Seminar Title
Hands-On Vehicle Fire/Arson Investigation
Dates of Events
02/12/2024 through 02/14/2024
Last Updated: 09/21/2023
Instructor(s): Steve Riggs
Location: South Texas College Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence - 3901 S. Cage Blvd., Pharr, TX 78577
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:
This 2½ day training module will provide the fire/arson investigator with the practical and technical skills necessary to investigate and determine the area of origin(s) of vehicle fires.
This training module will provide both classroom and hands-on training with practical exercises on how to conduct a systematic, thorough, and scientific examination of the vehicle.
Attendees will be provided the necessary knowledge of vehicle design, electrical systems, fuel systems, and their components that will be encountered in a motor vehicle, including alternative fuels. We will examine how these components can fail or cause fires.
Upon Successful Completion:
Attendees will have been provided the necessary skills and knowledge to:
Ø Demonstrate the proper systematic approach and scientific method necessary for examining vehicle fires.
Ø Understand basic vehicle design and electrical systems.
Ø Demonstrate a working knowledge of wiring used in motor vehicles and the presence of electrical activity on those wires.
Ø Demonstrate a working knowledge of safety devices (fuses, breakers and fusible links or cartridges).
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge on how to properly document the vehicle fire.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge to photographing the vehicle fire scene in a systematic manner.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge of collecting evidence from the vehicle fire scene.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation and 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators. Note: Current editions will be referenced.
Ø Demonstrate knowledge of how to obtain recall, technical service bulletin information, consumer complaint information and general research information regarding vehicle fire investigation.
Ø Attendees will learn the proper techniques for documenting, photographing, evidence collection and preservation including preparing a proper written report.
A download resource file will be available to the investigators for download including hybrids, the fire tests, and group vehicle examinations. The file is several gigabytes in content
This training module will provide both classroom and hands-on training with practical exercises on how to conduct a systematic, thorough, and scientific examination of the vehicle.
Attendees will be provided the necessary knowledge of vehicle design, electrical systems, fuel systems, and their components that will be encountered in a motor vehicle, including alternative fuels. We will examine how these components can fail or cause fires.
Upon Successful Completion:
Attendees will have been provided the necessary skills and knowledge to:
Ø Demonstrate the proper systematic approach and scientific method necessary for examining vehicle fires.
Ø Understand basic vehicle design and electrical systems.
Ø Demonstrate a working knowledge of wiring used in motor vehicles and the presence of electrical activity on those wires.
Ø Demonstrate a working knowledge of safety devices (fuses, breakers and fusible links or cartridges).
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge on how to properly document the vehicle fire.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge to photographing the vehicle fire scene in a systematic manner.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge of collecting evidence from the vehicle fire scene.
Ø Demonstrate the knowledge in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation and 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators. Note: Current editions will be referenced.
Ø Demonstrate knowledge of how to obtain recall, technical service bulletin information, consumer complaint information and general research information regarding vehicle fire investigation.
Ø Attendees will learn the proper techniques for documenting, photographing, evidence collection and preservation including preparing a proper written report.
A download resource file will be available to the investigators for download including hybrids, the fire tests, and group vehicle examinations. The file is several gigabytes in content
