Why do we spend time and money on fire investigations
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Knowledge is crucial and you can only manage something, if you have knowledge of the problem. Exactly the same with fires. If you know where the fire originated from and what caused the ignition, you can identify the problems or potential problem and prevent or mitigate the impact of the incident in future. Fire is probably the only natural force that can be managed; mitigated or prevented.
The key, however, is that you need to have knowledge of your subject eg fire and understand how it works/burn and how to detect and read the signs left after the fire, to be able to explain the origin, cause, spread and the possible causation to losses or the links to the fire and losses encountered.
This is why we do fire investigations and train others to understand the systems involved.
This fits into the ISC system, if a current or hot case in investigated but also in digging up old information in cold cases. You will be surprised what information is left behind after an incident if the data is gathered and kept during the incident. This ranges from weather reports, timelines and resource registers, photos, maps, first responders’ reports, internal fire reports and many more.
Time is not our friend and we prefer to get to the scene as quick as possible to gather the information but can still do a lot of work afterwards.
Fire investigators are not only fire ‘detectives’ they are also there to educate, advise and mitigate to prevent the disaster from happening. This counts for both civil and criminal cases. Relevant training, subject matter and experience is crucial to develop a fire investigator for the future.
Our goal at Chuma Wildfire and Conservation Services cc is amongst others to train new wildfire investigators, at least once a year and also assist current investigators to renew their training at least once every five years. This is also in line with the international standards to stay current with this demanding environment that incorporates not only ancient natural phenomenon/fire in the natural land scape, but also incorporates developments in AI, electronics, satellite data, computer programmes, research data and related subjects.
Our training course this year in Mbombela was from 9 to 13 March 2026 at the LEFPA offices and was attended by seven persons from a broad background of commercial forestry, FPA managers to conservation managers.
The theory is tough for the four days but everyone stayed focussed and enjoyed the practical in cool Lowveld weather.
The curriculum was a combination of the accredited forensic course (US 244149) and the international NWCG (FI210) course, topped up with NFPA921 and NFPA1033. This was also presented in conjunction with LESCH Training, as an accredited training provider. Look them up for all your forestry and health and safety training.
This course not only equips you for internal investigations but acts as a career enhancer to do professional work and maybe get internationally certified, after some more studies in this field, via International Association of Arson Investigators or National Association of Fire Investigators- International.
This course therefore has the potential to enhance your knowledge and broaden your views on the field of veldfires in different biomes.
The course was presented by Arnold Swart (CFEI) of Chuma Wildfire and Conservation Services cc.
For more information visit the website www.chumaconservation.co.za or email [email protected].
The key, however, is that you need to have knowledge of your subject eg fire and understand how it works/burn and how to detect and read the signs left after the fire, to be able to explain the origin, cause, spread and the possible causation to losses or the links to the fire and losses encountered.
This is why we do fire investigations and train others to understand the systems involved.
This fits into the ISC system, if a current or hot case in investigated but also in digging up old information in cold cases. You will be surprised what information is left behind after an incident if the data is gathered and kept during the incident. This ranges from weather reports, timelines and resource registers, photos, maps, first responders’ reports, internal fire reports and many more.
Time is not our friend and we prefer to get to the scene as quick as possible to gather the information but can still do a lot of work afterwards.
Fire investigators are not only fire ‘detectives’ they are also there to educate, advise and mitigate to prevent the disaster from happening. This counts for both civil and criminal cases. Relevant training, subject matter and experience is crucial to develop a fire investigator for the future.
Our goal at Chuma Wildfire and Conservation Services cc is amongst others to train new wildfire investigators, at least once a year and also assist current investigators to renew their training at least once every five years. This is also in line with the international standards to stay current with this demanding environment that incorporates not only ancient natural phenomenon/fire in the natural land scape, but also incorporates developments in AI, electronics, satellite data, computer programmes, research data and related subjects.
Our training course this year in Mbombela was from 9 to 13 March 2026 at the LEFPA offices and was attended by seven persons from a broad background of commercial forestry, FPA managers to conservation managers.
The theory is tough for the four days but everyone stayed focussed and enjoyed the practical in cool Lowveld weather.
The curriculum was a combination of the accredited forensic course (US 244149) and the international NWCG (FI210) course, topped up with NFPA921 and NFPA1033. This was also presented in conjunction with LESCH Training, as an accredited training provider. Look them up for all your forestry and health and safety training.
This course not only equips you for internal investigations but acts as a career enhancer to do professional work and maybe get internationally certified, after some more studies in this field, via International Association of Arson Investigators or National Association of Fire Investigators- International.
This course therefore has the potential to enhance your knowledge and broaden your views on the field of veldfires in different biomes.
The course was presented by Arnold Swart (CFEI) of Chuma Wildfire and Conservation Services cc.
For more information visit the website www.chumaconservation.co.za or email [email protected].