Seminar Title
Fire/Arson Investigation and Arson Case Management for Prosecution
Dates of Events
06/12/2023 through 06/14/2023
Last Updated: 05/30/2023
Instructor(s): Steve Riggs
Location: Hanover County Emergency Communications Center - 7501 Library Drive, Hanover, VA 23069
Hotel: Hampton Inn Richmond-North/Ashland - 705 England Street, Ashland, VA 23005
Course Registration Fee: $325
Instructor Bio
Steve Riggs
Steve Riggs, IAAI-CFI, CFEI, CVFI & CFII Certified
State of Oklahoma (Retired)
Steve Riggs retired after twenty-two years of Law Enforcement, and Fire Service Experience in Oklahoma. Steve has been examining fire scenes for 40 years. Steve holds a Bachelors Degree in Emergency Management, and has extensive training in Fire Cause Determination, Criminal Investigation, Arson Investigation, Evidence Processing, Interviewing Techniques, and Case Management. He is a Certified Police and Fire Instructor and a Certified Fire Investigator Instructor. Mr. Riggs has successfully been involved in many Fire/Arson Prosecutions in Oklahoma and was involved in a Federal Prosecution. To date, he has never lost an Arson Case. Steve has authored and co-authored several fire training manuals and written “A Critical Analysis of NFPA 921 User’s Manual 2nd Edition”. Steve lectures nationally to Local, State, Federal Agencies, Insurance Companies, Private, and Military Investigators, Prosecutors, Vehicle Manufacture Represent-atives and their Engineers. Steve is on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Fire Investigators.
Steve Riggs, IAAI-CFI, CFEI, CVFI & CFII Certified
State of Oklahoma (Retired)
Steve Riggs retired after twenty-two years of Law Enforcement, and Fire Service Experience in Oklahoma. Steve has been examining fire scenes for 40 years. Steve holds a Bachelors Degree in Emergency Management, and has extensive training in Fire Cause Determination, Criminal Investigation, Arson Investigation, Evidence Processing, Interviewing Techniques, and Case Management. He is a Certified Police and Fire Instructor and a Certified Fire Investigator Instructor. Mr. Riggs has successfully been involved in many Fire/Arson Prosecutions in Oklahoma and was involved in a Federal Prosecution. To date, he has never lost an Arson Case. Steve has authored and co-authored several fire training manuals and written “A Critical Analysis of NFPA 921 User’s Manual 2nd Edition”. Steve lectures nationally to Local, State, Federal Agencies, Insurance Companies, Private, and Military Investigators, Prosecutors, Vehicle Manufacture Represent-atives and their Engineers. Steve is on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Fire Investigators.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Fire/Arson Investigation and Arson Case Management for Prosecution
Course Objectives:
This course is to provide Fire Investigators, Law Enforcement Personnel, Insurance Investigators, D.A. Prosecutors, and Private Fire Investigators responsible for Fire Investigation with a course of study covering investigative techniques used to properly investigate and conduct a Fire Origin and Cause Investigation. This course of study will reference NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations and NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators. Please take time to review the course content on this panel and the breakdown of time panel for a list of topics covered in this course.
Performance Objectives:
Overview Of Fire Behavior: Provide knowledge of combustible materials and the different effects that temperatures, melting points, and conditions it will have on fire behavior. Examine the different stages of fire and discuss the fire indicators and how that information can lead the investigator to the origin and cause of the fire.
Putting the Case Together: We will discuss the different roles of everyone that will be involved in the investigation and their affect on your investigation. Proper scene security benefits of a systematic and scientific investigation with the proper documentation for your examination.
Fire Scene Diagramming: The course will include the importance of document-ation with diagrams and the useful benefits a diagram will provide. Example diagrams will be provided.
Building a Trial Notebook For Prosecution: Finding the area of origin and determining the cause, documenting the contents, interviewing witnesses, owners & occupants. Types of potential evidence present at the scene, identifying evidence, photographing the evidence, packaging the evidence, writing a search warrant affidavit and presenting expert opinions.
Types of Fire Setters: A study of motives and characteristics of different fire setters.
Insurance Companies: Information often overlooked by investigators. Insurance Companies that is more than ever involved in the investigations within their SIU (Special Investigative Units). We will discuss what information can be shared and the benefits of working together and the Arson Reporting Immunity Act.
Excerpts of Federal Laws/Case Laws: An overview of some of the most important laws that pertain to fire investigation and certain case law that effects the investigator in his/her job as a fire investigator.
Courtroom Testimony: Your case can be won or lost with just one question in a courtroom setting. Learn to be prepared. Common questions you will encounter and how to best prepare yourself for court or depositions.
Writing an Origin and Cause Report: A properly written and documented report with all of the facts from the case including a systematic approach and the use of a scientific method are a must in today’s investigations.
A download resource password will be provided to each attendee. The resources site will lead you to a vast amount of information that can be downloaded.
Course Objectives:
This course is to provide Fire Investigators, Law Enforcement Personnel, Insurance Investigators, D.A. Prosecutors, and Private Fire Investigators responsible for Fire Investigation with a course of study covering investigative techniques used to properly investigate and conduct a Fire Origin and Cause Investigation. This course of study will reference NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations and NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators. Please take time to review the course content on this panel and the breakdown of time panel for a list of topics covered in this course.
Performance Objectives:
Overview Of Fire Behavior: Provide knowledge of combustible materials and the different effects that temperatures, melting points, and conditions it will have on fire behavior. Examine the different stages of fire and discuss the fire indicators and how that information can lead the investigator to the origin and cause of the fire.
Putting the Case Together: We will discuss the different roles of everyone that will be involved in the investigation and their affect on your investigation. Proper scene security benefits of a systematic and scientific investigation with the proper documentation for your examination.
Fire Scene Diagramming: The course will include the importance of document-ation with diagrams and the useful benefits a diagram will provide. Example diagrams will be provided.
Building a Trial Notebook For Prosecution: Finding the area of origin and determining the cause, documenting the contents, interviewing witnesses, owners & occupants. Types of potential evidence present at the scene, identifying evidence, photographing the evidence, packaging the evidence, writing a search warrant affidavit and presenting expert opinions.
Types of Fire Setters: A study of motives and characteristics of different fire setters.
Insurance Companies: Information often overlooked by investigators. Insurance Companies that is more than ever involved in the investigations within their SIU (Special Investigative Units). We will discuss what information can be shared and the benefits of working together and the Arson Reporting Immunity Act.
Excerpts of Federal Laws/Case Laws: An overview of some of the most important laws that pertain to fire investigation and certain case law that effects the investigator in his/her job as a fire investigator.
Courtroom Testimony: Your case can be won or lost with just one question in a courtroom setting. Learn to be prepared. Common questions you will encounter and how to best prepare yourself for court or depositions.
Writing an Origin and Cause Report: A properly written and documented report with all of the facts from the case including a systematic approach and the use of a scientific method are a must in today’s investigations.
A download resource password will be provided to each attendee. The resources site will lead you to a vast amount of information that can be downloaded.
