Fire investigation is
a young science and has evolved greatly of the last several years. Due to advances in the science of fire
investigation certifying bodies and the courts are paying close attention to
who qualifies as a fire investigator.
Fire investigations are conducted for various reasons ranging from; the
investigation conducted by public fire departments to identify a fire origin
and cause, and whether or not any criminal activity was involved; to privately
financed fire investigations by insurance companies and individuals to attempt
to assign blame and recover loss. This
article will discuss the range of education, training, experience, and
certifications of fire investigators.
Formal education of
fire investigators various greatly. The
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1033 “Standard for Professional
Qualifications for Fire Investigator” is a standard for minimum requirements of
a fire investigator. The NFPA 1033
dictates in general that at a minimum, a fire investigator must be at least 18
years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. In general most fire investigators will have
various educations beyond this minimum.
Formal education of fire investigators often varies from
an associate’s degree in fire science to bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees
in engineering or other technical sciences.
There are numerous
certifications available to fire investigators to demonstrate the minimum
levels of competence. The two most
recognized associations in the United States that certify fire investigators
are the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) and the International
Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).
NAFI offers three certifications that act as entry level certification
and documentation of education and experience.
These certifications can be obtained by entry level fire investigators
upon completing various amounts on-scene training and completing varying
amounts of fire investigation training, often obtainable by attending various
directed conferences. Upon meeting the
applicant requirements, all of these certifications require passing a
comprehensive written examination. NAFI
offers three different fire investigator certifications,
these are the Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI), the Certified
Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII), and the Certified Vehicle Fire
Investigator (CVFI).
The IAAI offers two
certifications which are the Fire Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT) and the
Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI).
The IAAI-FIT is this association’s entry level certification and
requires a minimum of 18 months of general experience in fire investigation and
a minimum of 44 hours of tested training.
There is then a comprehensive examination. The IAAI-CFI has a much more rigorous
application process that must be completed and approved before an applicant may
sit for the certification examination.
The requirements of the IAAI-CFI include a minimum of 4 years of full
time experience fire investigation, certain testimony experience or training
requirements, education and training, and various other requirements that are
set up on a point system. The applicant
must complete the application meeting all the points requirements and include
verification of every item listed.
Other agency specific
certifications exist, but the most recognized may be the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Certified Fire Investigator
(ATF-CFI). This in-house certification
applies scientific and engineering technology training in a 2 year training
program. The ATF special agent must
undergo a minimum of 6 weeks of classroom training and gain hands on experience
of at least 100 fire scenes under the direct mentorship of an ATF-CFI.
The public sector fire
investigator is usually a fire investigator employed by the government, such as
fire department, state fire marshal’s office, etc. The range of education, training, experience,
and certifications varies greatly in this category. Fire department investigators are often fire
fighters that have moved into the fire investigations unit. They often receive in house training that is
passed down from other investigators.
Their background often includes an associate’s degree in fire science
related to fire fighting with some training in fire investigation. Often, fire department fire investigators
will work in this position for many years however the department’s budget is
often limited when it comes to sending investigators to outside training and
conferences which is a requirement for independently recognized fire
investigation certifications. The lack
of funding for outside training can lead to not only a lack of certifications
for their investigators, but also a lack of awareness of the advances in the
science of fire investigation. Fire
departments will often send at least their lead fire investigators to the
The fire marshal’s
office normally has investigators from a similar background as fire department
investigators. Often, fire marshal fire
investigators have transferred from a fire department investigator position. The fire marshal’s office often has a less
restrictive budget with respect to providing training for their investigators. Fire marshal investigators often have or are
on path to acquire various fire investigation certifications. The next level of public sector investigator
comes from federal agencies such as the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
(ATF). ATF investigators go through a
rigorous two year training program to obtain the ATF’s Certified Fire
Investigator Certification (ATF-CFI).
Private sector
investigators are investigators that do not conduct investigations for
government agencies, but are hired by insurance companies, attorneys, or other
individuals to determine the origin and cause of fires. Private sector investigators range from
ex-public sector fire investigators to engineers, chemists, and other
technically degreed individuals whose careers have led them into fire
investigation. Private sector fire
investigators normally have more flexible budgets for attending conferences,
seminars, and other forms of continuing education, which tends to become a job
requirement in order to comply with the recertification requirements of the
various certifications they may hold.
Cale Robertson began
his career as an engineer, obtaining a bachelors of science and a master’s
degree in mechanical engineering. He is
a licensed professional engineer and has done fire investigation full time
since 2004. In 2008 Mr. Robertson
started Robertson Engineering Investigations, a forensic engineering firm
specializing in forensic engineering, fire investigation, and accident reconstruction. Mr. Robertson holds the Certified Fire and
Explosion Investigator (CFEI), the Certified Fire Investigator Instructor (CFII),
the Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI), and the Certified Fire
Investigator (IAAI-CFI) certifications related to fire investigation. Mr. Robertson is also certified by the
Association of Traffic Accident Reconstructionists (ACTAR) as a traffic
accident reconstructionist, which is useful in
investigating vehicle fires that have resulted after a crash.
Cale Robertson
(575) 644-9595
National Fire Protection
Association: http://www.nfpa.org/
·
NFPA 1033
Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator
·
NFPA 921
Guide to Fire and Explosion Investigation
National Association of Fire
Investigators: http://www.nafi.org
International Association of Arson
Investigators: http://firearson.com/
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives: http://www.atf.gov/