Seminar Title
Fire Pattern Recognition and Identification
Dates of Events
10/02/2023 through 10/04/2023
Last Updated: 05/23/2023
Instructor(s): Steven Chasteen
Location: Abington Public Safety Training Facility - 2200 Florey Lane, Abington, PA 19001
Hotel: Hampton Inn Willow Grove - 1500 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090
Course Registration Fee: $325
Instructor Bio
Steven Chasteen
Instructor:
Steve Chasteen has been in the fire service since 1972 serving as a volunteer firefighter and a full-time career firefighter and company officer for more than 27 years for the City of Bloomington, Illinois Fire Department. He worked as a municipal fire investigator for the fire department for a number of years prior to returning to suppression duties on a ladder company where he retired as a Lieutenant.
Steve has also worked as a private fire investigator working in the insurance industry conducting fire investigations for the past 38 years. He has conducted more than 3,500 fire scene examinations and fire analysis to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Steve has testi-fied extensively in both State and Federal Court as an expert witness. Steve is recognized as an “Associate at the Institute of Fire Engineers” in London, England. He is a “Certified Fire Investigator” recognized by the International Association of Arson Investigators, a “Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator” recognized by the National Association of Fire Investigators. Steve also attended the ATF National Academy in Glynco, GA. He is still a member of the MABAS 41 Fire Investigation Team in McLean County, Illinois.
Steve also worked as a “Field Staff Instructor” with the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign, Illinois as one of the lead instructors in the Fire/Arson Investigation Training Program providing instruction to firefighters, police officers and insurance company representatives. Steve has provided fire investigation training to criminal investigators from various branches of the US Military.
Steve regularly consults with various local and state fire officials as well as law enforcement agencies around the country to provide assis-tance in fire investigation and fire scene analysis. Steve has provided expert assistance to prosecutors in criminal cases as well as to the insurance industry and manufacturers in civil cases
Instructor:
Steve Chasteen has been in the fire service since 1972 serving as a volunteer firefighter and a full-time career firefighter and company officer for more than 27 years for the City of Bloomington, Illinois Fire Department. He worked as a municipal fire investigator for the fire department for a number of years prior to returning to suppression duties on a ladder company where he retired as a Lieutenant.
Steve has also worked as a private fire investigator working in the insurance industry conducting fire investigations for the past 38 years. He has conducted more than 3,500 fire scene examinations and fire analysis to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Steve has testi-fied extensively in both State and Federal Court as an expert witness. Steve is recognized as an “Associate at the Institute of Fire Engineers” in London, England. He is a “Certified Fire Investigator” recognized by the International Association of Arson Investigators, a “Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator” recognized by the National Association of Fire Investigators. Steve also attended the ATF National Academy in Glynco, GA. He is still a member of the MABAS 41 Fire Investigation Team in McLean County, Illinois.
Steve also worked as a “Field Staff Instructor” with the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign, Illinois as one of the lead instructors in the Fire/Arson Investigation Training Program providing instruction to firefighters, police officers and insurance company representatives. Steve has provided fire investigation training to criminal investigators from various branches of the US Military.
Steve regularly consults with various local and state fire officials as well as law enforcement agencies around the country to provide assis-tance in fire investigation and fire scene analysis. Steve has provided expert assistance to prosecutors in criminal cases as well as to the insurance industry and manufacturers in civil cases
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Chemistry and Physics: The determination of the origin of a fire involves the coordination of information derived from burn patterns, observations, chemistry and physics of fire. In this segment we will review the chemistry and physics of fire. It is important to have a thorough understanding of “fire” in order to make an accurate determination as to the area of origin and possible causes.
The Fingerprints of Fire: As with any scene there are several identifying characteristics that may be located and evaluated at the scene. In this segment, we will call these patterns the “Fingerprints of Fire.”
Fire Patterns are the visible or measurable physical effects that remains after the fire. Fire patterns must be validated for use in determining the origin of a fire. In this section we will cover the validated fire patterns and their various meanings.
Case Studies: We will review actual case studies. Students will review the provided information and report their conclusions to their peers in the class.
Purpose of Course: The purpose of this training course is to provide Fire and Law Enforcement Investigators, Insurance Investigators, Private Investigators, Engineers and Prosecutors with an understanding of Fire Patterns and their Interpretations.
The Fingerprints of Fire: As with any scene there are several identifying characteristics that may be located and evaluated at the scene. In this segment, we will call these patterns the “Fingerprints of Fire.”
Fire Patterns are the visible or measurable physical effects that remains after the fire. Fire patterns must be validated for use in determining the origin of a fire. In this section we will cover the validated fire patterns and their various meanings.
Case Studies: We will review actual case studies. Students will review the provided information and report their conclusions to their peers in the class.
Purpose of Course: The purpose of this training course is to provide Fire and Law Enforcement Investigators, Insurance Investigators, Private Investigators, Engineers and Prosecutors with an understanding of Fire Patterns and their Interpretations.
