Course Syllabus
Kansas 80-hour Fire Investigator Certification
Course Title: Kansas Fire Investigator-Fire Module Course Duration: 80 Hours
Program: Fire and Explosion Investigation Course Prerequisite: *80-Hour Law Course
*80-hour law module required for Kansas CFI Certification
Course Description
This course is one of two 80-hour modules intended to be the
foundation for fire and explosion investigations. This program meets or exceeds the job performance requirements set forth in NFPA 1033 (Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator). Areas of instruction include the following topics: NFPA 921 and 1033, the
Scientific Method, Basic Fire Science, Fire Patterns, Building Systems, Fire Protection Systems, Human Behavior, Planning the Investigation, Fuel Gas Systems, Safety, Legal Considerations, Origin Determination, Causes and Classifications of Fires, Physical Evidence, Electricity and Fire, Appliances, Cause and Responsibility, Failure Analysis and Analytical Tools, Explosions, Incendiary Fires, Managing Complex Investigations, Motor Vehicle Fires, Sources of Information (including interviews), Documentation (including photographs), K-9 Utilization, Wildfire Investigations and Marine Investigations.
The class includes live, practical instruction such as burn cell evaluation, vehicle fire evaluation and other demonstrations. Students are not required to bring fire fighting “turn out gear,” but should bring appropriate PPE including protective footwear, coveralls or other protective outer garments, leather work gloves, protective fluid impervious gloves (such as nitrile gloves), helmet and respirator. Students who do not have appropriate protective gear for certain tasks will not be permitted to participate in that task. A different task will be assigned. Other items that may be helpful include a camera and basic evidence collection tools such as evidence cans.
Course References
*NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921
A copy of the course references will be provided to students the first day of the class. These texts are just two of the treatises that will help the investigator throughout his or her career. Students are encouraged to bring and use other documents as reference during the class. These treatises provide a foundation of knowledge for basic fire investigation. They should continue to be utilized and referenced throughout the student’s career and in other investigation courses.
Kansas Fire Certification Requirements
The 80-hour fire investigator class (fire module) is one of two modules required to become a Kansas State Certified Investigator. This class is offered by the Kansas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (Kansas IAAI). The fire module will be offered at least every other year on the even years. The office of the Kansas Fire
Marshal for certification approves the midterm and final examination. The 80-hour law module is the second class required for State
Certification. It is provided by the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy and will be offered every other year in the odd years. Candidates who
complete both modules will be eligible to apply for Kansas State
Certification. Kansas has two levels of Certified Fire Investigator (level 1 and level 2). See the Kansas Statute for Certification of Fire
Investigators for more information on qualifications
( http://firemarshal.ks.gov/docs/default-source/osfm-regs/kar22-19---certification-of-arson-investigators.pdf?sfvrsn=2).
Course Policies
Individuals participating in this class (students and instructors) will come from a variety of backgrounds including (but not limited to): fire department, law enforcement, private fire investigation, engineering fields and codes. All individuals participating in the classes will be treated with respect. Any problems or issues during a class should be directed to the class coordinator, an instructor or any Kansas IAAI Board Member.
Safety
During practical evolutions, students will utilize a team approach.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Practical evolutions will be assigned a safety officer. Students should maintain a “situational awareness” and bring any safety concerns to an instructor or the safety officer.
Attendance and Scoring
Students are expected to attend all classes, participate in practical evolutions and presentations. All required coursework shall be
completed prior to a certificate being awarded. Individual examinations (midterm and final) require a score of at least 75% for a passing grade. Additional points are awarded for attendance, homework and
participation. Students need an overall score of 80% in the class for a certificate to be awarded.
Course Content
Introduction NFPA 1033 K-9 Utilization
The following chapters reference NFPA 921: Chapters 1-4 Scientific Method Chapter 5 Basic Fire Science Chapter 6 Fire Patterns Chapter 7 Building Systems
Chapter 8 Fire Protection Systems Chapter 11 Human Behavior
Chapter 15 Planning the Investigation Chapter 10 Fuel Gas Systems
Course Content Continued
Chapters 19 & 20 Cause/Classifications of Fires Chapter 17 Physical Evidence
Chapter 9 Electricity and Fire Chapter 26 Appliances
Chapter 21 Cause and Responsibility
Chapter 22 Failure Analysis and Analytical Tools Chapter 23 Explosions
Chapter 24 Incendiary Fires
Chapter 25 Explosion and Fire Death Investigations Chapter 29 Managing Complex Investigations
Chapter 27 Motor Vehicle Fires Chapter 14 Sources of Information
Chapter 16 Documenting the Investigation
Chapters 28 & 30 Wildfire and Marine Fire Investigations
Assignments
Students are expected to complete assignments on time. Successful completion of assignments is a requirement to receive a certificate. The assignments are given for compliance with Kansas State Certification and the IAAI-FIT designation.
Students should read the chapters that will be discussed the following day. In addition, assignments will be given regarding Curriculum Vitae (CV) preparation and modules from CFItrainer.net. Proof of successful completion of the following three CFItrainer classes shall be provided by the students: Ethics and the Investigator, NFPA 1033 and Your Career, Relationship Between 1033 and 921.
WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
MORNING AFTERNOON
Week 1
8:00 AM Introduction 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 5:
Day 1
8:30 AM NFPA 921, 1033 and Basic Fire Science Scientific Method 3:00 PM 921 Chapter 6: 921 Chapters 1-4 Fire Patterns
Week 1
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 7 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 11
Day 2
Building Systems Human Behavior
10:00 921 Chapter 8 3:00 PM 921 Chapter 15 Fire Protection Systems Planning the Investigation
Week 1
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 10 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 12
Day 3
Fuel Gas Systems Legal Considerations 11:00 AM 921 Chapter 13
Safety
Week 1
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 18 1:00:00 PM Chapter 17
Day 4
Origin Determination Physical Evidence 10:00 AM Chapter 19 & 20
Cause/Classifications of Fires 2-3 hrs
Week 1
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 9 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 26
Day 5
Electricity & Fire Appliances
Live demonstrations
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
MORNING AFTERNOON Week 2 8:00 AM 921 Chapter 21 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 23Day
1
Cause & Responsibility Explosions 10:AM Chapter 22
Fail. Analys & Analytical Tools
Week 2
8:00 AM Chapter 25 1:00 PM 921 Chapter 24
Day
2
Explosion, Death & Injuries Incendiary Fires 10:00 Chapter 29
Managing Complex Investigarion
Week 2
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 27 1:00 PM Motor Vehicle Fires
Day
3
Motor Vehicle Fires Preparations/Presentations 10:00 AM
Burn Vehicles
Week 2
8:00 AM 921 Chapter 14 1:00 PM On-scene Activities
Day
4
Sources of Information Burn Modules
9:00 AM 921 Chapter 16 K-9s Documenting the Investigation
Week 2
8:00 AM Chapters 28 & 30 1:00 PM
Day
5
Wildfire & Marine Investigations Team Report Presentations 10:00 AM 3:00 PM