3200 – Fundamentals of Fire Investigation

Objective

This course is designed to assist individuals who are tasked with the responsibility of investigating and analyzing fire and explosion incidents and rendering opinions as to the origin, cause, responsibility, or prevention of such incidents.
This course is designed to give our Firefighters and Fire Officers a systematic working framework or outline by which effective fire and explosion investigation and origin and cause analysis can be accomplished. The knowledge and procedures taught during this course represent the judgment developed from the NFPA consensus process system, that if followed can improve the probability of reaching sound conclusions.

Prerequisite

This course is open to firefighters, officers, police officers and corporate clients

Content

• The investigators scope of authority in accordance with the Fire Safety Act, Province of Nova Scotia
• The safety hazards associated with conducting fire investigations
• The legal implications of conducting fire investigations
• The Scientific Method for conducting fire investigations
• Fire Ignition and Development
• The proper collection and preservation of evidence
• Recognize and interpret basic fire patterns
• Fire scene documentation and report writing
• Cause and Origin determination
• Recognize and understand the crime of arson
• Examining an electrical system and identify potential causes of fire

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of this course.

Enrollment

Minimum 10 Students / Maximum 24 Students

Duration

4 days (2 weekends)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School and also available at host locations.

Note

This is a prerequisite course for all other fire investigation training programs. This program provides the basics to conduct a fire scene examination. Required text is IFSTA Fire investigator 2nd edition. Also students wishing to advance their fire investigation knowledge are extremely encouraged to purchase NFPA 921 – Guide for Fire & Explosion Investigations (2011) edition and NFPA 1033 – Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator (2009 edition)

3201 – Vehicle Fire Investigation

Objective

Students completing this program will have a working knowledge of how to complete a vehicle fire investigation.

Prerequisite

3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation

Target Group

Those who may be involved in the investigation of a vehicle fire.

Methodology

Classroom instruction and practical evolutions

Content

Students completing this program will have a working knowledge of how to complete a vehicle fire investigation. The program begins in the class room with the latest training in accordance with NFPA 921 (2008 edition) and ends with the practical application of this knowledge with real fires in real vehicles.

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of the course

Enrollment

Minimum 15 students / Maximum 25 students

Duration

2 days (1 weekend)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School or any suitable location.

Note

Personal Protective Equipment is mandatory for this program. Students are encouraged to bring digital cameras to the course but it is not a mandatory requirement.

3202 – Fire Investigation Documentation

Objective

Students completing this course will have a working knowledge of how to properly document a fire scene and prepare a written technical report surrounding the origin and cause of the fire. Students will also learn sketching, diagramming, note taking, fire scene photography and interview techniques.

Prerequisite

3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation

Target Group

This course is designed for Firefighters, Fire Officers, Police Officers and Corporate clients. Anyone who may be involved with the suppression or investigation of a fire scene, or who may be called upon to testify in court could benefit from this course.

Methodology

Classroom instruction and practical evolutions

Content

Students completing this course will have a working knowledge of how to document a fire scene. Topics discussed and practiced in this course will include, scene access, note taking, photography, sketches and diagrams, evidence documentation, use of video and audio, interviewing techniques and report writing.

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of the course

Enrollment

Minimum 10 students / Maximum 24 students

Duration

2 days (one week end)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters school and also available at host locations.

Note

Students are encouraged to bring note pads, pencils, pens, graph paper and digital cameras.

3203 – Fire Investigation Explosions

Objective

Students completing this course will have a working knowledge of how to investigate and analyse an explosion scene. Students will be able to render opinions as to the origin, cause, responsibility or prevention of such incidents.

Prerequisites

3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation
3202 Fire Investigation Documentation
3206 Fire Investigation Fire Dynamics

Target Group

The target groups for this course are, Firefighters, Fire Officers, Police Officers or anyone involved in the suppression or investigation of an explosion scene.

Methodology

Classroom instruction and practical evolutions

Content

• Identification of an explosion scene
• Understanding the difference between deflagration and detonation
• Explosion Dynamics
• Types of explosions
• Identifying Low Order and High Order damage
• Explosion Effects
• Positive Pressure and Negative Pressure wave
• Seated vs. non-Seated explosions
• Identification of Multiple Explosions
• Explosives
• Scene Safety
• Evidence identification, documentation and collection
• Search Techniques
• Examination of the explosion scene
• Force Vectors
• Analyzing Fuel Source, Ignition and cause
• Case studies
• Explosion demonstrations
• Practical evolution involving a simulated explosion scene

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of the course

Enrollment

Minimum 10 students / Maximum 24 students

Duration

2 days (one week end)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School and also available at host locations

Note

The second day of the course has a practical element that takes place outdoors. Appropriate clothing for the weather, as well as safety shoes/boots are required. Note pads, graph paper, compass, ruler, 100 foot measuring tape and digital cameras are also useful for this program.

3204 – Fire Investigation Scene Examination

Objective

Students completing this program will have a working knowledge of completing a scene examination involving a fire. A strong emphasis will be placed on scene examination techniques and protocol. At the end of this program successful students will have developed an above average understanding in fire scene examination methodology.

Prerequisite

3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation
3202 Fire Investigation Documentation
3206 Fire Investigation- Fire Dynamics
Students must be enrolled in the NFPA 1033 Fire investigator certification program.

Target Group

The target group for this course are Firefighters, Fire Officers, Police Officers and anyone who may be involved in the suppression or investigation of a fire.

Methodology

Classroom instruction and practical evolutions

Content

• The fundamentals of fire investigation
• Fire dynamics
• Origin and cause determination
• Calcination
• Arc mapping
• Depth of char
• Glass examination
• Appliance examination
• Building systems examination
• Fire related human behaviour
• Students will have the opportunity to practice techniques in real fire damaged rooms. A written report on findings from the fire scene will be assigned.

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of the course

Enrollment

Minimum 10 students / Maximum 24 students

Duration

Four days (two weekends)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School or any suitable location

Note

Personal Protective Equipment is mandatory for this program. Students will require, hard hat, gloves, eye protection, safety boots, and coveralls. A large portion of this course will take place on the fire ground. Please dress for the weather. A notebook, graph paper , flash light and a digital camera are recommended for this course. A written report will be assigned as homework at the end of this course.

3205 – Fire Investigation Fatal Fires

Objective

This course is designed to assist individuals who are tasked with the responsibility of investigating and analyzing fire and explosion scenes as to the origin, cause, responsibility or prevention of such incidents that involve fatalities.
This course is designed to give our firefighters, fire officers, Fire Marshals, fire Prevention officers, Police Officers and other law enforcement groups a working framework or outline by which effective fire and explosion investigations involving fatalities can be accomplished. The knowledge and procedures taught during this course represent the judgment developed from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) consensus process system, that if followed can improve the reliability of reaching sound conclusions.

Prerequisite

This course is open to firefighters, fire officers and law enforcement personnel.

Students must be enrolled in the NFPA 1033 Certified Fire Investigator Program and have completed
3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation
3202 Fire Investigation Documentation
3204 Fire Investigation Scene Examination
3206 Fire Investigation Fire Dynamics

Content

• Causes of fatal fires
• Scene examination involving human remains
• Documentation
• Fire Related Human Behavior
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Odontology
• Forensic Archeology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Burn Injuries
• Children vs. Adult human remains
• Case Studies
• Extensive practical component involving the use of pigs simulating human remains in an actual fire scene

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of this course

Enrollment

Minimum 6 students / Maximum 10 students

Duration

4 days (2 weekends)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School

Note

Students must wear and supply full personal protective equipment relative to the tasks. This includes steel toe workbooks, coveralls, gloves, eye protection, eye protection and a half face respirator capable of filtering organic compounds. Required text is IFSTA Fire Investigator 2nd Edition

3206 – Fire Investigation Fire Dynamics

Objective

This course is designed to assist individuals who are tasked with the responsibility of investigating and analyzing fire and explosion scenes as to the origin, cause, responsibility or prevention of such incidents that involve fatalities.
This course is designed to give our firefighters, fire officers, Fire Marshals, fire Prevention officers, Police Officers and other law enforcement groups a working framework or outline by which effective fire and explosion investigations involving fatalities can be accomplished. The knowledge and procedures taught during this course represent the judgment developed from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) consensus process system, that if followed can improve the reliability of reaching sound conclusions.

Prerequisite

This course is open to firefighters, fire officers and law enforcement personnel.

Students must be enrolled in the NFPA 1033 Certified Fire Investigator Program and have completed
3200 Fundamentals of Fire Investigation
3202 Fire Investigation Documentation

Content

• Math Review
• Chemistry Review
• Properties of Matter and Physics Review
• Fire Science including Fire triangle, Fire tetrahedron, Oxidation reaction, Flames, Fire Plume and Flame Spread
• Gaseous Combustion
• Ignitable Liquids
• Solid Combustion
• Heat Release Rate
• Heat Transfer
• Ignition
• Flashover
• Enclosure fire Dynamics
• Fire Pattern Production
• Fire Modeling
• ASTM Standards
• Live Fire experiments and demonstrations
• Case Studies

Certification

Certificate of attainment will be issued upon successful completion of this course

Enrollment

Minimum 10 students / Maximum 24 students

Duration

2 days (1 weekend)

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School

Note

Required text is IFSTA Fire Investigator 2nd Edition. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase Fire Dynamcs by Gorbett and Pharr. This text is available from the Nova Scotia Firefighters School. Students may expect additional evening assignments to be completed prior to class on the second day.

3207 – Crime Scene Management

This 1/2 day or evening program is perfect for volunteer, career or composite fire department first responders. This short program provides the firefighter with the necessary information to attend a crime scene. Information is included on the following topics: Crime Scene Preservation, Physical Evidence, Handling Evidence, Arson, Homicide, Medical, Sudden Death, Traffic Collision Crime Scenes, Impaired Drivers, Evidentiary issues and assisting the police. This popular program has been taught to over 1000 first responders in Atlantic Canada.

3208 – Fire investigation Certification

Objective
To evaluate the applicants knowledge and performance. To determine if the applicant meets the criteria to be certified as a “fire investigator” (in accordance with NFPA 1033 – 2009 Edition) for both the public and private sectors.
Prerequisite
• The candidate shall be at least 18 years of age
• The candidate shall have a high school diploma or equivalent
• The candidate shall be subject to a thorough background and character investigation prior to acceptance as a candidate in the Fire Investigator Certification Program
• The candidate shall have and maintain at a minimum an up-to-date basic knowledge of the following topics beyond the high school level at a post- secondary education level:

1) Fire Science
2) Fire chemistry
3) Thermodynamics
4) Thermometry
5) Fire Dynamics
6) Explosion Dynamics
7) Computer Fire Modeling
8) Fire investigation
9) Fire Analysis
10) Fire Investigation Methodology
11) Fire Investigation Technology
12) Hazardous Materials
13) Failure Analysis and Analytical Tools
Note: Successful completion of the following courses available at the Nova Scotia Fire Fighters School fulfills the above prerequisites:

1) Fundamentals of Fire investigation
2) Fire investigation Documentation
3) Fire Dynamics
4) Vehicle Fire investigation
5) Explosion Investigation
6) Scene Examination and Reconstruction
7) Fatal Fire Investigation

Target Group

Intended for firefighters, police officers and private sector individuals wishing to be certified with Fire investigator qualifications.

Methodology

Format combines a written examination and evaluation of practical performance

Content

Test incorporates all skills and knowledge described by the NFPA 1033 – 2009 edition and NFPA 921 – 2011 edition as adopted by the Nova Scotia Firefighters School.

Certification
Certification for this course is through the Nova Scotia Professional Qualifications board and all applications must be submitted to the Nova Scotia Firefighters School a month in advance of the course for the tests to be processed.

Enrollment

No minimum number of students is required for this certification. Please note that in addition to the examination fee schedule students may be required to pay an additional fee for the practical examination portion of the exam.

Duration

This certification will be completed in two parts. The written examination portion is 2.5 hours and the practical component is 3.0 hours. Students are encouraged to book both portions of the exam when contacting the school. Please note that it is not always possible to schedule both the written and practical portions on the same day.

Location

Nova Scotia Firefighters School Only

Note

This test involves mild to moderate physical exertion. Proper protective clothing (PPE and respirator) and work clothing must be worn.

3209 – Fire Investigation For Police

This five (5) day program is designed for RCMP, Municipal and Military police officers. This program was developed at the request of the RCMP “H” division to provide members with enough training to investigate common fires. Students are expected to review pre-course material in advance. Both theory and practical sessions are conducted.