NFPA 1037.

click here to view more infomation about the FIT programme including links to the application form, exam reading list and the programme manual.

IAAI-UK Chapter training sessions

In order to make training accessible to all its members the IAAI-UK have put together a training initiative to fulfill the basic training requirements of following sections of NFPA 1033 Standards for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator (2003):-

• Section 4.2 - Scene examination
• Section 4.3 - Documenting the Scene
• Section 4.4 - Evidence collection and preservation
• Section 4.5 - Interviewing
• Section 4.6 - Post-Incident Investigation
• Section 4.7 - Presentation of evidence.

The training sessions are one day duration and are being delivered throughout the UK by experienced members of the Chapter. During 2004 the subject was "Forensic awareness at fire scenes" (covering Section 4.4) and for 2005 the chosen subject is "Photography and documenting the fire scene" (covering Section 4.3).

It is expected that the other sections will be covered in subsequent years.

The training will provide knowledge and skills to help fire investigators in conducting investigations to the highest quality. The training is not designed as an alternative to practical based multi-agency training as provided by Fire Service College and Gardiner Associates.

The training is available to all members at a low cost and will often coincide with Regional IAAI-UK meetings. See details on our Seminars & Events web page.

Chapter meetings

In addition the IAAI-UK Chapter will continue to arrange short presentations to supplement the biannual IAAI-UK Chapter meetings. Members or visitors with a specialist knowledge within the arson and fire investigation field may be invited to give a presentation at either the winter or the summer meeting. Since the setting up of the IAAI-UK in 2003 the following are some of the subjects that have been covered by members and visitors:

• Appliance fires
• Juvenile firesetters
• Latest Scientific Techniques for Fingerprint Recovery at Fire Scenes
• Engineering Council IFE and Research into 'Problematic Candles'
• Odourless Liquid Accelerants
• Forensic anthropology
• CRFP
• Forensic pathology

Details of these and other presentations can be found in the "Members Only" area of the web site.

Regional IAAI-UK Training

Where a local training need is recognized members should liaise with their Regional IAAI-UK representative to arrange for a regional training program to be considered. Regional training should be available to all members within a geographical area and must not conflict with or coincide with National IAAI-UK events or any supported IAAI International events.

National and International Training Courses and Conferences

A wide variety of courses are available in UK and across USA. Many conferences are advertised through the journal of Institution of Fire Engineers and most of the American chapters of IAAI run seminars and training courses that can be attended by UK members where cost is not prohibitive. The IAAI are the only non law enforcement organization allowed to receive advanced Fire Investigation training at the ATF facilities at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia, USA. For details of all IAAI international courses see the IAAI Training Calendar.

National and International Training Courses and Conferences

The National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) runs similar training programmes on arson and vehicle fires at their training centre in Florida and other locations in USA. For details see their website.

Public and Private Sector Training Courses

The fire service and police service each run basic and specialist needs based training for their personnel and this may include an introduction to fire and arson investigation. London Fire Brigade runs a two-week introductory course in Fire Investigation for their staff who have been selected for a fulltime post as a Fire Investigator and this is supported by further in-house training and attendance at a practical fire investigation course. Smaller brigades who may not have full time fire investigators or the resources to justify in-house training and can take advantage of specialist training that is available on a regional or national basis through the Fire Service College and specialist independent training providers.

Two-week Fire Investigation Courses are run at the Fire Service College at Morton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. The courses are jointly staffed and managed by the Fire Service College and the National Training Centre - Centrex National Police Training Organisation. Student places are allocated by the two organisations. The course is designed for members of the UK and Overseas Fire Services, Police Officers, Scenes of Crime Officers and members of other agencies who undertake, or have a role in, fire investigation with the aim to enable the students to acquire the knowledge and develop the investigative skills required by a fire investigator.

Further details are available via the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Fire Service College.

Gardiner Associates is a major provider of inter-agency fire investigation training to police and fire authorities in the UK. The company has assembled a multi-disciplined team of practitioners who are amongst the most highly experienced and skilled in their disciplines, bringing to the classroom and the training ground a wealth of practical insight and technique. They offer a range of training courses to suit customer needs ranging from a 2 day introductory course to a 5 day foundation course and a 5 day practical course in Fire Investigation. Additional specialist and advanced fire investigation training courses are also provided. Gardiner Associates fire training ground is situated at MOD Wethersfield in Essex and further details are available at the Gardiner Associates website.

Cleveland Fire Brigade in partnership with Cleveland Police and the University of Teeside run a 2 day Introduction to Vehicle Fire Investigation course at their training centre in Grangetown. Contact Cleveland Police for future course dates at their website.

CFI Trainer

The IAAI in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have produced a distance learning training programme of fire and arson investigation that is accessible through the internet using broadband connection. The following topics are available:

• The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation
• Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling
• Ethics and the Fire Investigator
• Digital Photography and the Fire Investigator

Other topics are scheduled for release in 2006 including 'Fire Investigator and Scene Safety'.

Visit the CFI Trainer website for more information.

Computer Based Training

InterFIRE VR is an interactive virtual reality fire investigation program that was developed with the cooperation of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), American Re-Insurance Company, National Fire Protection Association and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The programme is accessible for use on-line at the InterFIRE website or on a CD that is available at a nominal charge through the Interfire website.

Work-Based Training Initiatives

The IAAI-UK encourages the sharing of knowledge and skills among employees within their organisation and also those with whom they work in partnership. This may achieved by the setting up of meetings on an informal basis between two organizations in order that communication links may be made stronger and to offer support and better understanding. An example may be biannual meetings of the local fire and police services to explore arson reduction strategies and crime trends.

Academic Study

Several universities run degree courses in Fire Investigation, Fire Engineering and Forensic Science. Some of those that are particularly suited to fire investigators are:-

Anglia Polytechnic University
PgDip and MSc in Fire Investigation for Practitioners. Visit their website.

Leeds University
PgDip and MSc in Fire and Explosion. Visit their website.

University of Central Lancashire
Undergraduate and Post-graduate degrees in Fire Safety and Fire Engineering. Visit their website.

London Southbank University
BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science. Visit their website.

Teeside University
MSc in Fire Investigation. Visit their website.

Strathcyde University
MSc in Forensic Science. Visit their website.

Lincoln University
BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science. Visit their website.

Forensic Science Society

Diploma The Forensic Science Society offers a Diploma in Fire Investigation for members. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years experience in fire investigation and undergo a written examination and pass an oral examination by a panel of experts. The diploma is accredited by Strathclyde University and allows recipients to use the postnominal FSSocDip.

For details go to their website.

Personal Study

Where financial or personal restrictions prevent a member undertaking an academic study programme at a University there is a great deal of benefit to be obtained from personal study. A variety of literature is available from libraries or for purchase that can enhance knowledge of fire investigation and related subjects. The following list outlines some of the many books that are available:

Pocket Guide to Fire and Arson Investigation, published by FM Global. This pocket-sized guide has been compiled by Mick Gardiner of Gardiner Associates and is a basic introduction on how to investigate a fire. Contact the Gardiner Associates website.

Principles of Fire Investigation by Roy COOKE and Rodger IDE. Published by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). This book was first published in 1985 and it was last reprinted in 1996. Although forensic science and fire investigation have developed since this book was first published it still provides basic knowledge of fire investigation. £15.40 from the IFE website (25% discount if bought with A Guide to Fatal Fire Investigations).

Kirk's Fire Investigation by John D. DeHAAN. Published by Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Considered as THE text on Fire Investigation this book is now in its 6th edition (2007). 564 pages plus appendices and it is packed with up to date reference material on every aspect of Fire Investigation. £45 from Amazon.co.uk.

Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction (2nd edition) by David ICOVE and John D. DeHAAN. Published by Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 2009. An excellent book that follows a scientific approach to analysing a fire scene and reconstructing it to determine how the fire developed through basic fire dynamics and fire pattern analysis. £42 from Amazon.co.uk.

Principles of Fire Behavior by James G. QUINTIERE. Published by Delmar, New York. 1997. Although this book has been written for the practitioner in fire (including fire investigator) it acknowledges that a working knowledge of algebra and acquired technical knowledge or course background in the sciences is helpful. It is packed with equations and case histories. £41 from Amazon.co.uk.

NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (2004). Published by National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. First published in 1992 this text has been compiled by the technical committee of the NFPA and has been revised at regular intervals since. It has been adopted by most states in USA as the benchmark by which fire investigations are to be carried out. Consequently it is not far from the side of both prosecution and defence attorneys at arson trials. It is an easy read with no complicated mathematical equations or complex chemistry. Simple, practical and very informative. Available for about £30 from ILI Tel: 01344 636300 or Ili Publishing.

An Introduction to Fire Dynamics by Dougal DRYSDALE. Published by Wiley, Chichester. 1998. 400 pages of theory from the most respected fire science academic in the UK. Plenty of algebra to explain every aspect of fire science. Not for the faint hearted and certainly not one to bring out at a fire scene! £45 from Amazon.co.uk.

The Chemical History of a Candle by Michael FARADAY. In 1860 Michael Faraday gave a Christmas lecture to children to explain the process of combustion in a candle. The six lectures are freely available on the internet here. Alternatively buy it for £5 from Amazon.co.uk.

A Guide to Fatal Fire Investigation by D. LEITCH. Published by The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 1993. 70 pages of text and 44 pages of glossy photos of corpses. This book includes the principles of cremation, identification, and common mistakes made at fatal fire scenes. It is very basic and easy to read. Available from the Institute of Fire Engineers for £12.35. (25% discount if bought with Principles of Fire Investigation).

Ignition Handbook by Vytenis BABRAUSKAS. Published by Fire Science Publishers (2004). After 7 years in the preparation this 1116 page handbook is what fire investigators and fire scientists have been waiting for. Available for about $200 from Fire Science Publishers.

Safety at Scenes of Fire and Related Incidents by James MUNDAY. Published by Fire Protection Association, London (1994). Often quoted in other works on Fire Investigation this book (now only available on disc) gives practical guidance on the risks encountered at fire scenes. £15 from the Fire Protection Association.

Fire Investigation edited by Dr. Niamh Nic Daeid. Published by Taylor & Francis (2004). This book contains a basic overview of fire investigation and includes other chapters on non-accidental causes, forensic analysis of fire debris, interpretation of data and there is an excellent chapter on electricity and fire. Available for £60.99 from Amazon.co.uk.

Crime Scene to Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science edited by P.C. White. Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (2003). This is a general forensic book that has a chapter on fire investigation but the remainder of the text covers trace and contact evidence, marks and impressions, blood pattern analysis, documents, drugs, alcohol, and much more. It is a core university text and covers the journey from crime scene to forensic laboratory through to court. Available for about £22 from Amazon.co.uk.