Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Fire Investigation: Essentials R0772

Training Specialist

Kevin Oliver
301-447-1613

Delivery type

10-day on-campus

Continuing education units

7.5

ACE recommendation

In the upper-division baccalaureate degree category, 4 semester hours in public safety administration.

Notice: Any student attending Fire Investigation: Essentials (R0772) MUST bring their own respiratory protection for use during the class. Minimum acceptable protection is an N-95 disposable respirator. A reusable/elastomeric respirator (full or half face) is acceptable. Other personal protective equipment - Tyvek/gloves/eye protection - will continue to be provided by the National Fire Academy.

R0772 is the foundation of the fire investigation curriculum. This 10-day course utilizes National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations and NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator and other professional documents to address the technical and scientific knowledge and skills needed to conduct successful fire/arson investigations.

Using a combination of classroom instruction, activities, written assignments and group projects, students will demonstrate the ability to conduct science-based fire investigations that culminate, when appropriate, in prosecution for the crime of arson.

Outdoor activities will require students to have work clothes and boots and be capable of processing a fire scene (bending, kneeling and lifting up to 50 pounds).

This course uses a learning management system (LMS) for content delivery, assignments and examinations. A laptop or tablet is required to attend this course. This course will require pre-course work within the LMS prior to arrival on campus.

Successful completion of this course satisfies the training and education requirements for the International Association of Arson Investigators Fire Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT) designation.

Pre-course materials and course syllabus

Welcome Letter and Instructions to Download the Student Manual: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/pcm_r0772.pdf PDF 190KB
Course Syllabus: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_r0772.pdf PDF 471KB

Priority will be reserved for full-time public service personnel with fire or arson investigative responsibilities. This course is targeted to the new fire investigator. This course uses the learning management system (Blackboard) for content delivery, assignments, and examinations, a laptop or tablet is required to attend this course. This course will require pre-course work within the learning management system, prior to arrival on campus.

Applicants who are not employed full-time in the fire investigation field may be eligible. However, applicants must submit a detailed letter from the chief of the department, attesting to their position, duties, and responsibilities as related to fire investigation and involvement with the prosecution of federal, state or tribal arson laws, if any.


ICS-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Chief's signature on the application attests that the applicant has completed this required training.

Successful completion of the following 10 CFITrainer.net modules (transcript MUST be submitted with application):

  1. Documenting the Event
  2. Fire Investigator Scene Safety
  3. Fire Protection Systems
  4. Fundamentals of Residential Building Construction
  5. Introduction to Evidence
  6. Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling
  7. Investigating Fatal Fires
  8. Physical Evidence at the Fire Scene
  9. Search and Seizure
  10. The Scientific Method for Fire/Explosion Investigations

Applicants must provide a copy of their CFITrainer.net transcript along with their admissions application verifying that they have successfully completed the pre-requisite training modules listed above.

Note: As a pre-course assignment, accepted students will be required to upload certificates of the above listed CFITrainer.net classes into the NFA’s LMS.  For this pre-course assignment, the classes must have been taken or “refreshed” within a calendar year of the first day of class attendance.  Certificates, dated within a calendar year of the start of class, must be uploaded to the LMS prior to arrival on campus. If you are selected for this class, you will receive instructions from the Training Specialist on when or how to upload those certificates into the LMS. Do not send these certificates to the Admissions Office.

Upcoming offerings

Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP
July 15 - 26, 2024 Application period closed Emmitsburg, Maryland
August 12 - 23, 2024 Application period closed Emmitsburg, Maryland
September 16 - 27, 2024 Application period closed Emmitsburg, Maryland