Team Members | Traning | Incidents | Team Update

Training

Initial Training
There are currently two levels of certification for Fire Investigators approved by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office. They are Arson Investigator (320 hours) and Fire Investigator (120 hours). All active members of the Joliet Fire Department Fire Investigation Division are required to, and have achieved, the level of Fire Investigator. All are encouraged to continue their training into the more advanced arson class.

Fire Investigator “On-Call”
Following successful initial training and certification, the investigators begin being placed “on call” several times per month with the other investigators. Each investigator averages between 3 and 4 days per month of “on-call” time. During this 24 hour day (from 7 AM until 7AM the next day), the investigator will be notified first of any fires where he is needed. He then responds, day or night, and calls for additional help if it is required. The investigator receives no compensation for his time spent “on-call.” Our investigators averaged approximately 20 call-outs each in 2007.

Team Training
The Fire Investigation Team completed monthly training for ten months in 2007. The topics of these sessions included a visit to the Illinois State Crime Laboratory for evidence collection classes, the review and implementation of team SOPs, and the updating of our members’ resumes for court purposes. We also met with the Lockport Fire Protection District Fire Investigation Team to facilitate greater interagency cooperation.

The training we receive is essential due to the fluid and ever-changing nature of the investigation field. It also addresses the pending recertification requirements to be set forth by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office expected in the near future. These requirements include 60-90 hours of training (in the form of in-house or training classes) over four years to recertify as a fire investigator.

Lieutenant John Miller completed the 200 hour, 5-week Arson Investigator Program through The University of Illinois Police Training Institute.

In April, Lieutenants Hausmann and Lukancic also attended a 16 hour fire-scene photography class held in at the Frankfort Fire Department through the Illinois State Police.