Becoming a Fire Investigator - the Things You Need to Know

The fire investigator must wear many hats rolled into one. He or she must be part scientist, law enforcer, detective, and engineer. The fire investigator is the one who explores, determines, and documents the beginnings and the cause of the fire. It is he or she who establishes what human actions were responsible for the fire, and then he must bring adequate testimony to the courtroom to win a conviction if arson was involved.

Fire Investigator Skills:

1. You must always be on your toes. This is certainly no job for someone who is lazy.
2. Inquisitive - You must be conscientious and have a mind that likes figuring things out. There is no such thing as taking shortcuts.
3. You must be able to handle many tasks by yourself. You must take your own pictures, collect all the evidence and do follow up investigations. In some cases, you must find the criminal who started the blaze.
4. You must be willing to work with a team. When you have come up short with sufficient evidence or answers, you must be willing to consult with other professionals.

Fire Investigator Training:

In order to become a fire investigator, the minimum that is required is a high school education. You can then elect to go on to higher studies. It would be a good idea to have some technical training under your belt as this often comes into play when you are trying to figure out the behavior of the fire and how it attacked the structure in question.

The technical aspect of fire investigation requires certain knowledge of building construction, the materials involved and the effects that the fire has on those materials. Search techniques have to be learned so that the cause and sources of the ignition are preserved during the course of the investigation.

Not all fire investigators must have a law enforcement background but many of them do. In New York, investigators are fire marshals also wearing the hat of police officers.

To become a fire investigator, the career path may be as varied and complex as the job itself indicates. Investigators who work in the public sector start by climbing up through the ranks, beginning as volunteers or employees within a police or fire department. All the while, they are gaining experience not only in the various aspects of fire behavior but of criminal law as well. In their free time, they may be pursuing their formal education and training.

Almost every fire investigator will suggest that you become active in as many professional organizations as possible. In order to do your job well, it will take a commitment on your part on having to work long hours and many weekends.

There you have it! The training and skills you need to become a fire investigator. If you are interested in becoming one, it would a good idea to do more research on the internet. You should do this by visiting websites that cover the profession in more detail.

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