How to Become a Fire Investigator

There are many career paths in fire investigation. Fire investigators can start their careers in the fire service, law enforcement, academia, insurance, research, engineering, law, or private practice.

The path to fire investigator varies based on where you start. In the municipal fire service, the path is typically through company officer, fire marshal, or the fire prevention bureau. At the state level of the fire service, the path to fire investigator is commonly via the State Fire Marshal’s Office or an agency like the forestry service.

In law enforcement, the fire investigator career path depends on the agency. For municipal law enforcement, it is typically the detective bureau. In the state police, the fire investigator path can be through the trooper ranks or a special unit like an arson task force. Some fire investigators come through the federal level, principally at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, through the special agent program then specialization in fire investigation with the agency’s certification process.

Other federal agencies, like the U.S. Forestry Service, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and Bureau of Indian Affairs employ wildland fire investigators. Many fire investigators have a career in the public service first, then retire and transition to the private sector. Some have dual careers in the public and private sector simultaneously. Some start in the private sector in insurance claims, litigation, or engineering. Still others begin in academia in a fire investigator, fire science, or fire protection engineering program of study. Attorneys sometimes choose to specialize in fire investigation cases. Special experts who work on fire investigation cases come from scientific disciplines like materials science or industrial engineering. The fire investigation field is diverse and rich with opportunities.

No matter which path you follow, the road to fire investigator passes through three crucial phases once you’ve identified your interest in the field.

1: Acquiring Training in Fire Investigation Fundamentals.

Three respected sources of foundational coursework in fire investigation fundamentals are the IAAI’s Fundamentals of Fire Investigation 40-hour course, state fire academies, and the National Fire Academy’s Fire Investigation Essentials class. An important quality you want to look for in a fire investigation fundamentals class is third-party accreditation to NFPA 1033, Standard for Fire Investigator Professional Qualifications. This accreditation from an independent organization is your assurance that the course prepares you in accordance with the professional qualification standards in NFPA 1033, which is the national “standard of care” courts expect experts to meet if they testify to their opinion in fire and explosion cases. You can learn more about accreditation in the CFITrainer.net module Accreditation, Certification, and Certificates. The three major accrediting bodies in fire investigation are the Pro Board, IFSAC, and FSAB.

Training is also available through internships, mentorships, job assignments and details, and self-study programs like the IAAI’s Knowledge 1 courses.

2: Earning Credentials, Designations, and Certifications.

Combining fire investigation fundamentals training with additional coursework and practical experience prepares you to earn credentials that demonstrate your competency. Key certifications or designations you can work toward are:

IAAI-ECT®: The IAAI Evidence Collection Technician designation is appropriate for personnel who are tasked with collecting evidence at fire scenes.
IAAI-FIT®: The IAAI Fire Investigation Technician designation is appropriate for personnel who are newer to fire investigation and building their skills and work experience but already are competent in core fire investigation skills.
IAAI-CFI®: The IAAI Certified Fire Investigator certification is appropriate for experienced and highly trained fire investigators who testify as expert witnesses.
State certification: Many states require fire investigators to earn a state certification.
Agency certification: Some agencies, like the ATF, maintain their own fire investigator certifications and credentialing processes.

Other organizations may offer additional credentials in fire investigation or in jobs with fire investigation responsibilities like fire officer or fire marshal.

3: Obtaining Continuing Education to Expand Your Knowledge and Skills as You Build Your Career.

Training does not stop with fundamentals. In fact, NFPA 1033 requires fire investigators to obtain a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every five years.

To help you earn credentials/designations/certifications and expand your knowledge and skills through continuing education throughout your career, quality, vetted sources of training in fire investigation include:

IAAI International classes
IAAI Chapter classes
State and County Fire Academies
National Fire Academy
CFITrainer.Net (online training modules, podcast, professional development tools, fire investigation resources)
IAAI Fire Scene Evidence Collection Guide (evidence collection procedures and demonstrations for the most common types of evidence encountered at a fire scene)
Professional conferences like the IAAI’s International Training Conference
Publications like Fire & Arson Investigator Journal

Remember to document all your training in your CV and retain any certificates you earn.

So, with all these possible career paths and training opportunities, where do you start?

If you are interested in becoming a fire investigator and are already in a related discipline, some good first steps are:

Become an IAAI Member. IAAI Membership offers you networking, training, and volunteering opportunities that will help you grow in your skills, knowledge, and practice.
Discuss your professional development plan with your supervisor. Express your interest in fire investigation and ask what paths the organization offers to that role. Create a professional development plan that incorporates formal training, mentorship, and on-the-job experiences to prepare you to be a fire investigator. CFITrainer.Net has an Individual Development Plan tool to help you.
Take classes. Build your fire investigation skills with classes from the IAAI, National Fire Academy, your state and county fire academies, local colleges, and other credible training providers.
Use CFITrainer.Net. Over 85 free online training modules in all aspects of fire investigation can be taken 24/7/365 with certificates awarded for continuing education credit.

If you are a student interested in a possible fire investigation career or if you do not yet have an institutional connection to fire investigation, you can take action to help you decide if fire investigation is right for you:

Join the IAAI as a Student Member. The cost is low and you’ll have the opportunity to network with fire investigators, take classes, attend IAAI ITC, and read Fire & Arson Investigator Journal.
Introduce yourself to your local fire department. Many fire investigators get their start in their local volunteer department. Some go on to the career service, but others stay volunteer and take advantage of the training and experience to specialize in fire investigation. Joining your local department enables you to take training at county and state fire academies. You can find your local fire department using the search on the United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Department Registry.
Pursue academic coursework. Many colleges and universities, particularly community college, offer fire investigation, fire science, and fire protection engineering coursework. These courses can help you figure out if fire investigation is the career you want and can put you on that path.
Watch the CFITrainer.Net module “Understanding the Fire Investigator’s Job: A Guide for Non-Investigators.” This module will give you an overview of the fire investigation profession. Continue to take other online modules to see what aspects of fire investigation interest you.
Listen to some episodes of the CFITrainer.Net podcast. The podcast covers many issues in fire investigation and gives you an inside look at what fire investigators do.
CFITrainer.Net’s Fire Investigator Video Profiles series. You’ll hear from a diverse group of fire investigators about what they do and how they got started.
Register for IAAI ITC.

How to Become a Fire Investigator

So, with all these possible career paths and training opportunities, where do you start?

If you are unsure where to begin or have questions about what is available to you, reach out to the IAAI.