What qualifications do I need to be a fire investigator?

Depending on your prospective employer, you’ll need to complete at least a two-year investigator training program to qualify for certification and/or employment. A federal agency, such as the ATF, requires new investigators to complete a four-year fire science degree before becoming an agent.

What do you call a fire investigator?

An arson investigator is part detective, part fire scientist. After fires are reported and suppressed, arson investigators help determine the cause of the blaze and, if appropriate, whether criminal activity is involved.

What is the difference between a arson investigator and a fire investigator?

An arson investigator will try to determine who is responsible for setting a fire; a fire investigator will attempt to determine the cause and origin of a fire.

Is a fire investigator a firefighter?

Fire inspectors or investigators normally have previous work experience in a related field. This on-the-job training can range from being a volunteer firefighter or intern to being a police officer, although most do work for the fire department.

What types of evidence do fire investigators collect?

Fire and arson investigators examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene. During the scene examination, investigators may find evidence such as accelerants, tampered utilities, and specific burn patterns, which may indicate criminal activity.

What is the first step in a fire investigation?

The first step in a fire investigation is the preliminary scene examination/size-up. For best results, a trained fire investigator should be notified about and respond to serious fires or possible arson fires immediately after fire apparatus is dispatched.

What is considered an accidental fire?

Accidental fires involve all those for which the proven cause does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite or spread fire into an area where the fire should not be. For example, in a legal setting, a trash fire might be spread by a sudden gust of wind.

Do fire investigators carry guns?

Fire marshals may carry a weapon, wear a badge, wear a uniform or plain clothes, can drive marked or unmarked cars, and make arrests pertaining to arson and related offenses, or, in other localities, may have duties entirely separate from law enforcement, including building- and fire-code-related inspections.

Why would ATF investigate a fire?

ATF works in tandem with local fire officials As a rule, ATF helps investigate fires that involve more than $1 million in losses, the injury or death of a firefighter or policeman or any other loss of life … and where the cause is unclear or involves explosives.