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Catalog Description Formerly known as FIRE 154 Prerequisite: Completion of FIRE 0003 with grade of "C" or better Hours: 39.5 lecture Description: Designed for fire investigators and law enforcement officers responsible for conducting fire investigations. This course provides information on securing the fire scene and determining the origin and cause of the fire. Topics include responsibilities of a fire investigator, securing the fire ground, conducting an exterior and interior survey, analyzing fire patterns, interpreting individual fire patterns, discriminating the effects of explosions, examining and removing fire debris, reconstructing the area of origin, inspecting the performance of building systems. (not transferable) Course Student Learning Outcomes CSLO #1: Outline the responsibilities of a Fire Investigator. CSLO #2: Explain how to conduct exterior and interior building surveys. CSLO #3: Identify and interpret fire patterns. CSLO #4: Explain how to examine and remove fire debris and reconstruct the area of origin. Effective Term Fall 2026 Course Type Credit - Degree-applicable Contact Hours 39.5 Outside of Class Hours 79 Total Student Learning Hours 118.5 Course Objectives 1. Identify the courses and requirements for Fire Investigator certification, and describe the certification task book and testing process. 2. Employ all aspects of the scientific method as the operating analytical process throughout the investigation. 3. Describe how to secure the fire ground to protect all evidence or potential evidence from damage or destruction and ensure unauthorized persons recognize the perimeters of the investigative scene and are kept from the restricted areas. 4. Describe how to conduct an exterior survey to identify and preserve evidence, interpret fire damage, identify hazards to avoid injuries, determine accessibility to the property, and discover all potential means of ingress and egress. 5. Describe how to conduct an interior survey to identify and preserve areas of potential evidentiary value requiring further examination, determine the evidentiary value of contents, and identify hazards to avoid injuries. 6. Analyze fire patterns to determine fire development, evaluate methods and effects of suppression, recognize false origin area patterns, and identify all areas of origin. 7. Interpret individual fire patterns and the burning characteristics of the material involved in relationship with all patterns observed and the mechanisms of heat transfer that led to the formation of the pattern. 8. Describe the effects of explosions from other types of damage to identify an explosion and preserve its evidence. 9. Examine and remove fire debris to check for fire cause evidence, identify potential ignition source(s), and preserve evidence without investigator-inflicted damage or contamination. 10. Explain how to reconstruct the area of origin to identify and correlate all protected areas and fire patterns related to contents or structural remains, return items potentially critical to cause determination and photo documentation to their prefire location, and discover the area(s) or point(s) of origin. 11. Explain how to inspect the performance of building systems, including detection, suppression, HVAC, utilities, and building compartmentation to determine the need for expert resources, consider an operating system’s impact on fire growth and spread in identifying origin areas, identify defeated and/or failed systems, and recognize the system’s potential as a fire cause. General Education Information Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval) Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval) IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval) Articulation Information Not Transferable Methods of Evaluation Objective Examinations Example: Students will take a multiple-choice examination on fire spread following an instructor provided scenario. Example Question: Which of the following factors contributed to vertical fire spread? A. Construction Materials, B. Doors and Windows, C. The elevator shaft, D. The stored file boxes Problem Solving Examinations Example: Given an instructor provided scenario of a residential structure fire that started in the garage, students are to identify the area of origin and fire cause. Rubric Grading. Repeatable No Methods of Instruction Lecture/Discussion Lecture: Following a lecture on interpreting individual fire patterns and the burning characteristics, students will identify burn patterns from instructor provided photos. After observing a controlled burn, students will describe observable fire effect and burn patterns. Typical Out of Class Assignments Reading Assignments 1. Read chapter in text on scientific method in relation to fire origin and cause and be prepared to discuss in class. 2. Read chapter in text on identifying types of evidence and answer review questions in back of chapter. Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. Students will write a report on the effects of fire on construction materials. 2. In a report, students will explain how to conduct an exterior survey of a fire building. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Required Materials Fire Investigator, Principles and Practice Author: International Association of Fire Chiefs & Intern. Assoc. of Arson Investigators Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning Publication Date: 2023 Text Edition: 6th Classic Textbook?: OER Link: OER: Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

Catalog Description Formerly known as FIRE 155 Prerequisite: Completion of FIRE 0181 with grade of "C" or better Hours: 33.5 lecture Description: Designed for fire investigators and law enforcement officers responsible for conducting fire investigations. This course provides information on scene documentation and evidence collection/preservation. Topics include photographing the scene, diagramming the scene, constructing investigative notes, processing evidence and establishing chain of custody, processing victims and fatalities, selecting evidence for analysis, maintaining a chain of custody, preparing a fire investigation report, and disposing of evidence. (not transferable) Course Student Learning Outcomes CSLO #1: Explain how to photograph and diagram a fire scene. CSLO #2: Explain how to process evidence and establish a chain of custody. CSLO #3: Outline how to prepare a written report that accurately reflects the investigative findings. CSLO #4: Defend the process of evidence disposal. Effective Term Fall 2026 Course Type Credit - Degree-applicable Contact Hours 33.5 Outside of Class Hours 67 Total Student Learning Hours 100.5 Course Objectives 1. Identify the courses and requirements for Fire Investigator certification. 2. Explain how to photograph the scene to accurately document and support scene findings. 3. Diagram the scene and identify evidence, pertinent contents, significant patterns, and area(s) or point(s) of origin. 4. Construct investigative notes that provide accurate documentation of the scene and represent complete scene findings. 5. Explain how to locate, document, collect, label, package, and store evidence to properly identify and preserve for use in testing, legal, or other proceedings and examinations, establish the chain of custody, and avoid cross-contamination and investigator-inflicted damage to evidentiary items. 6. Describe how to process victims and fatalities to discover and preserve all evidence while utilizing proper procedures and following protocol. 7. Outline how to select evidence for analysis so the items support specific investigation needs. 8. Explain how to maintain a chain of custody with written documentation for each piece of evidence. 9. Prepare a written report that accurately reflects the investigative findings, is concise, expresses the investigator’s opinion, contains facts and data that the investigator relies on in rendering an opinion. 10. Describe how to dispose of evidence safely in compliance with jurisdictional or agency requirements. General Education Information Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval) Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval) IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval) Articulation Information Not Transferable Methods of Evaluation Objective Examinations Example: Students will take a multiple-choice examination on evidence collection. Example question: Which of the following is not a likely cause of cross-contamination? A. Properly cleaned metal tools, B. Using a gas-powered generator, C. Using the same gloves between samples, D. Leaving evidence containers unsealed. Reports Example: In a report, students will describe how to process a fire victim. Rubric Grading. Skill Demonstrations Example: Given an instructor based scenario of a fire scene, students are to outline the steps on how to properly identify, collect and preserve evidence. Grade based on industry standard. Repeatable No Methods of Instruction Lecture/Discussion Lecture: The instructor will lecture on evidence collection. Students will then list the proper procedures for collecting evidence. Following a lecture on how to properly diagram a fire scene, students will then draft a diagram of an instructor provided fire scene scenario. Typical Out of Class Assignments Reading Assignments 1. Students will read chapter in textbook on diagramming the fire scene and be prepared to discuss in class. 2. Students will read chapter in textbook on photographing a fire scene and complete review questions in back of chapter. As a group, the class will discuss each question and answers. Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. Based on an instructor provided scenario including photographs, students are to diagram the fire scene. 2. Following an instructor provided fire scenario, students will prepare a fire investigation report for a criminal case. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Required Materials Fire Investigator, Principles and Practice Author: International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs, International Assoc. of Arson Investigators, & NFPA Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning Publication Date: 2023 Text Edition: 6th Classic Textbook?: OER Link: OER: Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

Catalog Description Prerequisite: Completion of FIRE 0181, 0182 and ADMJ 0110 with grades of "C" or better Hours: 40 lecture Description: Designed for fire investigators and law enforcement officers responsible for conducting fire investigations. This course provides information on legal considerations for a court proceeding. Topics include coordinating expert resources, formulating an opinion, presenting investigative findings, and testifying during legal proceedings. (not transferable) Course Student Learning Outcomes CSLO #1: Explain how to gather reports and records for a legal proceeding. CSLO #2: Describe how to evaluate an investigative file. CSLO #3: Explain how to form an opinion using data, facts, records, reports and evidence. CSLO #4: Discuss how to present investigative findings for the intended audience. CSLO #5: Explain how to testify during legal proceedings. Effective Term Fall 2026 Course Type Credit - Degree-applicable Contact Hours 40 Outside of Class Hours 80 Total Student Learning Hours 120 Course Objectives 1. Describe the types of reports and records needed to facilitate determining responsibility for the fire. 2. Describe the case file assessment and/or evaluation process. 3. Describe how to assess one’s own expertise. 4. Identify the qualifications of an expert witness. 5. Identify the types of expert resources. 6. Develop a utilization plan for using expert resources 7. Explain how to formulate an opinion concerning origin, cause, and responsibility for the fire supported by data, facts, records, reports, documents, and evidence. 8. Describe how to present investigative findings that are accurate and include only need-to-know information for the intended audience. 9. Discuss the types of investigative findings within the case file. 10. Discuss courtroom etiquette, professional demeanor, and attire. 11. Discuss due process and legal proceedings. 12. Differentiate facts from opinion. 13. Describe acceptable procedures, practices, and etiquette during legal proceedings. General Education Information Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval) Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval) IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval) Articulation Information Not Transferable Methods of Evaluation Objective Examinations Example: Students will take a multiple-choice examination on witnesses. Example question: What type of witness is the person who discovered the fire? A. Expert Witness, B. Direct Witness, Lay witness, D. None of the above. Reports Example: In a report, students will outline California statutes, regulations, and local ordinances relating to fire losses. Rubric Grading. Skill Demonstrations Example: In an activity and instructor provided scenario, students will demonstrate how to effectively interview a witness. Rubric Grading. Repeatable No Methods of Instruction Lecture/Discussion Lecture: The instructor will lecture on the types of reports and records needed to facilitate determining responsibility for the fire. Students will then outline the various types of reports and/or records and define what each one is used for. The instructor will lecture on courtroom etiquette, professional demeanor, and attire. Students will then work in groups and create a list of appropriate and non-appropriate items to be presented to the class. Typical Out of Class Assignments Reading Assignments 1. Students will read chapter in textbook on expert witnesses and be prepared to discuss in class. 2. Student will read chapter in textbook on investigative findings followed by a discussion on "need to know" vs. "right to know". Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. Students will write a report on chain of custody. 2. In a report, students will compare and contrast one's own expertise to an expert witness. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Required Materials Fire Investigator, Principles and Practice Author: International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs, Internationl Assoc. of Arson Investigators, & NFPA Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning Publication Date: 2023 Text Edition: 6th Classic Textbook?: OER Link: OER: Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.