International Association of Arson Investigators

Rhode Island Chapter 

Upcoming Events

    • 05/09/2024
    • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Corliss Auditorium - URI Bay Campus
    Register

    2024 is an important year for fire investigators.  Earlier this year, we saw the release of a new edition of NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.  Later this year, we are anticipating the first ever release of NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units.  The RI IAAI is excited to have Randy Watson, Member of the NFPA 921 Technical Committee and Immediate Past President of the International Chapter IAAI, provide a code update on these documents which will affect fire investigators and fire departments in the State of Rhode Island.

    As any fire investigators knows, NFPA 921 may call itself a guide, but the courts have deemed it a “golden standard” and we are held to its recommendations.  NFPA 921 provides a safe and systematic outline for how fire and explosions investigations are to be conducted.  Updates to the 2024 edition include adding a major emphasis on forensic science, scientific resources and research, and wide-scale rewriting of three chapters (including fire effects and patterns).

    The brand new NFPA 1321 covers the minimum requirements relating to the establishment, structure, operation, and management of fire investigation units (FIUs).  For reference, a fire investigation unit will be considered any unit which contains two or more fire investigators.  This is going to affect department organization, resources and require changes to policies and procedures.  Topics such as investigator safety, PPE, documentation, minimum training will now be required to be in writing as policy.

    Changes are coming and you do not want to be caught unprepared.

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