The Detroit Fire Department has stepped into the spotlight with its Fire Investigation Course, acclaimed for its practical, hands-on approach to unraveling the mysteries behind fires. In the state of Michigan, this program, flaunted as one of the only two of its kind, stands out as the sole one backed by a city government. According to the City of Detroit, the DFD's twice-yearly course combines traditional classroom learning with on-the-ground experience in the Detroit area, equipping those who attend with the expertise needed to identify exactly how and why fires are started.
The two-part course, brought to life by the seasoned expertise of DFD’s own Fire Investigation Division's active and retired members, invites participants to separately or jointly dive into week-long sessions that fulfill hours toward a national certification. "This course gives participants the tools to do the job right—from reading fire patterns to presenting findings in court. It’s rigorous, it’s hands-on, and it prepares investigators for the real demands of the profession," Chief Dennis Richardson told the City of Detroit. The entry-level week focuses on the fundamentals of fire investigation, emphasizing essential skills such as fire pattern analysis and investigative techniques, complemented by practical, scenario-driven exercises.
The second week escalates the difficulty; trainees confront sophisticated fire incident types, with an endgame that simulates a court trial, challenging students to effectively express their insights as if they were seasoned expert witnesses. The diverse roster of course attendees includes Michigan locals and visitors from other regions, consisting of firefighters, law enforcement, and those who engage with fire investigation in a freelance capacity or through private investigation firms.
A unique facet of the experience is the collaborative environment it fosters, merging Detroit's Fire Investigation Division's practical know-how with expertise from partners such as the Detroit Police Department, the ATF, and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Students even get to work closely with arson K-9 units, which, as Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms described, "unlike anything else in the state," help to truly learn by watching these dogs sniff out accelerants. "It combines technical instruction with real-world experience in our neighborhoods, helping investigators learn how to think critically, work safely, and communicate effectively in complex fire scenes," Simms conveyed in a discussion with the City of Detroit.
