Clients read our blog because it provides subrogation information and perspective found nowhere else. It describes in detail the scientific method and how to specifically apply the method in the context of fire and explosion investigations. Over time, the guidelines have grown to include not just guidelines for determining the origin and cause of fires, but also the collection and handling of physical evidence, as well as chapters focusing on motor vehicle fires, wildfires, and appliances.
NFPA is generally regarded as the standard of care in fire investigation. Technically its provisions are still simply guidelines, but they are considered authoritative and utilized by many courts when determining the sufficiency and admissibility of expert opinions.
Compliance with these guidelines is considered necessary in order to prepare an admissible expert opinion. The admissibility of an expert opinion also requires that the expert be qualified. NFPA provides its own standards for the minimum professional qualifications for a fire investigator. The standards are contained in NFPA The standards require an expert maintain updated basic knowledge in a number of areas including, but not limited to, fire chemistry and thermodynamics.
Additionally, NFPA requires updated knowledge regarding fire investigation methodology and evidence documentation. In order to know what questions to ask, adjusters need to have a basic understanding of the new changes to NFPA as well.
To begin, seventeen new definitions are included in the edition. Noteworthy definitions include the following:. Fire Pattern: A fire pattern is an identifiable shape or progression of fire effects. Arc Melting: Melting of conductors and conducting surfaces as a result of electrical arcing.
Sever Arc: An arc site where one or more of the circuit conductors were physically severed by the arcing event at that location. Arc Mapping : Identifying and documenting a fire pattern derived from the identification of arc sites used, to aid in determining the area of fire origin or spread. Cause : The circumstances, conditions or agencies that brought about or resulted in the fire or explosion incident, damage to property, bodily injury, or loss of life.
Non-Scene Data : Data from sources other than those collected from the scene of a fire or explosion incident. Fire : A rapid oxidation process, which is an exothermic chemical reaction, resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities. Fire Chemistry : The study of chemical processes that occur in fire including changes of state, decomposition, and combustion.
This module lays the groundwork for understanding marine fires by covering four basic concepts that the investigator must understand before investigating a marine fire. In this module, you will learn more about how cancer develops, what occupational exposure risks to carcinogens exist at fire scenes, and how to better protect yourself against those exposures. The use of the process of elimination in the determination of a fire cause is a topic that has generated significant discussion and controversy in the fire investigation profession.
This module teaches the basics of the electrical power generation, distribution, and transmission system. This module presents the basics of natural gas and its uses and system components in a residence. The basics of the scientific method are deceptively simple: observe, hypothesize, test, and conclude. This module explains the principles of search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment, as contained in the amendment and according to subsequent case law, and applies them to typical fire scene scenarios.
This module addresses the foundations of thermometry, including the definition of temperature, the scales used to measure temperature and much more. This program presents the results of flame experiments conducted with a candle. This self-paced program explains to non-investigators the role of the fire investigator, what the fire investigator does, how the fire investigator is trained, what qualifications the fire investigator must meet.
This module will untangle the meanings of "undetermined," straighten out how to use the term correctly, talk about how not to use it, and describe how to properly report fires where "undetermined" is the cause or classification.
This module will advise fire investigators on how to approach the fact-finding procedures necessary and validate a hypothesis. This module provides an overview on how structures can become vacant and eventually abandoned. This self-paced program provides a basic framework for structuring the management of fire cases and fire investigators. This module illustrates how wildland fires spread, explains how to interpret burn patterns unique to these types of fires. This module presents the key elements of the initial origin and cause report and methods of clearly presenting findings in a professional manner.
Net CFITrainer. Net Alliances Privacy Policy Sitemap. Lost Password? Not Registered? Register Today. Register for Free. NFPA Documents. Net site were current as of the release of the respective modules. The field of fire investigation and its guiding documents are constantly evolving and it is incumbent upon the fire investigator to remain up to date with the guidance in the current editions of the documents referenced in all modules on CFITrainer. Net, regardless of which edition was used in the writing of the module.
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Cancel Accept. Accidental Causes. Alternative Energy. Case Studies. Electricity and Electrical Systems. For Fire Officers.
For Non-Investigators. Legal Issues. Marine Fires. Motor Vehicle Fires. Natural Gas. Report Writing. Wildland Fires. Youth-Set Fires. IAAI Credential. Net Multi-Program Certificate. Fire Investigation for Fire Officers. Principles of Fire Investigation. NFPA 1. Live Event - Post Blast Investigations - Accreditation, Certification, and Certificates This program provides a primer on accreditation, certification, and certificates for fire investigation training. Alternative Fuel Vehicles This program explains those basics for vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas CNG , liquefied natural gas LNG , propane also known as liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG , and hydrogen also known as fuel cell technology.
Charting Your Career Path In Fire Investigation This module looks at the many ways fire investigators enter and grow in the profession through academia, the fire service, law enforcement, insurance, and engineering. Critical Thinking Solves Cases This program brings three highly experienced fire investigators and an attorney with experience as a prosecutor and civil litigator together for a round table discussion.
The Deposition Part 1: Format, Content, and Preparation One of the legal proceedings that may require the fire investigator to testify is a deposition. Digital Photography and the Fire Investigator The program discusses the basics of digital photography for fire investigators as well as software and editing procedures for digital images intended as evidence. Discovery in Civil Cases This self-paced program is an introduction to discovery in civil proceedings such as fire loss claims and product defect lawsuits.
Discovery in Criminal Cases This self-paced program is an introduction to discovery in criminal proceedings. Documenting the Event This program provides a practical overview of how to perform the baseline documentation tasks that occur at every scene. Electrical Safety This module presents critical electrical safety practices that every fire investigator should implement at every scene, every time. Emerging Technologies in Fire Investigation In this program, we will look at emerging technologies that fire investigators are integrating into their daily investigative work with great success.
Ethical Duties Beyond the Fire Scene This self-paced program examines the fire investigator's ethical duties beyond the fire scene. Different hypotheses may be compatible with the same data.
When using the scientific method, testing of hypotheses should be designed to disprove the hypothesis falsification of the hypothesis. Confirmation bias occurs when the investigator instead tries to prove the hypothesis. This can result in failure to consider alternate hypotheses, or prematurely discounting seemingly contradictory data without an appropriate assessment.
A hypothesis can be said to be valid only when rigorous testing has failed to disprove the hypothesis. Heightened Duty of Document Review. Heightened Duty of Fire Patterns Analysis. Sub- section 4. Heightened Duty of Evidence Collection. Sections 4.
Duties shall include using proper physical and legal procedures to identify, document, collect, and preserve evidence required within the investigation… 4.
The low spark of the NFPA is now catching fire. A failure to document courses and publications covering the NFPA and its 16 topics could be a red flag. Better to act on the red flag early than to raise the white flag later. Remember Me Forgot Password? Link Text. Open link in a new tab. No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.
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