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The purpose of this FISC Bulletin Board is to share information about the vetting process for scientific literature, known as foundational literature or foundational research, which provides the scientific foundation for each forensic discipline. The article begins by summarizing the concerns expressed in the 2009 NRC/NAS Report about the need for each forensic discipline to identify its foundational literature, and then introduces the NRC/NAS Report’s “Foundational Research Recommendation.” Next, it summarizes activities of various organizations that are relevant to implementing the Foundational Research Recommendation. The status of fire investigations as one of the forensic science disciplines to which this Recommendation applies is also evaluated. The activities of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) and the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) relating to foundational research are explored. And finally, the status of NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 as foundational research are considered, together with litigation implications of the issues raised in this article.

This FISC Bulletin Board compiles clips of recent events concerning consensus-based fire investigation standards and guidelines. These Fast Facts cover news about NFPA 921, NFPA 1033, the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS), and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). It also describes developments in fire investigation policy from an organization representing all fire services throughout the states of Australia and New Zealand: the Australasian Fire Authorities Counsel (AFAC).

This FISC Bulletin Board first introduces the 2017 edition of NFPA 921. Next, it briefly reviews the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), it’s Registry of approved standards and guidelines, and considers the implications of the approval of NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 for the OSAC Registry.

The 2015 National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium (RAS) was held November 15-18, 2015 in Arlington, Virginia. Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #7 calls for the creation and maintenance of a fire service research agenda. To that end, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has previously hosted two research agenda symposiums in 2005 and 2011. Recommendation 30 Assess the impact of current fire dynamics research on the health of fire investigators.

2020 Fire Investigator Behavioral Health Survey

2020 Updated Health & Safety Infographic

The International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. (IAAI) announces the release of the third edition of its Health & Safety Committee’s document, “Fire Investigator Health and Safety Best Practices.” This third edition includes updates, additions, and enhancements that improve the overall content and provides the latest research information and best practices regarding fire investigator health and safety matters. Prepared by the H&S committee and its advisory panel of subject matter experts and others (listed in the document), it has been approved by the Executive Team for dissemination.

2022 Foundation Resolution

The 2024 IAAI Nomination Form

2024 Proposed Amendments Analysis Statement

Fabric dropdown patterns are often confused with ignitable liquid pour patterns at the fire scene. A variety of fabric types used in making bedding, clothing, and curtains were burned inside a vacant house.

The genesis of this piece comes from a trend the authors have observed in three separate but related areas, which the authors believe are converging into a perfect storm for fire investigators. These are: 1) the ongoing movement by courts across the nation to scrutinize more closely the reliability of expert testimony, 2) a growing apprehension about wrongful convictions stemming from faulty forensic evidence and problems in fire investigations, culminating in the revolutionary 2009 report published by the National Academy of Sciences, and; 3) the continuing development of industry standards that are raising the bar for fire investigators. Part I describes each of these forces, and then Part II demonstrates how together they are creating a mounting pressure on fire investigation experts to defend their qualifications and the reliability of their opinions in court, particularly insofar as analyzing the fire scene and interpreting fire patterns is concerned.

This study focused on the direct reading of gases present during overhaul, measurement of these gases over an extended period of time in comparison to CO, and on the compilation of data to support and continue the understanding of post-fire event airborne hazards to firefighters and fire investigators.

Background materials, support slides, lesson plans, speaker notes, and links to support an abandoned buildings fire prevention program.

This FISC Bulletin Board highlights the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards identified in NFPA 921, 2008 edition. Readers should refer to the most recent edition of NFPA 921 for more recent editions of the relevant standards. Although readers need to update this article, it provides some good background information about the ABYC and its history.

Common misconceptions about electricity have lead to the misinterpretation of electrical evidence to establish an area of origin and incorrect determinations that an appliance or wiring was the ignition source of a fire. This research was focused on improving the understanding of the mechanisms by which fire environments may trigger electrical arcs in common residential wiring

This FISC Bulletin Board summarizes the needs as well as the gaps in foundational research for the fire investigation field. These analyses of the research needs were published by: 1) The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fire Investigation Working Group, in its 2017 Report, “Forensic Science Assessments A Quality and Gap Analysis – Fire Investigation & Annotated Bibliography,” and; 2) The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) Subcommittee on Fire and Explosion Investigation, it two “Needs Assessments” published in 2016.

This FISC article explains some consequences of the fire investigation discipline being included among the forensic sciences. Rather than evolving at its own pace with its own self-contained goals, fire investigations will be increasingly influenced by factors affecting all forensic sciences. For example, the need to improve the reliability of its methodologies by continued development and implementation of industry standards. Fire investigators and attorneys should be aware of standards development activities within other disciplines that may also pertain to fire investigations. This article provides a brief summary of the entry of fire investigations into the forensic sciences through the combined efforts of organizations like the National Research Council (NRC), the National Commission on Forensic Sciences (NCFS), and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). It also introduces the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), which has long included fire investigations among its scientific endeavors. We also touch upon AAFS's Academy Standards Board (a standards development organization) that is creating standards that may affect the use of canines in fire investigations.

This FISC Bulletin Board introduces the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), which is the peak body responsible for representing fire, emergency services and land management agencies in the Australasian region (Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific rim countries). It also describes a system for qualification of fire investigators developed by the AFAC, known as the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS). Since 2015, EMPS has been credentialing practitioners in emergency management, benchmarking individual skills against published professional standards and providing assurance to individuals, fire and emergency service agencies and the public that their qualifications and experience meet nationally-agreed requirements. Under this EMPS, Individual fire investigators can apply to be recognized as Certified or Registered practitioners under the scheme. The professional standards, courses, and code of ethics that apply to individuals seeking registration or certification as fire investigators are summarized in this article.

On the 27th November 2013, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) hosted a round table event designed to bring together colleagues and stakeholders with the aim of producing a Road Map toward the reduction of fires and mitigation of their impacts regarding incidents at Waste Management and Recycling Centres. CFOA would like to formally thank all those individuals and organisations who either attended the event or contributed towards its production.

Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series Research Paper No. 15-41

Web page for product recalls from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ES staff conducted an analysis of thermal cutoff fuse TCO failures in exhaust fan applications, specifically for fans that use eutectic-type thermal devices in shaded-pole motors. This report documents staff’s analysis and assessment.

tips to creating your cfitrainer.net login

This video provides guidance from the International Association of Arson Investigators on the proper donning and doffing (removal) of personal protective equipment to mitigate hazards at the post-fire scene, focusing on respiratory protection. The video includes recommended PPE ensembles for different situations, demonstrations of proper donning and doffing procedures, and procedures for cleaning, maintaining, and storing PPE.

Abstract: The application and limitations of fieldportable Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to fire investigations was the focus of this project. Today's fieldportable GC/MS systems were found to provide lab-quality data for volatile hydrocarbons but the interpretation of that data proved challenging for field operators. On-line access to lab experts is essential. Scene investigators felt that data generated at the fire scene is useful, especially for public agencies who often must wait months before receiving lab results. Scene sampling using SPME has proven problematic due to the over-saturation of the sensitive SPME fibers and their rapid loss of adsorbed compounds. Sampling at ambient temperatures limits the range of identifiable. products. Evidence sampling is enhanced with the use of sensitive PIDs (photoionization detectors) as a supplement to canine searches.

This is the final report of an innovative two-year project that was delivered by Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (UK) in partnership with Northumbria Police (UK) and Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police (Paris, France). The project was delivered between January 2007 and December 2008 and was titled: “European Exchange of Best Practice in Arson Prevention and Investigation”1. The project activities were co-funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Environment under the 2006 Call for Proposals in Civil Protection.

Momentary flare-ups from restaurant grills and ranges are common. Investigators often believe brief flame impingement on grease-laden filters provides a competent ignition source. Flare-up duration and size are important factors in heating grease up to its smoke point.

The purpose of this column is to share information about the vetting process for scientific literature, known as foundational literature, which provides the scientific foundation for each forensic discipline. If we were to create a list of scientific literature for the field of fire investigations that could qualify as foundational, industry standards such as those published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)2 and ASTM International3 would feature prominently.

This FISC bulletin board compiles clips of recent events concerning consensus-based fire investigation standards and guidelines. These fast facts: news about NFPA 921, and NFPA 1033, the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS), and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees.

The main purpose of this FISC article is to pique the readers' interest in the NFPA 921, 2021 edition by reviewing one of its many changes. Dating back to its first edition in 1992, NFPA 921 has included a four-category system for classifying fire causes. In the 2017 edition, Chapter 20 "Classification of Fire Cause," states that "the cause of a fire may be classified as accidental, natural, incendiary, or undetermined." These classifications, in place since the 1992 edition, have been removed in the 2021 edition. This article is published in two parts. Part I summarizes the history of this classification system and some of its problems. It explains the distinction between "incident reporting," which includes coding fire cause data for classification purposes, and "investigation reports," which apply the scientific method for determining fire cause. Finally, Part I explains the reasons that NFPA 921 was revised in the 2017 edition to state that completing NIFRS incident reports are outside the scope of NFPA 921. This revision, made to accommodate the public sector, became a significant factor in the decision to delete Chapter 20 in the 2021 edition.

This is the second part of a FISC article addressing why Chapter 20, "Classification of Fire Cause," has been removed in NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, 2021 ed. Part II of this article provides the background leading up to the decision by the Technical Committee responsible for NFPA 921 to remove fire cause classifications from NFPA 921. It also cites revisions in other chapters in the 2021 edition related to the deletion of Chapter 20. Finally, the article touches on some of the implications of this change.

This poster promotes taking a positive team approach towards identifying, preserving, documenting, securing and retrieving of potential forensic evidence from even the most destructive of fire scenes.

Compares different types of respiratory protection.

Fire Investigator Accident and Near-Miss Reporting Program

Visual Overview of Fire Investigator Best Practices

Fire Investigator Physical Exam Letter

A web site with detailed written recommended procedures and video demonstrations for how to collect over 50 types of evidence found at fire scenes, checklists for evidence collection, and an FAQ of common evidence collection questions. All procedures were vetted by evidence collection and testing experts selected by the IAAI.

This report has concentrated on overheated cut out fuses within the service head of a premises’ electrical intake, however, the issue of localised resistance heating also affects meters and consumer units, as well as other general electrical connections in an electrical installation.

This FISC Bulletin Board features a summary of developments in the world of forensic science involving fire investigators, including a brief update on developments following the publication of the NRC/NAS Report. The mandates assigned to the White House Interagency Working Groups (IWGs) are described as are the work of the Technical/Scientific Working Group on Fires and Explosions (T/SWGFEX). This article also tracks the progress of NFPA 1033 in the development of its 2014 edition.

This report provides a survey of the recent literature on flammable mists and pulls together information that will be useful in developing a HAC methodology for explosive mist atmospheres. It focuses on the three fundamental issues: mist flammability, mist generation and mitigation measures.

The IAAI adopts a position of supporting, enhancing and educating its members regarding the latest research information and best practices regarding fire investigator health and safety matters throughout all its activities, efforts and publications.

Every fire investigator is ultimately responsible for their health and wellbeing. There are known and suspected cancer-causing elements at almost EVERY post-fire scene in the form of gases, vapors, and particulates that cannot be seen. Protecting oneself from these hazards can lead to a healthier life. These are the top tips on how to do that.

The French Central Laboratory of Police Prefecture (LCPP) is a technical and scientific institute in charge of risk assessment, expertise and prevention, as well as environmental health and safety. The LCPP deals with many kinds of investigation (e.g.: technological, malevolence, domestic, environmental) and has jurisdiction in the territory of Paris and immediate suburbs.

To establish a baseline for moving forward, a benchmark survey was developed and sent out to all IAAI members. Members and chapter presidents were encouraged to share the survey with non-IAAI members to gain the largest number of responses possible. The goal was to have a survey that had content validity by ensuring that the question set captured all aspects of the topic, and the survey included a set of internal control questions designed to measure the respondents’ knowledge base regarding selected fire investigation topics.

Data from the Health & Safety Benchmark Survey

To promote health and safety knowledge, awareness, discussion, and action among members of the IAAI, its Chapters, and the fire investigation community in general.

One of the most significant events increasing the importance of industry standards occurred in 2009 when the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences published its report, “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward” (the NAS/NRC Report). This FISC Bulletin Board first summarizes the recommendations of the NRC/NAS Report most relevant to fire investigators. It then describes the efforts of two US federal government-sponsored organizations to implement these recommendations: The National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS), and The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

This FISC Bulletin Board, written in 2005 by FISC member, Ross Brogan, who was at the time an Inspector with the New South Wales Fire Brigades, Australia, concerns the approach to fire investigation standards, qualifications, and training employed in Australia and New Zealand.

One of the most significant events increasing the importance of industry standards occurred in 2009 when the National Research Council of the National Academy of sciences published its report, strengthening forensic science in the United States: a path forward.

Copper conductors beading caused by fire or electrical system failure. When copper conductors are exposed to fire or heat, they may re-melt. We cannot determine by observation of the surface of the bead to know whether it was the caused by the fire or a result of the fire. Therefore, we need apply the metallography to observe the internal structure of the beaded copper.

This table marks historic milestones relating to the interrelationship of NFPA 921, NFPA 1033, and litigation.

Dear Colleague:

We are pleased to provide an official statement from the International Association of Arson Investigators’ Board of Directors, which was passed unanimously on December 5, 2015.

This document provides a strong statement of concern about some past arson convictions that are believed to have been based on outdated science or methodology. It offers the IAAI’s support to government agencies that choose to engage in the review of questioned arson convictions to assure that they are based on appropriate methodology and current fire science. The IAAI is willing to support all government agencies in developing and creating a Scientific Review Panel of their own.

If you have questions regarding our offer of assistance in regard to the use and development of Multidisciplinary Science Review Panel, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Daniel P. Heenan President, 2015-2016 International Association of Arson Investigators IAAI - Global Leaders In Fire Investigation

This is the first FISC Bulletin Board introducing the 2009 NRC/NAS Report, “Strengthening Forensic Science United States: A Path Forward.” Further, it details the issues assigned to the White House Interagency Working Groups (IWGs) who were the first organizations to begin implementing the Report. Finally, it identifies one of the first case decisions citing the NRC/NAS Report in a postconviction relief case involving an arson conviction.

SP Fire Research is active in research, Fire Safety Engineering, support to national and international legislation, off-shore safety, risk analysis, testing, certification, inspection and so on. This issue contains articles on Battery Systems, Fire testing of materials and Fire Investigation Methodology.

This FISC Bulletin Board is the first in a four-part series that provide the reader with resources to be able to gain and to articulate the requisite knowledge of the NFPA 1033, 2014 ed. “List of 16” topics in sub-para. 1.3.7. This part deals with the first four of the List of 16, covering the following topics: 1) Fire Science, 2) Fire Chemistry, 3) Thermodynamics, and; 4) Thermometry. Note: NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. was issued after this series was published. The 2022 edition reorganizes, moves, and annotates the earlier "List of 16" topics. However, this series of articles still has valuable information about those topics that were carried forward into the 2022 edition. This article addresses "Thermometry," a topic not included in NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. The reader is encouraged to read this article in conjunction with the 2022 edition. For more information about the new edition, see the FISC article "NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. Ups the Ante for Fire Investigators and NFPA 921, 2024 ed. Is in the Works," (published in the F&A I Journal in July, 2021).

This FISC Bulletin Board is the second in a four-part series that provide the reader with resources to be able to gain and to articulate the requisite knowledge of the NFPA 1033, 2014 ed. “List of 16” topics in sub-para. 1.3.7. This part deals with the second set of four of the List of 16, covering the following topics: 5) Fire Dynamics, 6) Explosion Dynamics, 7) Computer fire modeling, and; 8) Fire Investigation. Note: NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. was issued after this series was published. The 2022 edition reorganizes, moves, and annotates the earlier "List of 16" topics. However, this series of articles still has valuable information about those topics that were carried forward into the 2022 edition. The reader is encouraged to read this article in conjunction with the 2022 edition. For more information about the new edition, see the FISC article NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. Ups the Ante for Fire Investigators and NFPA 921, 2024 ed. Is in the Works, (published in the F&A I Journal in July 2021).

This FISC Bulletin Board is the third in a four-part series that provide the reader with resources to be able to gain and to articulate the requisite knowledge of the NFPA 1033, 2014 ed. “List of 16” topics in sub-para. 1.3.7. This part covers the following topics: 9) Fire Analysis, 10) Fire Investigation Methodology, 11) Fire Investigation Technology, and; 12) Hazardous Materials. Note: NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. was issued after this series was published. The 2022 edition reorganizes, moves, and annotates the earlier "List of 16" topics. However, this series of articles still has valuable information about those topics that were carried forward into the 2022 edition. The reader is encouraged to read this article in conjunction with the 2022 edition. For more information about the new edition, see the FISC article NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. Ups the Ante for Fire Investigators and NFPA 921, 2024 ed. Is in the Works, (published in the F&A I Journal in July 2021).

This FISC Bulletin Board is the last in a four-part series that provide the reader with resources to be able to gain and to articulate the requisite knowledge of the NFPA 1033, 2014 ed. “List of 16” topics in sub-para. 1.3.7. This part covers the following topics: 13) Failure analysis and analytical tools, 14) Fire protection systems, 15) Evidence documentation, collection, and preservation, and; 16) Electricity and electrical systems. Note: NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. was issued after this series was published. The 2022 edition reorganizes, moves, and annotates the earlier "List of 16" topics. However, this series of articles still has valuable information about those topics that were carried forward into the 2022 edition. The reader is encouraged to read this article in conjunction with the 2022 edition. For more information about the new edition, see the FISC article NFPA 1033, 2022 ed. Ups the Ante for Fire Investigators and NFPA 921, 2024 ed. Is in the Works, (published in the F&A I Journal in July 2021).

This FISC article introduces the 2022 edition of NFPA 1033 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator. It examines some of the most notable revisions and describes how to access the new edition. It also explains how this edition of NFPA 1033 is more closely aligned with NFPA 921 than ever before. The overall result of this stronger alignment together with other revisions to NFPA 1033 is that it sets a new, higher standard for fire investigators. This article also addresses errata and a tentative interim amendment to the NFPA 921, 2021 edition, which are available online.

This article is the result of over 20 years of research by the authors into the use of NFPA 921 in court, summarizing the number of cases mentioning NFPA 921 in the US and Canada, the jurisdictions in which NFPA 921 has been referenced, and the broad categories of issues in which NFPA 921 has been raised.

This article describes the experience of one of the IAAI Fire Investigation Standards Committee (FISC) members who was involved in a New York state case involving NFPA 921. Many interesting lessons are shared concerning the use of NFPA 921 in court.

Two notable developments have occurred in the codes and standards field since late 2016. First, the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) has added NFPA 921 to the OSAC Registry of approved standards and guidelines. Second, the NFPA has issued the 2017 edition of NFPA 921. This column starts with the second development, introducing NFPA 921, 2017 edition.

Updating an earlier FISC Bulletin Board, this article addresses the standards, guidelines, and regulations that apply to occupational safety and health standards for fire and explosion investigators. While readers will need to remember to update the information in this article from 2009, it still offers a good overview of safety issues for investigators and the regulations and resources that were available as of 2009. Note that there have been changes to the NFPA 921 Safety Chapter, as well as to safety standards, guidelines, and regulations, since this article was published.

An open or floating neutral is an abnormal condition in an electrical system in which the electrical path to ground through the neutral is not continuous. The neutral in an electrical system serves as a reference to ground and is a return path for electric current to flow back into the electrical system.

This FISC article outlines information about the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), highlights changes in effect with the launching of OSAC 2.0, and provides updates on OSAC projects relating to fire investigations. OSAC 2.0 restructures the original OSAC organization based on the experience in operations. The reorganization slims down the organization and makes the processes more efficient.

This FISC article outlines information about the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), highlights changes in effect with the launching of OSAC 2.0, and provides updates on OSAC projects relating to fire investigations. OSAC 2.0 restructures the original OSAC organization based on the experience in operations. The reorganization slims down the organization and makes the processes more efficient.

The year 2021 marked a major milestone in the journey the fire investigation discipline is taking to improve the quality assurance for the delivery of fire investigation services. That milestone is NFPA's publication of the initial draft of a new standard: NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units (FIUs). The main purpose of this article is to acquaint readers with this new proposed standard and consider its potential role in quality assurance related to the administration and management of FIUs. This FISC article is in two parts. Part I begins by explaining four essential parts of quality assurance, reviewing where the fire investigation field stands respecting each one, and considering how NFPA 1321 fits in. Next is an overview of the geneses of NFPA 1321. Then, this article introduces the NFPA 1321 technical committee and highlights the steps it took to develop the draft. Part I ends with an overview of NFPA 1321's content.

In this article the Fire Investigation Standards Committee (FISC) provides updates on the status of the 2022 edition of NFPA 1033 and the 2021 edition of NFPA 921. These standards were issued after this article was published and other FISC articles summarize revisions in these two documents. However, this article is still informative because it introduces the new chairpersons appointed to the technical committees responsible for each these two documents. It also acquaints the reader with many of the steps in the NFPA standards development process that each document must undergo before a new edition is issued. The article includes the quick reference guide for finding changes to the print edition of each standard – a very helpful tool for tracking changes. Finally, a Tentative Interim Amendment is described for NFPA 921, which has since been passed, changing some portions of the 2021 edition.

As a result of revisions to the 2014 editions of NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033, together with initiatives arising from the NRC/NAS Report, this article predicts that more weight will be given to industry standards for fire investigators. These standards include NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033, as well as standards issued by ASTM International. This article is divided into 2 parts. Part I begins with a brief refresher on the significance of authoritative documents such as industry standards for fire experts involved in litigation. It also explains how NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921 highlight ASTM standards relevant for fire investigators. Part II familiarizes the reader with ASTM International and its standards. It provides an overview of some of the most prominent ASTM standards from a fire investigator’s viewpoint.

Scale Modeling in Fire Reconstruction NCJ Number 250920 Author(s) J. G. Quintiere, Allison C. Carey, Lenwood Reeves, Lee K. McCarthy Date Published January 2017 Length 160 pages

Spontaneous Ignition in Fire Investigation NCJ Number 239046 Author(s) James G. Quintiere; Justin T. Warden; Stephen M. Tamburello; Thomas E. Minnich Date Published April 2012 Length 69 pages

This table lists some of the leading organizations whose standards and guidelines are relevant to fire investigation and litigation. It provides a starting point to search the websites of these organizations in order to learn their roles in the standards-making world and to identify standards and guidelines that might be germane to a fire investigator’s career or to a given investigation.

The Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) is a Web-based computerized case management system for law enforcement and public safety agencies. The purpose of BATS is to collect data and to provide investigators with analytical products to assist in the investigation of crimes related to the criminal misuse of explosives and acts of arson. This FISC Bulletin Board introduces BATS and explains the way it can aid fire investigators.

It was proposed that the development of a repository for information pertaining to incendiary devices would be beneficial for forensic FI. This initiated the data gathering process required for the set up and population of the fields proposed for the database. Subsequently the Australian Institute of Forensic Fire Investigation (AIFFI) is developing such a tool, the Incendiary Device Database (IDD), and this poster outlines the progress of the database to date.

Deliberate fire-raising, or arson as it is commonly referred to in England and Wales, is a serious threat to all premises, be they residential, commercial or industrial. It is a problem that is not new, but one that has grown since the 1950s to the extent that over 40% of all fires in industry and commerce and over 20% of fires in residential properties are now lit deliberately. Because of the magnitude of the problem, it is often overlooked that many measures can be introduced to deter fire-raising at little cost to a business.

This FISC Bulletin Board introduces the universal accreditation initiative, prepared by the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS). This initiative was prepared by the NCFS as a step towards implementing one of the recommendations in the NRC/NAS Report. It recommends mandatory universal accreditation of all public and private organizations providing forensic science services for “criminal, civil, regulatory, or administrative proceedings.” The definition of the forensic science service providers affected by the recommendation specifically includes fire investigation services providers, public and private. At the time this article was written, the universal accreditation recommendation was in draft form. The NCFS finalized this document and in 2015 issued it as a Policy Recommendation of the NCFS.

This guidance has been developed for organisations requiring their staff to undertake Fire Investigations anywhere within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Previously investigations have been split into three separate levels, however it is felt that whilst the competencies required for the first level are different, the competencies required for the second and third level are actually the same.

Web site for CPSC. CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.

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After providing a synopsis of the work in progress on the 2017 edition of NFPA 921, this FISC Bulletin Board introduces the inaugural edition of a NFPA standard that took effect in June 2015: NFPA 1730 Standard on Organization and Deployment of Fire Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement, Plan Review, Investigation, and Public Education Operations, 2016 ed.. This standard addresses the organization and deployment of fire prevention services, including fire investigations in a “fire prevention organization,” typically a public fire department.