Jul 30, 2025  
2025-2026 Course Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Course Catalog
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FIR 235 - Fire Investigation I

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 2
Lab Hours: 2
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Open
This course is intended to provide the student with fundamental and technical knowledge needed for proper fire science interpretations, including recognizing and conducting origin and cause, preservation of evidence and documentation, scene security, motives of fire setter and types of fire causes.
Prerequisite: FIR 199  , FIR 127  
Prerequisite OR Corequisite: FIR 124  
Competencies
 

  1. Identify the responsibilities of a firefighter when responding to the scene of a fire
    1. Discuss scene security
    2. Describe evidence preservation
  2. Discuss implications of fire investigations
    1. Define the common terms used in fire investigations
    2. Describe the process of conducting investigations using the scientific method
    3. Describe the implications of constitutional amendments as they apply to fire investigations
    4. Identify key case law decisions that have affected fire investigations
    5. Explain the procedures used for investigating vehicle fires
  3. Examine fire dynamics
    1. Explain the basic elements of fire dynamics
    2. Discuss fire dynamics can affect cause determination
  4. Examine fire progression
    1. Compare the types of building construction on fire progression
    2. Describe how fire progression is affected by fire protection systems and building design
  5. Analyze fire origin
    1. Identify cause and origin
    2. Differentiate between accidental and incendiary
    3. Discuss the basic principles of electricity as an ignition source
    4. Identify the characteristics of an incendiary fire
    5. Identify common motives of the fire setter
  6. Describe the aspects of NFPA 1500 related to firefighter safety and health
    1. Describe fire department programs intended to reduce firefighter illnesses, injuries, and fatalities
    2. Summarize general guidelines for operating safely at fire scenes



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