Mission & History

The International Association of Arson Investigators was formed in 1949, just four years after the conclusion of World War II. The IAAI was originally chartered as a nonprofit organization in Louisville, Kentucky. The demand for the IAAI was evident soon after its creation with membership exceeding 750 members within a few months. Over 50 of those members resided outside the United States, reinforcing the international reach and need for such an organization. By the end of its first year, the IAAI had grown to 1,008 members.

The organization was formed to address four primary objectives: to coordinate investigative activities; to assist in securing adequate laws and their enforcement; to furnish technical advice; and to act as a clearinghouse or a disseminating agent for the membership. More than three-quarters of a century later, these objectives continue to drive the activities of the IAAI while serving the needs of more than 11,000 professionals.