Intent

Define the role of fire investigation in both fire prevention and fire suppression. Define the role of first responders in fire investigation. Review fire origin protection best practices for first responders during initial suppression. Explore paths to becoming a Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF).

Facilitator Preparation

• Review the video and module tools.
• Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.
• Consider inviting a local agency INVF or wildland fire prevention educator to provide pertinent context and input for discussions.
• Reference the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Provide copies of the NWCG IRPG for students to utilize and answer questions.

Facilitating the Discussion

• Show the video.
• Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss your unit or module’s procedures for fire origin protection.
   1. Identify other first responders in your area. How might their fire origin protection procedures differ from yours?
2. Discuss wildland fire investigation in your local response area.
   1. Identify (and, if present, introduce) local INVFs and Wildland Fire Investigation Team Leaders (INVL).
   2. List common human-caused fire trends in your area.
   3. Discuss local fire cause types that may be considered a crime or a civil offense.
   4. Review fire investigation policy for your area/agency. When should law enforcement be called in to assist with the fire investigation?
3. Scenario: You have been dispatched to a wildfire in the wildland urban interface bordering your agency protection area. As a first responder, what actions do you take related to fire investigation? (Refer to the Fire Origin Protection Checklist in the NWCG IRPG.)
   1. Discuss your actions as first responder.
   2. What do you see? What do you take note of? What do you protect?
   3. Who do you notify? Who can you call to assist you?
   4. How do you identify potential origin areas? What actions can you take to protect the origin?
4. What fire cause categories and circumstances of the causes should you be aware of when you arrive at the scene of a wildfire incident? (Refer to Ignition Factors and Sources in the Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412.)
   1. Identify and discuss cause categories common to your local response area.
5. Discuss training paths and qualification requirements to expand your knowledge of fire investigation. (Refer to the NWCG Position Catalog and NWCG Training Course Catalog.)
   1. Which topics presented in FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders would you find most beneficial as a wildland fire first responder?
   2. Identify required training and experience for INVF qualification.
   3. Discuss fire investigation training opportunities in your local area.

Resources

• Publication: NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Fire Protection Origin Checklist
• Publication: Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412
• Website: NWCG Position Catalog – Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF) Position Page
• NWCG Training Course: FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders
• NWCG Training Course: FI-210, Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination
• Website: Wildfire Investigation – NIFC
• Website: Fire Investigation – NIFC Flickr Album

Additional Video Information

• This video is also available as a download (zip file, size 574GB) with the .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
• Note: For Chrome and Firefox, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.