CFITrainer.Net Podcast

The IAAI and CFITrainer.Net present these podcasts with a focus on issues relating to fire investigation. With expertise from around the world, the International Association of Arson Investigators produces these podcasts to bring more information and electronic media to fire investigators looking for training, education and general information about fire investigation. Topics include recent technologies, issues in the news, training opportunities, changes in laws and standards and any other topic that might be of interest to a fire investigator or industry professional affected by fire. Information is presented using a combination of original stories and interviews with scientists, leaders in fire investigation from the fire service and the law enforcement community.

ROD AMMON: Welcome to this edition of the IAAI’s CFITrainer.Net podcast. I think most of us have seen the media reports about the issue of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), known informally as drones, operated by civilians and the media interfering with fire suppression operations. Drones buzz the aircraft picking up and delivering water and fire retardants to wildfires. Drones have circled around active fire scenes recording footage of suppression operations, sometimes nearly colliding with aircraft fighting the fire. In several cases, including in Utah and California, fire officials have grounded firefighting aircraft due to the thread of collision with drones, allowing the fire to continue to burn until it was again safe to fly. These drone activities are prohibited by FAA rules that require drones to stay under 400 feet and keep clear of aircraft. But that has not stopped the drone pilots from breaking those rules.

The U.S. Forest Service started a public service campaign to educate the public, but still drones violate the rules and common sense. States are fighting back. In fact, some states have made it a crime to fly a drone over an active wildfire, but there are logistical challenges in finding the individuals piloting these drones, which could fly long distances away from their operators. The State of California is even offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the operators who flew drones over the Lake Fire, the North Fire, and Mill 2 Fire of 2015.

There’s another side to this issue though. Like most technologies, there are positives and negatives for the fire service with regard to drones. Drones can also be a tool for the fire service and fire investigators to get a bird’s eye view of a scene, something that in the past was time consuming and resource intensive, requiring either a high aerial ladder or a helicopter callout. Now, an inexpensive drone remotely controlled by a trained first responder can gather critical evidence that can aid in an investigation of a structure fire or a wildfire.

To use this tool properly, emergency response agencies need to know the FAA regulations for operating drones by a public entity. New rules have taken effect as of August this year, and here’s what you need to know. You have two options: Number one, you can follow the FAA’s small UAS rule known as “Part 107”, or if you want to operate UAS for a government entity outside of these rules, you may apply for a blanket public Certificate of Authorization, a COA, which allows flight at or below 400 feet in Class G airspace nationwide, self-certification of the UAS pilot, and the ability to obtain emergency COAs under special circumstances do happen. To learn more, contact 9-AJV-115-UASCOA@faa.gov. That’s a long one. You can rewind a little bit to hear it. Public sector agencies can apply for a COA on the FAA website, and we have that link for you in the resources for this podcast.

Here are the major provisions of the new Part 107 regulations that have gone into effect as of this past August for UAS systems weighing less than 55 pounds and conducting non-hobbyist operations.

  • The pilot must be at least 16 years old and have a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating or be directly supervised by someone with a certificate.
  • The pilot must keep the UAS within visual line of sight.
  • The pilot must conduct a preflight visual and operational check to ensure safety systems are functioning properly.
  • Operations are allowed during daylight and twilight if the UAS has anti-collision lights.
  • So that is a maximum altitude of 400 feet or within 400 feet of a structure.
  • Your maximum groundspeed of can only be up to 100 mph or (87 knots).
  • Flights over unprotected people on the ground who aren’t directly participating in the UAS operation are prohibited.
  • And all drones under 55 lbs must be registered with the FAA.

You can read the provisions of Part 107 in the summary provided in the resources with this podcast. Again, a public entity can obtain a waiver to operate outside these rules.

Let’s take a few minutes to discuss how fire investigators can start using UAS technology in their investigative work. With us today is Bob Toth. He’s a certified fire investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators, and he’s the president of IRIS Investigations, Inc. in Colorado. Welcome to the podcast, Bob.

BOB TOTH: My pleasure, Rod. Thank you.

ROD AMMON: So talk a little bit about investigative uses of UAS, specifically in the fire investigation world.

BOB TOTH: Sure. Well, first of all, to those unfamiliar with the acronym, it stands for unmanned aircraft systems. They may actually be more familiar with things like drones and quadcopters and things of that nature, but the truly technical term or proper term is the unmanned aircraft systems. The opportunity to see, on larger scenes, the burn patterns or perhaps in an explosion situation, you can see the blast pattern, which is helpful in analyzing the data, the patterns and information you see from the ground certainly is helpful and has been helping fire investigators for generations. But the elevated views in certain situations will certainly provide more data to help test your hypotheses and narrow down an origin of the fire. There’s also other things than just photography or video that can be taken from the air. There are other third-party applications and tools that can be attached to a UAS to create some demonstrative evidence or to do things such as identify or clearly show changes in elevation, which, in a situation like a wildland fire, can help explain fire patterns and movement.

ROD AMMON: Okay, so what does a fire investigator or his or her agency have to do to start using the technology or drones?

BOB TOTH: Well, as of August 29th of this year, 2016, the FAA came out with new rules called Part 107. Prior to that time, pilots or operators of UAS would have to get what’s called a Section 333 exemption. Speaking from personal experience, I had gone through that rather arduous, and, at times, expensive process, and as I got my 333 exemption, it also included becoming a licensed pilot, which I found a bit strange since you’re standing on the ground watching this thing fly above your fire scene anyways. I felt a little bit concerned about the necessity to become a pilot if I’m still standing on the ground operating this particular aircraft. But since that time, they’ve changed the rules, created Part 107, which makes it now much easier and simpler for a pilot in command or operator of an aircraft to get the necessary certifications and testing to fly a UAS for commercial purposes.

ROD AMMON: What other things – I mean I’m thinking as a pilot bringing some – bringing a drone over a fire scene, there are going to be things that I’m doing, lowering altitude, raising altitude, traveling to different areas. Can you talk a little bit about techniques and maybe a specific where you were looking for something that you found?

BOB TOTH: Sure. It’s – first of all, it’s important to remember that, with these types of tools, there are some specific rules. Prior to all of Section 333 and Part 107, we would typically fly in what was referred to as the hobbyist rules, and in fact, even today, any UAS operator can go out to a location, a park, and an open field any day of the week and fly under these hobbyist rules without anything less – without anything more than just having the craft registered with the FAA. It’s about a three-minute process, and it costs you about $5. But once you start using the tool for commercial purposes, taking photographs and things like that, you need that certification. You need to comply with Part 107, but with the technology that’s available out there and the digital photography and video equipment that may come already attached and integral to the aircraft, you don’t have to get above the ceiling that the FAA requires of your UAS. In fact, the FAA rules state that you cannot fly higher than 400 feet above ground level, and in my experience, I’ve never had to go above 200 feet to get within my frame of view or my shot from the camera, my fire scene. So the 400-foot ceiling is not an issue for most, if not all, fire scenes that you may come across.

ROD AMMON: So did you find yourself trying to get lower, closer to a scene?

BOB TOTH: Well, there have been a couple scenarios and examples and scenes that I’ve been involved in where we’ve had commercial structures. We’ve had collapse of the structure in certain parts of the building, and obviously, because of the compromise to the building, we couldn’t go in there right away, and there have been times when I have hovered over the scene and got the craft down low enough to where we can videotape or take photographs of the damage from the UAS and not compromise any investigator safety or other equipment trying to get in there to identify the safety hazards and the conditions we may have to work in or the tools and equipment we may need to render the building safe. So yes, I have dropped in low into some of the collapse zones to get some good images of what we may need to deal with in a building.

ROD AMMON: So this is a different type of evidence. One of the things I wanted to talk to you a little bit about is how photos and video taken by a pilot who is not connected to the actual vehicle as evidence, how they’re preserved. How is the process of documentation dealt with?

BOB TOTH: Oh, it’s really no different than any of the video or photographs you take with your DSLR or any digital video camera you may use from the ground. Speaking again from experience, my typical procedure is, because I have enough to do, concentrating to keep my craft where I want it and flying it in a safe environment, I typically fly using just my 4K video function on the plane. As I’m circling the building or looking at certain portions of the building, it’s constantly recording video 4K quality, and the reason I like that is because then I can just capture frames from the video if I needed a particular still image of it. Now, the downside of that is you could be looking at anywhere from three to 12 minutes of video and only find one small section that you need, i.e. it’s all raw video and you’re looking for a particular viewpoint of the fire damage. So what I have done in the past is I’ve taken one of those frame shots or I’ve taken a few stills from the video and used it as part of my analysis and part of my report writing, but at the same time, I’ve saved all the raw video, so if someone wants to come back and take a look at all that raw video, they’re more than welcome to do it. So it’s all saved and preserved the same way as I would say of any DSLR photos or digital video that I take from the ground.

ROD AMMON: One thing I’m thinking of, and you know that I get involved in a lot of audio and video, I’m thinking of big files, and there’s a lot more than just having this drone and being able to know how to operate it. When you get back and you’ve been shooting 4K for that much time, tell me a little bit about your process. Share with some other folks what you needed to make this a productive part of your business.

BOB TOTH: Well, the 4K video, as you know, is they are large files, and they do require a computer that can handle that size of a video and create smooth video, at least have it somewhat enjoyable, if you will, while watching it on your computer. A typical laptop of maybe even one year or two years ago or even a desktop, you may notice, if you don’t have a good video card, that it’s going to be choppy and it’s going to be frustrating to watch, and it may freeze up. So you’re going to need some post-production equipment that can handle 4K video. Quite honestly, it’s an investment, but it’s a smaller investment than the UAS itself, again the same type of things you would be using to capture a frame from the video. If you put your company logo in the corner of the video or anything like that, all of that stuff should be documented, the processes you went through to create that final product, and at the same time, keeping the raw video available in case anyone wants to examine it.

ROD AMMON: All right, so if you’re giving some recommendations to a single fire investigator or a public sector agency of how to start – telling them how to start, regard to the technology and compliance with the new regulations, give them some advice.

BOB TOTH: I would look at the various types of equipment out there. Identify what you want to be able to do with it. If you want to take video, if you want to take still images, consider whether you want a craft that can carry a payload of perhaps your current video or digital photography equipment, or do you want the video and digital photography integrated into the craft itself. My recommendation would be to look in that direction. If you’ve got a craft that already has digital photography and video equipment integral and integrated into the craft, you don’t have to worry about increasing your payload or lifting more weight than the craft may be designed to. It’s already in there. Take a look at the control system, the navigation system, and the electronics.

Nowadays, some of these crafts are absolutely amazing with the GPS technology and the controllers and the way you operate the craft. Some of these crafts, you can – it’ll bring up a Google Map image of where you’re at, at the time you initiate operations. You can actually draw a flight pattern on the Google Map, and the craft will follow that flight pattern. Some of the technology – and this may come in handy with your SOPs that you should develop and things like that – the navigation technology has virtually black box technology where, after a flight, you can review all of the systems post flight to see if – for instance, if you have some sort of incident where you have to bring the craft down immediately because of some sort of power problem.

This technology will allow you to review that information and be able to identify problems that you may have had with the craft or during operation and things like that. So I would recommend to anyone considering this technology is, one, to do your homework. Identify what you want to do or what you think you should be able to do with it, and then search for the equipment that is going to allow you to do it. It’s not an inexpensive process or procedure. I’ll forewarn you there. It – there is a learning curve with being able to operate the aircraft. Make sure that you comply with all of the FAA requirements, and the first thing, right out of the box, would be to register the craft with the FAA.

As I said earlier, it’s a $5 fee, and about a three-minute process online, and essentially what they do is they issue you a unique serial or N-number that you attach to the craft. Just like every other piloted aircraft in the country, it has an identification number on it, and then get some training. Find someone that has used the craft. Typically, if you purchase it from a reputable dealer or manufacturer of these types of things, nothing like on eBay or anything like that, they always offer some sort of flight training. There’s certainly a number of organizations out there that can help you. A lot of your local radio-controlled aircraft clubs are certainly around all over the country that can help you with that, and before you bring it out to the fire scene, to start putting it to work for you, make sure you’re very comfortable with its operations and safety procedures. You can start right away to work on getting your Part 107 certification, and when all those things come together, you’re ready to go.

ROD AMMON: All right. One thought that – I’m sitting here saying we’re talking about money, and you and I both know technology costs change all the time. I also know you’re a real meticulous person, and I’ve see the kind of equipment and the way that you gear yourself up. Thinking about a range of cost for somebody who’s either private sector or public sector, if they wanted to put together a budget, what do you think it is these days, the combination of the equipment that’s going to go airborne, and the post-production video?

BOB TOTH: Well, that’s a good question. I would say, as you look at the craft with the type of technology and navigation systems you need and you want – you would probably want to buy extra batteries for it, a good robust case to keep it clean and safe and protected as you transport it, you could be look – along with the cost of training, certification, testing, things like that, you could be looking anywhere from $5-$10,000.

ROD AMMON: Okay. It sounds awful reasonable for something that can be an incredibly valuable tool, that maybe on one scene could help you figure something out that could save a whole lot more money than that.

BOB TOTH: You’re absolutely right. It’s not a tool that you would use on every scene, but when you get to those scenes that you know it could be helpful, you’re absolutely right. It could – it’s a reasonable investment in time and training.

ROD AMMON: And in the public sector, there’s pressure on budget, well, in both private and public sectors. So I just wanted to give people an idea of what they might be going after for a budget to do something like this.

BOB TOTH: And I can also say that in the five or six years that I have been involved with these types of tools, the ability to control and navigate and use the tool in the way that fire investigators typically would use the tool in a fire scene investigation has gotten considerably easier. The control of the craft, the GPS technology, the safety, the fail-safes that they’ve got built into the crafts now certainly reduce the stress, if you will, of operating your $5-$10,000 investment over a fire scene.

ROD AMMON: What about weather? What about the location you live in the country? I mean you’re in Colorado. Do you deal with – when you’re thinking about making this purchase or when you’re thinking about getting involved, is there any light you can shed on – is the decision going to change? Have you dealt with wind? I mean…

BOB TOTH: Well, sure, yeah. The – in fact, the conditions you would fly a UAS or the considerations you make in flying a UAS are really no different than the considerations you may make in flying a fixed-wing aircraft, a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. Wind certainly plays a big role, and again, depending on the type of craft, the size of a craft you buy, certain pieces of equipment can – are much easier to fly in windy conditions than others. The particular piece of equipment I’ve got, I’ve used it in 15-mph winds, gusting up to 20 mph, and that’s about as much as I want to do, quite frankly. But you would take the same precautions and considerations as you would flying a regular fixed-wing aircraft. You obviously – well, maybe I shouldn’t say obviously, but you certainly don’t want to take an aircraft that is powered by lithium ion batteries and all the high-end electronics, you certainly don’t want to fly it in wet or rainy conditions. That may seem obvious to some, but not to all. And most – in fact, most of your manufacturers’ recommendations and operation manuals strictly address that, talk about wind speeds and weather conditions and rain and stuff like that. You just don’t want to fly in certain conditions like that. I take particular notice to the wind.

There are some third-party applications and there’s some apps out there that give you weather conditions specific for UAS operation, including magnetic fields that may compromise your communications and things like that, and it’ll let you know if – where you’re at because it locates you with a GPS that it’ll give you a window of time where the conditions are optimal for flight operations, and at the same time, it also gives you a timeframe when conditions are not good, and then UAS operations should not be conducted. I personally like to get to a scene very early in the day before winds kick up or rains come in and things like that. It’s much calmer in the morning, and quite frankly, there’s fewer people around, too. Those are other safety considerations you have to have when you fly a UAS. And one of the other things I’d like to tell the listeners is if they are – as they move forward with investigating this, the FAA has got a website, faa.gov/UAS, and it talks about all of the requirements to comply with Part 107.

It also has a list of suggested study materials, everything from the airmen certification standards to the “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” because in order to fly commercially, you do have to take a test with the FAA. It’s a 60-question written test. You also have to pass a background investigation by the TSA and a few other things, but trust me; it’s a far less arduous process than the prior Section 333. And this particular rule, this Part 107, allows you to fly under certain conditions, which specifically are a 400-foot ceiling, and you have to maintain a visual line of sight, which most, if not all, fire scene investigations, your UAS will maintain a – you’ll maintain a visual line of sight. Some of the other uses for these types of aircraft around the country involve autonomous flight where you could be flying miles away from your control, but that’s certainly not typical of a fire scene investigation.

ROD AMMON: I’m very grateful, and I think a lot of other people will for your sharing the information you’ve learned, Bob. I know when I went out looking for people to talk to about this, your name kept coming up, and so what the heck? We had to give you a call, and again, appreciate you taking the time to talk to us about this emerging technology and how it relates to the federal regulations. Once again, the president of IRIS Fire Investigations, Bob Toth, and a certified fire investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators. Thanks for your time again, Bob.

BOB TOTH: My pleasure, Rod. Have a good day.

ROD AMMON: You too. Be well. And now for the IAAI news. Let’s give the office a call.

KATE: IAAI, Kate speaking.

ROD AMMON: Hi Kate. This is Rod Ammon calling on behalf of CFITrainer.Net. You got a moment?

KATE: Certainly do. For you, I do.

KATE: A lot, absolutely a lot. We’re getting ready to put on a beautiful 40-hour Fundamentals of Fire Investigation down in Huntsville, Alabama with our partner, ATF, and the class is almost completely filled, so we are doing that next month. And that’s going to be fabulous because they’ve got that new facility, as I’ve said before, so that’s most recent. We have four – I’m sorry – Evidence Collection Technician classes going on between now and the end of the year, so if anyone out there needs to do the practicum, just give me a call, and we can sign you up to one of the classes. Also, we’re doing an Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony class, again down in Huntsville. What else? Let’s see. The Complex Fire for the Insurance Industry is going strong. That will be in November, and that class is almost completely filled. That’s back by popular demand, again another one in Huntsville. So we’re down south this – until the end of the year it seems like.

ROD AMMON: So when somebody wants to find out a little bit more or they want to register, what do you want them to do?

KATE: Well, we’d like them to go on our website because everything is there, but if they find that they can’t locate what they want to find, they can always call us here at the office.

ROD AMMON: We’re going to try to do this on a regular basis, so we hear from you guys actually what’s going on because training’s pretty dynamic.

KATE: Right, and like you said, we would like to hear back from our members because we don’t know how well or how not well we’re doing if they don’t let us know.

ROD AMMON: I am very grateful for your time.

KATE: You’re welcome, sir, any time.

ROD AMMON: There was one other person I wanted to speak with, and that was Deborah Keeler. Would she be around?

KATE: Hold on one moment, and I’ll see if she is in.

ROD AMMON: Thanks very much, Kate.

KATE: Okay.

ROD AMMON: So we appreciate Kate transferring us over, and I’m on the phone now with Deborah Keeler. Deborah, we told people last month that we were going to give them an update not only in training but in some of the things that you’re working on related to partnerships and other news in the IAAI. What’s up?

DEBORAH KEELER: Lots of exciting things are going on right now. The most exciting for me is the collaboration over the last few years with our work with the Insurance Commission on Arson Control. ICAC is a organization with a very similar mission to the IAAI, but instead of members, they have corporate members, company members, and at the ITC in Las Vegas in April 2017, ICAC will be joining the IAAI in presenting a two-day insurance track.

ROD AMMON: Nice. So that does two things I guess. One, it gets us more involved with some people we’ve been working with for years, and at the same time, it’s more convenient for people on both sides, insurance and in fire investigation, to get together and network./p>

DEBORAH KEELER: Absolutely. It not only makes things easier, it allows us to share resources instead of doubling the efforts for the same resources for the networking opportunities, for the fire investigators and the insurance community to come together are really exciting, but also to provide training for not only fire investigators but fire loss professionals.

ROD AMMON: Got it. Registration will be coming up in the near future for any of you that are interested in joining us in Las Vegas. So Deborah, I also heard from Kate that there are some things happening in Alabama, and that relates to our partnership and I think also an award this month.

DEBORAH KEELER: Coming up in November, we will be featuring our Complex Fire Investigation for the Insurance Company class. It’s a weeklong program held at NCETR, National Center for Explosives Training, in Huntsville, Alabama, and this has been a long time, probably close to a 25-year collaboration with the ATF. We’re real excited with the program. Following up with our relationship with the ATF, the IAAI was very honored to be given an award this past August in Washington, D.C. by the ATF. The IAAI received the Honor Award. This is given to those non-ATF employees or organizations for assisting the ATF in achieving their mission in investigation, and our executive team and our director of government affairs, Steve Austin, and our advocacy chairman, Roger Krupp, as well as President Codding, First Vice President Bennett, Second Vice President Moylan, and Past President Heenan were all on hand in Washington, D.C. to get the award, which was exciting.

ROD AMMON: Well, you’re doing real well with names. I’ll tell you, you could handle the Academy Awards. I couldn’t.

DEBORAH KEELER: Well, I don’t know about Academy Awards, but definitely the IAAI Who’s Who. I’m real familiar with them.

ROD AMMON: Well, we appreciate the time. Is there anything else before we move on and close up this podcast that you wanted to mention or say to the folks out there?

DEBORAH KEELER: One more item that I wanted to mention was the NFPA and IAAI agreement to develop joint training coming up in early 2017. As we all know and are anticipating, the NFPA 921 update is going to be published the last month or so of 2016, and we have come to an agreement with NFPA, and we’ll be putting on a one-day 921 update in conjunction with and cooperation with the National Fire Protection Association. This is really exciting news. Throughout the fire investigation industry, we know that NFPA 921 is the guide for fire investigation, and IAAI, we use 921 and 1033 as the minimum standards for all of our training and our programs.

So being able to partner with that entity who publishes this important document in fire investigation and be able to reach out to our enhanced chapters and all of our different chapters to schedule a one-day program and have a representative from 921 or 1033 part of the class as well as a representative from NFPA, we think this is a great opportunity, and I believe our members are going to be really excited with the pricing that we have for this one-day program.

ROD AMMON: So another great reason why people should be making sure that they get an international membership to the IAAI. I mean not only do they have all of the member benefits that Kate had mentioned before that can be listed – that are listed up on Fire Arson, they’re part of this network that really runs fire investigation in the United States and around the world.

DEBORAH KEELER: Absolutely.

ROD AMMON: Well, I appreciate your time.

DEBORAH KEELER: My pleasure.

ROD AMMON: I hope you’re doing well, and we’ll see you real soon. I think mid year is coming up in November.

DEBORAH KEELER: Around the corner.

ROD AMMON: All right, thanks again for your time. We’ve been talking with Deborah Keeler, the executive director of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

DEBORAH KEELER: Thanks Rod.

ROD AMMON: Well, I hope you enjoyed today’s podcast. That’s it for today. We’re very grateful to everybody who helps make the podcast possible. Thanks for your time today as you’ve listened to what’s going on in the IAAI and learned, hopefully, a little bit about what’s new in the drone world. This is Rod Ammon for CFITrainer.Net and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Know Before You Fly (FAA Rules for UAS operation)

Rules for Public Entities Operating a UAS

Summary of Part 107

How To Apply for a COA

New Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Register Your Drone

Drones Impede Wildfire Efforts

As wildfire season ramps up, nearby drones are becoming a problem again

Drone flying over forest fire diverts planes, costs US Forest Service $10K

$75,000 in rewards offered to catch operators who flew drones above fires

Get caught flying a drone over a Utah wildfire and go to prison

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May 2021 - As part of National Arson Awareness Week, CFITrainer.Net has a new podcast exploring the week's theme, "Arson During Civil Unrest."
December 2020 - On this podcast we talk to Bobby Schaal about the new Fire Investigation for Fire Officer certificate and then we offer a brief update on an investigation in Stowe, Vermont.
August 2020 - This month we talk to a legend in the fire investigation field, Dr. Quintiere, sometimes known as Dr. Q. He has a rich experience in the fire service dating back to the 70’s, and he is working on fire in micro-gravity today.
July 2020 - July '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this new episode of the CFITrainer.Net podcast, Scott Bennett, talks about the fascinating case he and Mark Shockman worked that won them the IAAI Investigator of the Year Award. You won't want to miss our conversation. And, new IAAI President Rick Jones stops by to discuss what he is excited about for IAAI's growth this coming year — there are a lot of innovative and valuable initiatives on the way.
June 2020 - June '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this month's podcast we interview Doug Byron, President and Senior Forensic Chemist from the FAST lab about fats and oils and spontaneous combustion, and how they are involved in fire investigation. After our interview with Doug, we offer some thoughts on your job and the COVID-19 situation.
May 2020 - May '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. Join us this month for a new podcast where we talk briefly about online learning that is available and then we speak with Dr. Peter Mansi, Past President of the IAAI.
April 2020 - April '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month on the Podcast we interview President Barry M. Grimm from the IAAI and talk to Wayne Miller, Author of "Burn Boston Burn -The largest arson case in the history of the country.
March 2020 - March '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month on the Podcast we talk about some resources for COVID, updates from the IAAI and talk with a fire Marshall in New Hampshire about challenges in their region related to Sober Homes.
February 2020 - February '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast follows along with our technology theme. We look at social media’s effect on some fire investigations and then we talk with Mike Parker about his work with social media while at the LA County Sheriff’s Department.
January 2020 - January '20 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast gives you updates on Australia’s wild fires and an investigation and arrest tied to a large New Jersey fire. We also talk with Zach McCune from Rolfe’s Henry about a case study and course that he and Shane Otto will be leading at ITC this year. Zach talks about an arson fraud case and how spoofing and masking technologies were used to frame an innocent mother and perpetuate an arson fraud.
December 2019 - December '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In under ten minutes this podcast offers a review of 2019 milestones and new content and features that you might have missed. We also give you a quick preview of what to expect in 2020.
November 2019 Podcast - November '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we learn about two new technology solutions being studied for fire investigation and then we visit with Lester Rich from the National Fire Academy
October 2019 Podcast - October '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this podcast episode, we’re back for the second part of the CCAI live burn training event — the actual burn and post-fire.
September 2019 Podcast - September '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we travel to San Luis Obispo where we were hosted by the California chapter of the IAAI (CCAI). We had a rare opportunity to experience what it’s like to set up this training and experience a wildland burn in California. There was a lot to learn!
August 2019 Podcast - August '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's CFITrainer.Net podcast is under 15 minutes and offers information about fires in electric vehicles and what you need to know.
May 2019 Podcast - May '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this month's CFITrainer.Net podcast, you'll hear from ATF Special Agent Chad Campanell, who will discuss how ATF can assist state and local fire investigators with training and investigations, ATF resources available to fire investigators, and ATF's support of CFITrainer.Net. Also, we summarize the final report of a multi-fatality fire at a senior living community in Pennsylvania, where ATF cooperated with state and local investigators to reach conclusions.
April 2019 Podcast - April '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. There are two new additions to CFITrainer.Net! A new podcast with Dan Madrzykowski from UL speaking about ventilation and Fire Flow, and a new module called “Fire Flow Analysis”.
March 2019 Podcast - March '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast includes updates from the IAAI related to the election, the upcoming ITC, and a new website specifically about evidence collection. After the updates, you will also hear some news stories related to fire investigation.
February 2019 Podcast - February '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month take 10 mins and hear some fire investigation and IAAI news.
January 2019 Podcast - January '19 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we’re looking back on some of the biggest issues in fire investigation in 2018.
November 2018 Podcast - November '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we talk with Jeff Pauley from the IAAI’s Health and Safety Committee. Jeff is an IAAI-CFI and the Chairman of the Health and Safety Committee. In this podcast, he talks about ways to reduce exposure to carcinogens related to fire investigation. By listening, you will learn about ways to reduce your risks, learn about new resources that are available to assist you, and research that is coming soon.
October 2018 Podcast - October '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month meet and learn about IAAI’s new Executive Director, Scott Stephens and plans for the future. After that interview, hear some wild stories from the national news related to fire investigation.
September 2018 News Roundup - September '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts.
Short stories related to fire investigation - June '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. Join us for a brief Podcast that includes five minutes of short stories related to fire investigation.
What you need to know about Arson Awareness week - April '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we welcome Tonya Hoover, the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy. Superintendent Hoover came to the NFA with more than 20 years of experience in local and state government, most recently as the California State Fire Marshal.
Growing pot and earning Bitcoin can start fires? - March '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this month’s podcast, hear a story about how the Bitcoin business might be causing fires? What similarities are there between Pot growers and now Bitcoin miners?
Training related to wildland fire investigation - February '18 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast highlights new training related to wildland fire investigation featuring an interview with Paul Way, and this year’s International Training Conference. We also have a pretty wild story before we wrap up. Birds starting fires?
Smart homes and digital data gathering issues - December '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this podcast, we discuss two topics on the technology and forensics cutting edge. Michael Custer of Kilgore Engineering, Inc. and retired Special Agent Tully Kessler share some knowledge and give us a taste of the classes that they will be presenting at ITC 2018.
Discussion with Writer Monica Hesse - September '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this podcast, you will hear some great news related to the IAAI and CFITrainer.Net and then we have an interview with Monica Hesse, the writer of a new book called "American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land."
Discussion with Criminalist- John DeHaan - June '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month on the CFITrainer.Net podcast, we talk to Criminalist, fire investigation expert and Author of "Kirk’s Fire Investigation", John DeHaan.
The Ghost Ship - May '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. For this podcast, we hear from a retired Captain of the Long Beach Fire Department, Pat Wills. Pat has been in the fire service for 37 years. He has been a leader and an investigator, now he is an educator speaking around the country about the importance of code enforcement.
Fast Podcast about ITC! - March '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we talk to David Bridges about what to expect at ITC and the training you won’t want to miss.
CFITrainer Podcast- A profile with an IAAI-CFI® - February '17 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. Join us this month for our podcast as we interview IAAI member and CFI, Jeff Spaulding from Middletown, Ohio. Jeff talks about his work in both the public and private sector and then he shares an interesting story about how a pacemaker is helping in an investigation.
An interview with Dr. James Quintiere - December '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In a discussion with Dr. James Quintiere, we learn about some of his work in fire sciences, a bit about his research, his opinions related to the World Trade Center investigation and what he thinks is important to fire investigation as a scholarly leader in our field.
Fire Investigation After the Flood Podcast - November '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we talk to Dan Hebert, an IAAI, CFI about "How Floods affect Fire Investigation."
August 2016 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - August '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we talk to Jessica Gotthold about the Seaside Heights fire in NJ from 2013
July 2016 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - July '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we talk to Fire Marshall, Ken Helms of the Enid, OK. Fire Department about his team winning the Fire Investigator of the Year award.
March 2016 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - March '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's fire investigation podcast from the IAAI's CFITrainer.Net focuses on the Youth Firesetting Information Repository and Evaluation System, which is called YFIRES for short.
February 2016 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - February '16 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's fire investigation podcast from the IAAI's CFITrainer.Net focuses on what you need to do to ensure the integrity of samples sent to the lab. A conversation with Laurel Mason of Analytical Forensic Associates.
September 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - September '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. Our podcast related to the legalization of recreational marijuana and its effect on fire investigation was one of the most popular podcasts ever on CFITrainer.Net. This month’s podcast is a follow up with one of our listeners from California who is an investigator doing training on this very topic.
August 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - August '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast is about NFIRS where we interview the Executive Director of The National Association of State Fire Marshals Fire Research and Education Foundation, Jim Narva.
July 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - July '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. In this special edition of podcast we’re going to meet the newest IAAI Investigator of the Year, Andrea Buchanan.
May 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - May '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's Arson Investigator podcast from IAAI & CFITrainer interviews Jason McPherson from MSD Engineering to talk about some of these new technology tools.
April 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's Arson Investigator podcast from IAAI & CFITrainer interviews Dave Perry, a lawyer in Colorado discussing what fire chiefs, fire investigators, and the legal system are seeing in a state with legalized cannabis in regard to fire cause involving marijuana.
February 2015 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - Feb '15 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's Arson Investigator podcast from IAAI & CFITrainer interviews Mike Schlatman and Steve Carman who are both successful fire investigators and now business owners who have transitioned from the public to the private sector.
December 2014 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - December '14 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast interviews Steve Avato from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explaining the process of elimination and how it is a critical part of the scientific method.
June 2014 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - June '14 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast interviews the 2014 Investigator of the Year.
April 2014 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '14 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast interviews with Don Robinson, Special Agent in Charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Currently stationed at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research, located at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.
January 2014 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - January '14 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast takes a look inside the process of revising NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033.
October 2013 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - October '13 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast focuses on the fire research work of Underwriters’ Laboratories, better known as UL.
February 2013 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - February '13 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month we have an interview with George Codding who returned from a recent trip to Saipan and gives us a closer look at the international activities of the International Association of Arson Investigators
Mid Year 2012 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - Mid Year '12 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This podcast features a mid-year update on the IAAI’s new initiatives and ways for you to get more involved with the organization.
September 2012 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - September '12 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features an in-depth look at the recent live-burn fire experiments exercise conducted on Governor’s Island, New York by the New York City Fire Department, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Underwriters Laboratory, and the Trust for Governor’s Island.
August 2012 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - August '12 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This is a special edition of the CFITrainer.Net podcast previewing the ITC 2013. There’s a new name for the Annual Training Conference from the IAAI now called the International Training conference.
April 2012 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '12 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features an interview with Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr., the US Fire Administrator. Also we will discuss the upcoming ATC, Annual Training Conference, from the IAAI about to happen in Dover, Delaware.
March 2012 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - March '12 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features an interview with ATF Special Agent Billy Malagassi out of the Tulsa, OK Field Office about investigating fires in clandestine drug labs. We also report on NIST’s findings in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire and IAAI’s Evidence Collection Practicum.
December 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - December '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features one of the presenters from this year’s IAAI ATC and see how a single photo broke the Provo Tabernacle fire case.
October 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - October '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features an interview with Deborah Nietch, the new Executive Director of IAAI.
July 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - July '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features an interview with Tom Fee discussing details of investigating wildland fires.
June 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - June '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month's podcast features a lot of exciting things that are happening at CFITrainer.Net
May 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - May '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month highlights the IAAI ATC in Las Vegas and the third installment in the "It Could Happen to You" series.
ATC 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - This podcast discusses the upcoming IAAI Annual Training Conference and National Arson Awareness Week.
April 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This podcast announces the release of the program, The First Responder’s Role in Fire Investigation, which teaches first responders how to make critical observations and take important scene preservation actions at a fire scene.
March 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - March '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features some of the instructors from the upcoming 2011 Annual Training Conference, to provide a preview of the courses they will be presenting.
February 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - February '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features an update on fire grants and an interview with Steve Austin
January 2011 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - January '11 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features the release of the new edition of Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice to NFPA 921 and 1033, new flammability requirements from UL for pre-lit artificial Christmas trees and a growing fire problem in Dubai with factories turned into worker dormitories.
December 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - December '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast focuses on home candle fires, lightning punctures in gas piping, and respiratory diseases in the fire services.
November 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - November '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features research findings for structural stability in engineered lumber by UL, the ban on antifreeze in residential sprinkler systems, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation of Jeep Grand Cherokee fuel tanks.
October 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - October '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features high-profile fire cases, why people leave stovetop cooking unattended and how new sensors under development may improve fire research.
September 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - September '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features how to use the ATF’s Bomb Arson Tracking System, IAAI Foundation grants, electrical fires and indoor marijuana cultivation.
August 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - August '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast focuses on social media as a fire investigation tool, a potential problem with modular home glued ceilings and research from Underwriters Laboratories on the effects of ventilation on structure fires.
July 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - July '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast is a roundtable on some of the latest research and technical activities that impact fire investigation, featuring Daniel Madrzykowski (moderator), Steven Kerber, and Dr. Fred Mowrer.
June 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - June '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast discusses career advancement, budget cuts and their impact on fire investigation, and the 2010-2016 ATF Strategic Plan.
ATC 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - Follow-up and Interviews from Orlando. Learn about the conference, hear what attendees had to say.
May 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - May '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. The second in our safety series called "It Could Happen To You." Our Long-Term Exposure roundtable is moderated by Robert Schaal.
April 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. The first of our two-part safety series called "It Could Happen To You." Our roundtable is moderated by Robert Schaal.
March 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - March '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features a conversation about legislative affairs affecting the fire service with Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Research Institute.
February 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - February '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features our interview with a commercial kitchen’s fire expert about what you need to know when you work a commercial kitchen fire.
January 2010 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - January '10 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features a look at preliminary research on corrosion caused by Chinese drywall, a new database focused on fires in historic buildings, a warning on blown-in insulation, and the launch of the new firearson.com web site.
December 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - December '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features cooking fires, highlights of the International Code Council’s Annual Meeting on code requirements, including requiring residential sprinkler systems, and an easy way to keep up with recalls from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
November 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - November '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features chimney fires, including recent news on surgical flash fires, a proposed national arsonist registry, lightning research and an innovation in personal protective equipment.
October 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - October '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast is devoted to Fire Prevention Week.
September 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - September '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features the relationship between climate conditions and fire risk, new research on formulating fireproof walls and the latest in IAAI news.
August 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - August '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month takes a look at the dangerous combination of summer heat and oily rags, the rise in vacant home fires, and preview research underway on Australia’s devastating "Black Saturday" brush fires.
July 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - July '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month features a look at outdoor grill fires, a fatal fire at a homeless camp in Southern NJ, new NIST research on human behavior during building fires, and IAAI news.
June 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - June '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features live reports from the 2009 IAAI Annual Training Conference held in May.
May 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - May '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This podcast is dedicated to National Arson Awareness Week.
April 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - April '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features the NFPA 921 chapter on marine fire investigations and the myth and reality of static electricity as a source of ignition.
March 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - March '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month focuses on the rise of the hybrid vehicle and what its unique engineering means for the investigation of vehicle fires, the rash of devastating arson fires in Coatesville, Pennsylvania from December 2008 to February 2009, and news from IAAI.
January 2009 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - January '09 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast focuses on the deepening financial crisis in the US and arson for profit fires, how going green may pose a fire hazard and see how rope lighting may be a source of ignition, and IAAI’s Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony course.
December 2008 CFITrainer.Net Podcast - December '08 IAAI & CFITrainer Fire Investigator Podcasts. This month’s podcast features Christmas tree fires, changes to critical fire investigation publications, the weak economy’s impact on home fires, wind’s effect on structure fires, and ATC 2009.