New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 19 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Chapter XII - Office Of Fire Prevention And Control › Part 426 - Minimum Standards For Firefighting Personnel In The State Of New York › Section 426.8 - Advanced in-service training

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) Firefighting personnel demonstrating
				minimum technical expertise in specialized knowledge/skills areas established
				by this section may acquire certification in such advanced specialty. Personnel
				engaged in similar technical activities but representing nonfire-related fields
				of endeavor may receive and continue to maintain specific certification when,
				in the judgment of the State Fire Administrator, their experience and training
				meets or exceeds the requirement of these standards.
(b) To receive Investigator I certification,
				a person shall have:
(1) been designated by
				the authority having jurisdiction or employing agency to fulfill the duties
				associated with the fire investigation function;
(2) performed 30 hours of cause and origin
				determination verified in a format approved by the State Fire Administrator:
(i) the 30 hours of fire investigation
				activity shall occur after the completion date of the required Fire
				Investigator Level I training courses;
(ii) a maximum of 10 hours per investigation
				shall be credited towards the completion of the 30-hour investigation
				requirement; and
(iii) the 30 hours
				of fire investigation shall be in the area of origin and cause determination in
				connection with the responsibilities of the fire chief pursuant to General
				Municipal Law, section 204-d;
(3) successfully completed a minimum of 36
				hours of advanced training in the following subject areas:
(i)
Introduction to Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness Scope
							 of the arson problem
(3 hrs.)
(ii)
Concepts and Behavior of Fire
(3 hrs.)
Basic fire concepts
Normal fire behavior
(iii)
Fire Scene Observations
(3 hrs.)
Observational skills
(iv)
Fire Scene Preservation
(3 hrs.)
Preserving the fire scene
(v)
Fire Language
(2 hrs.)
Chemistry and physics of fire
Fire language and terminology
(vi)
Building Construction
(2 hrs.)
Five basic types of building construction
Fire loads
Sprinkler systems
Special built-in extinguishing systems
Safety considerations for fire investigation
(vii)
Point of Origin
(4 hrs.)
Fire scene examination
Determining point of origin
Fire overhaul
Identification of "V" patterns
Determine fire travel
(viii)
Determining Fire Causes
(4 hrs.)
Types of fire causes
Fire cause relationships
Major accidental fire causes
(ix)
Motives for Incendiarism
(4 hrs.)
Common motives
Firefighter/fire setter
Physical indicators of incendiary fires
(x)
Vehicle Fires
(1.5 hrs.)
Factors effecting cause of vehicle fires
Incendiary vehicle fires
Vehicle fire investigation process
(xi)
Legal Aspects of Fire Investigation
(1 hr.)
New York State Penal Law pertaining to arson
New York State Law pertaining to burn injury
							 reporting
Obtaining convictions based on arson
Court decisions relating to fire investigation
(xii)
Fatal Fires
(1 hr.)
Fire scene security
Removal of fire victims
Terminology of fire death causes
Characteristics of fire victim's bodies
(xiii)
Fire Scene Documentation
(1 hr.)
Photographic techniques
Sketching the fire scene
New York State incident reports
(xiv)
Fire Scene Evidence
(30 min.)
Types of evidence
Legal considerations for evidence collection
(xv)
Fire Investigation Resources
(30 min.)
Government resources
Special resources
Resource management (ICS)
(xvi)
Practical Exercise
(2 hrs. 30 min.)
Exercise with visual aids of fire scene
							 investigation
Skill demonstration
(xvii)
Successfully complete a test of knowledge, skills or
							 abilities covered in subparagraphs (i) through (xv) of this subdivision.
(4)
				completed, in lieu of the knowledge/skill criteria prescribed in paragraph (3)
				of this subdivision, equivalent topics completed while attending the New York
				State Fire Training Courses (Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness-12 hours).
				(Principles of Fire Investigation-24 hours), which shall be deemed as
				fulfilling minimum Fire Investigator I subject requirements;
(5) in lieu of the knowledge/skills criteria
				prescribed in subparagraphs (3)(i) through (xvi) of this subdivision,
				equivalent topics completed while attending federally sponsored courses or
				recognized college-level courses may fulfill the training requirements,
				provided such equivalency shall be deemed acceptable by the State Fire
				Administrator when submitted with adequate documentation regarding course
				criteria and attendance; and
(6)
				maintained the physical fitness commensurate to perform the duties of Fire
				Investigator I.