FI210 WILDLAND FIRE ORIGIN CAUSE DETERMINATION Washington State

FI-210 WILDLAND FIRE ORIGIN & CAUSE DETERMINATION Washington State DNR RE-CERTIFICATION PROCESS 1 00 -1 -FI 210 -EP

Certification Process Instructional Objective: Understand the requirements for certification 2

Wildland Fire Investigation Evolution • Recent Supreme Court decisions • NFPA 921 and 1033 – Investigators – Litigators • Certified Fire Investigator programs – International Association of Arson Investigators – ATF 3

NFPA 921 - “Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation” • Systematic fire investigation and analysis • Scientific findings, court rulings, technical trends 4

NFPA 1033 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator • Minimum performance requirements – scene documentation – evidence collection/preservation – information through interview/interrogation – post incident investigation – presentation of findings 5

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification A National Initiative • Proposed to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in 2000 • Fire Investigation Working Team (FIWT) established 6

Fire Investigation Working Team Membership • • • USDA, Forest Service Oregon Department of Forestry USDI, Bureau of Land Management Minnesota Department of Natural Resources USDI, Bureau of Indian Affairs South Carolina Forestry National Association of State Fire Marshals Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service 7

Fire Investigation Working Team Membership • • Tennessee Valley Authority USDI, National Park Service California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Saskatchewan Environmental Resource Ministry Alberta Forest Protection Division Australia, New South Wales RFS Australia, Victoria CFA New Zealand 8

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards • Draft standard developed • National peer review – 160 written comments • Revised standard approved by other NWCG working teams • Approved by NWCG Board in October 2001 9

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards • PMS 310 -1 • Progressively tiered & performance based • Three levels of certification described as Wildland Fire Investigator (WFI) – Type 3 – Origin and Cause – Type 2 – Case Development – Type 1 – Case Management 10

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards • Position Task Books for each level. • Written proficiency exercises • Required NWCG training • Additional recommended training for each level. • Employing agency certifies using NWCG standards 11

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards - Type 3: Origin & Cause • Minimum skills: – – Fire behavior Fire ignition sources & factors Burn pattern interpretation Basic investigation methodology & techniques • Type 3 position task book and proficiency exercise • FI-210 training • Recommended training – I-100/200, S-130, S-190, FI-110 12

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards - Type 2: Case Development • Minimum Skills: – – Intermediate fire behavior Complex origin & cause Managing investigation team Enhanced knowledge of civil & criminal processes – Arson investigation – Investigation methodologies beyond the preliminary level • Type 2 position task book and proficiency exercise • FI-310 training • Recommended training – S-290, I-300 13

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards - Type 1: Case Management • Minimum skills: – Management of large & complex cases – Advanced fire behavior knowledge – Leadership & organization of large task force operations – Oversight of training and certification • Type 1 position task book and proficiency exercise • FI-410 training • Recommended training – S-390, I-400 14

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards - Summary • NWCG position descriptions published in the Wildland & Prescribed Fire Qualifications Guide • Three levels of certified wildland fire investigator: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 • Position task books at each level • NWCG training curriculums required: FI-210, FI-310, FI 410 • Other training recommended • Employing agency certifies using NWCG standards 15

Wildland Fire Investigator Certification Standards • Represents the minimum requirement • Is the beginning and not the end of what is need to be proficient • The investigator must have dedication to continued learning and improvement of skills 16