Resources

Fire Scene Evidence Collection Guide

A web site with detailed written recommended procedures and video demonstrations for how to collect over 50 types of evidence found at fire scenes, checklists for evidence collection, and an FAQ of common evidence collection questions. All procedures were vetted by evidence collection and testing experts selected by the IAAI. Fire Scene Evidence Collection Guide

Fire Investigator Job Aids

“CFITrainer.Net Job Aids provide “go by” resources for major fire investigation tasks to help fire investigation professionals ensure they are evaluating and completing the elements of the task. Scenes and investigative scopes vary, so the Job Aids are not meant to be comprehensive for every scene, but rather as a helpful tool to help the fire investigation professional work through executing that task while applying their knowledge, skills, and experience to determine actions to take at a particular scene. Some elements on a Job Aid may not apply to a particular investigation and a particular investigation may need additional elements not on the Job Aid.

Each Job Aid is a form-fillable PDF. The PDF can be filled out on scene using a tablet, laptop, phone, or other device. The PDF can also be printed out and used as a pen-and-paper tool. The fire investigation professional decides how to best use the Job Aid and integrate it into their workflow.

Available Job Aids:

  • Site Safety Assessment Checklist: This Job Aid is designed to be a checklist for the site safety assessment process. Items in the checklist may need to be documented with additional information in the Notes sections.

Fire Investigator, Fire Officer, Fire Marshal, and Firefighter Professional Development

To assist you with your professional development process, CFITrainer.Net provides the following documents that correlate CFITrainer.Net self-paced programs (modules) to Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. These correlations are designed to help you identify CFITrainer.Net modules that address particular JPRs. You can use this information as part of your professional development planning process. You are encouraged to seek out training from many sources, including CFITrainer.Net, to fulfill these JPRs.

For more information on NFPA Standards, please visit nfpa.org.

*Please note that the correlations documents include a few modules that are due to be released this year but are not yet available.

The First Responder's Role in Fire Investigation

CFITrainer.Net Podcasts- CFITrainer.Net has launched a new feature - monthly audio Podcasts that deliver quick-hit information about new developments in fire investigation. The Podcasts are free and available to all CFITrainer.Net members. You can download them to your MP3 player, download them to your computer, or listen to them streaming from the web site.

CFI Calculator Users Guide- The CFI Calculator Users Guide provides further insight on the purpose of the calculator, the use of fire dynamics equations and suggestions on downloading the application. The resource also explains how the formulas and CFI Calculator are designed to assist the field investigator in the analysis of fire behavior, analyze witness statements and predict results when conducting tests and experimentation.

Links

*Many of the organizations listed below include their mission statements to accurately represent them.

Attorney Resources:

The American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional organization and their mission is to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law.

Firefighter Resources:

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has more than 10,000 members in 20 countries and represents a wide-variety of the fire engineering industry.

The interFIRE.org Web site is a leading resource for fire investigators worldwide. The site provides a variety of multi-media training modules, podcasts, a searchable resource center and a page to order interFIRE VR.

The International Association of Arson Investigators’ (IAAI) mission statement is to foster, support and promote fire prevention and arson awareness through education and training.

The International Association of Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) was founded with the primary objective of encouraging research into the science of preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of fires, and of providing a forum for presenting the results of such research.

The International Fire Chiefs Association (IAFC) was established in 1873 and provides leadership to more than 12,000 chief fire and emergency officers

The International Fire Marshals Association (IFMA) is a membership section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). IFMA unites fire marshals and related public officials throughout North America who are engaged in fire prevention, control, inspection, and public fire safety education, and helps its members to reduce fire loss through cooperative efforts in fire and arson investigation

The National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) was founded in 1961 and its principal purpose is to increase knowledge, and improve the skills of persons engaged in the investigation and analysis of fire, explosions and arson, or the litigation that ensues from such investigations.)

The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) mission is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire, and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a state fire marshal’s operations.

The mission of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is to reduce the world-wide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing, and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education. This is the source for NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033.

Firefighter Safety Resources:

Everyone Goes Home Program, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Fire & Life Safety Section, International Association of Fire Chiefs

Fire Hero Learning Network, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

UL FSRI

Government Resources:

The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook: Best Practices for Evidence Handlers

Strengthening Forensic Science: A Progress Report February 2014

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a principal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice dedicated to preventing terrorism, reducing violent crime and protecting our Nation.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory examines building materials; computer-integrated construction practices; fire science and fire safety engineering; and structural, mechanical and environmental engineering.

National Fire Academy, U.S. Fire Administration

Insurance Resources:

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF) was founded in 1993 and is one of America's most trusted and credible anti-fraud forces.

The International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) was founded in 1984 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to: promoting a coordinated effort within the industry to combat insurance fraud, providing education and training for insurance investigators, developing greater awareness of the insurance fraud problem, encouraging high professional standards of conduct among insurance investigators, and supporting legislation that acts as a deterrent to the crime of insurance fraud.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) partners with insurers and law enforcement agencies to facilitate the identification, detection and prosecution of insurance criminals.

The National Insurance Crime Training Academy (NICTA) provides and facilitates education and training to improve the detection, investigation, prosecution and prevention of insurance crime.