COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Fire Department recently hosted fire investigation courses that brought together experts and students from across the province for a week of specialized training.
Organized by the Fire Investigation Association of Alberta (FIAA) in partnership with Cold Lake Fire-Rescue, the courses included a forensic photography class and an essentials of fire investigation course.
“We did two separate courses this week. We did forensic photography - it was put on by a couple of RCMP members - and then we're doing firefighting essentials, investigation essentials,” explained Trevor Mistal, president of FIAA, on Sept. 27.
FIAA has been providing fire investigation training for over 40 years, with courses rotating throughout the province. Cold Lake was chosen as this year's host due to the long-standing support from the local fire department.
As Mistal noted, “It helps their local people as well, but again, I'm just very happy that Cold Lake Fire Rescue stepped up and offered to host, and the work they did behind the scenes was pretty incredible.”
The investigation essentials course, described by Mistal as “kind of a mid-level course,” delved into topics like documenting fire scenes, photography techniques, legal procedures, and other investigative processes.
Over a day and a half of classroom training was followed by a live fire investigation exercise at Cold Lake’s firefighter training yard, where burn cells had been constructed for hands-on experience.
Cold Lake Fire-Rescue built burn cells, furnished them to create realistic fire scenarios, and set them on fire for students to investigate. The students analyzed the damage and presented their findings the next morning.
The event brought together professionals from a variety of public and private agencies, including the Government of Alberta, RCMP, Alberta Wildfire, and the insurance industry, according to information from the City of Cold Lake.
Cold Lake Fire Chief Jeff Fallow emphasized the importance of the hands-on component.
“We had some great fire scenarios that the instructors staged, and our own firefighters extinguished. Then we go one step further and take a look at the evidence and fire patterns that are left behind after the fire is out, to determine the origin and cause of the fire.”
Mistal praised the efforts of local leaders.
“The great support from local people like Chief Jeff Fallow and Deputy Hugh McKay - they've bent over backwards to make sure that everyone is welcome. They did a lot of the behind-the-scenes work, and it's been a good week.”
The courses offered both seasoned professionals and new investigators a chance to learn and earn continuing education credits.
“There's some gray hair in the room and there's some very young people in the room, so it's a good mix. You're never done learning, either as a firefighter or a fire investigator,” said Mistal.
