Course

Objective:

Learning Outcomes:

• Integrate the knowledge of fuels, heat transfer, and ventilation to investigate ignition, the stages of fire development, and the resulting fire damage. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Describe the basic concepts of fire dynamics and explosion dynamics. Examine the characteristics of different types of fuels. Differentiate the impact of different types of fuels on ignition potential and fire growth. Analyze flow paths and compartment fire dynamics. Anticipate and explain the progression of a fire within a compartment employing the variables that impact fire growth, development, and spread. Construct an explanation of the correlation of fire growth with the expected fire damage patterns. Conclude the correlation between a competent ignition source and the first fuel ignited.
• Test hypotheses using knowledge of appliance controls and failure analysis. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Compare failure analysis methods. Demonstrate how failure analysis is applied to fire causation. Characterize and explain functions of small appliance controls. Evaluate a given appliance for competency as ignition source. Prepare a fault tree analysis or Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for a given appliance.
• Conduct a fire loss investigation; document and communicate the findings. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Conduct a safe and systematic fire scene investigation to determine the area (or point) of origin. Identify fire dynamics, fire patterns, electrical system, or evidence and explain the application to the fire scene. Create an accurate and referenced document explaining the findings.
• Conduct a systematic fire scene investigation with the proper documentation, and then communicate the findings of the fire investigation (National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921, Section 3.3.79, 2024 edition). Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Conduct a safe and systematic fire scene investigation to determine the area of origin, and the cause of the fire. Identify, collect and package physical evidence and request the appropriate laboratory testing. Prepare and present all appropriate documentation and evidence to support the final hypothesis of the origin and cause of the fire.
• Simulate safe behavior on a fire scene. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Identify and describe primary safety and health hazards. Identify the relevant National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations as they apply to fire investigations. Model training in the use of the R/N95 disposable respirator.
• Consider concepts associated with the nature of fire investigation and professional guiding documents. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Recognize the responsibilities associated with fire investigation and testifying as an expert witness. Review the pertinent national guides and standards associated with the profession of fire investigation. Differentiate among the potential uses and applications of publications by counter experts, attorneys, and judges. Utilize knowledge of nationally recognized fire investigation publications to support their approach to fire analysis process and investigation.
• Recognize, identify and evaluate fire patterns and effects, while demonstrating an understanding of the fire dynamics that created the same. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Recognize, identify and evaluate various fire patterns and effects. Explain the fire dynamics that produce various fire patterns and effects. Analyze fire patterns and effects that demonstrate an understanding of the burning characteristics of the fuel packages and the development of heat that contributed to fire spread. Explain how a proper understanding of fire dynamics can debunk myths surrounding various fire patterns and effects.
• Formulate a plan, using the systematic approach of the scientific method, to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Apply the seven steps of the scientific method to systematically determine the origin and cause of a fire, as recommended by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. Evaluate and create documentation for a fire scene investigation to include notes, sketches, photos, etc., as required by NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator. Collect, analyze and differentiate the various types of information: witness statements, fire patterns, and fire dynamics, used to determine an area of origin, as outlined in NFPA 921. Conduct a comprehensive fire scene examination, including the documentation and evaluation of various related systems.
• Integrate personal and professional best practices while investigating a fatal fire. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Analyze the responsibilities of the medical examiner, fire investigator, law enforcement and other agency roles as they relate to fire death investigation. Assess fire-related human behavior. Characterize the relationship between an origin and cause investigation and a death investigation. Adapt and apply appropriate procedures and techniques in a fatal fire investigation. Summarize protocols involved with line-of-duty deaths (LODDs). Consider the need for awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Construct field level identification and collection techniques, with an understanding of laboratory process, to demonstrate the evidence collection process. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Define terminology relevant to evidence collection and preservation. Discuss the most common sources of evidence contamination and how to avoid them. Explain proper collection and packaging techniques. Articulate the process for laboratory analysis, and reporting, for ignitable liquids, and relate the significance of sample analysis.
• Construct a viable, defensible and accurate fire investigation timeline. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: List common timeline data sources. Distinguish between hard and soft time data sources. Explain and practice the process of time synchronization. Synthesize timeline data and information to produce an investigative tool for the fire investigator.
• Evaluate and apply the Scientific Method to fire investigation. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: List and define the seven steps of the Scientific Method. Outline the Scientific Method and apply it to the origin and cause of the fire. Evaluate the use of the Scientific Method to collect and analyze the data points of the fire scene, and then to develop and test hypotheses. Apply the Scientific Method to prevent various types of bias.
• Evaluate electrical systems, electrical failures, and arc mapping through the lens of basic electrical theory. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Describe basic electrical theory. Recognize the components of a building’s electrical system from generation to distribution. Model basic safety practices when evaluating an electrical system. Evaluate electrical circuits using Ohm’s law/Joule’s law. Differentiate between electrical and thermal damage on energized and non-energized conductors. Evaluate common modes of electrical failure to systems, components, and appliances. Collect data and create an arc map, illustrating the application of arc mapping to origin determination.
• Evaluate the response and effect of the Fire Protection Systems (FPS) to include compartmentation, detection and suppression, in relation to the fire investigation. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Compile FPS documentation. Formulate FPS impact as it relates to fire investigation.
• Demonstrate and validate the minimum information required for a basic fire investigation report. Enabling Objectives The students will be able to: Explain the key information contained in the fire investigation report. Demonstrate the use of the Scientific Method within the context of a fire investigation report.
• Anticipate problems by the application of legal theory, applicable laws, and an understanding of motives as related to the fire investigation.

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