The Nineteenth Annual Fire Investigators Training Conference will be held April 9 - 11, 2010 at the Holiday Inn City Center (Downtown Peoria), 500 Hamilton Blvd., Peoria, IL. All classes are tested and sanctioned by the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Exams for the IAAI-CFI program may be available if setup with the International office in advance. Contact the International Office at (314) 739-4224 for more information.
| Schedule |
| Friday, April 9, 2010 | |
|---|---|
| 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Registration |
| 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Electrical Principals for the Fire Investigator Rich Hanson |
| 9:30 p.m.- Midnight | Hospitality Room |
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| Saturday, April 10, 2010 | |
| 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. | Welcoming Comments |
| 8:00 a.m. - Noon | Fire Pattern Recognition and Identification - Part I Steve Riggs |
| Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch (provided) |
| 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Fire Pattern Recognition and Identification - Part II Steve Riggs |
| 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | IAAI Illinois Chapter Meeting |
| 5:30 p.m. - Midnight | Hospitality Room |
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| Sunday, April 11, 2010 | |
| 8:00 a.m. - Noon |
Case Study of the August 6, 1997 International Harvester Plant Fire in Canton Mark Geever Dan Putnam John Stanko Duane C. Stonich |
| Noon | Conference Adjourned |
Certificates will be available after the conclusion of the Sunday session.
| Instructors/Courses |
Electrical Principals for the Fire Investigator
Richard M. Hansen
Richard Hansen is a State of Illinois Registered Professional Engineer who graduated from Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering. He has 20 years of experience working in the utility industry during which time he was a firefighter and a State of Illinois Certified Fire Investigator. Richard is the president of Richard M. Hansen and Associates, a 14 year old engineering firm in Lombard, Illinois. Richard M. Hansen and Associates is dedicated to the engineering investigation of questions about fires and electricity. More information is available at www.rmhansen.com.
Fire Pattern Recognition and Identification
Steve Riggs, CFEI, CFII & CVFI (Retired)
Steve Riggs is retired after 22 years of law enforcement and fire service experience in Oklahoma. He has been examining fire scenes for 33 years, and has extensive training in Fire Cause Determination, Criminal Investigation, Arson Investigation, Evidence Processing, Interviewing Techniques and Case Management. He is a certified Police and Fire Instructor and a Certified Fire Investigator Instructor. Mr. Riggs has been involved in many fire/arson prosecutions in Oklahoma, and was involved in a federal prosecution. To date, he has never lost an arson case. Steve has authored and co-authored several fire training manuals and has written A Critical Analysis of NFPA 921 User’s Manual 2nd Edition. He lectures nationally to local, state and federal agencies, insurance companies, private and military investigators, prosecutors, and vehicle manufacture representatives and their engineers. Steve continues to examine fires in the private sector with Yandell Fire Investigations and Consultants in Oklahoma.
The purpose of this training course is to provide fire and law enforcement investigators, insurance investigators, private investigators, engineers and prosecutors with an understanding of fire patterns and their interpretations. In recent court decisions we have seen several “experts” disqualified and denied the opportunity to give their expert opinions. We will cover the latest techniques being used against investigators today as well as how to deal with the newest case laws such as “Daubert,” “Kumho” and “Robinson.”Case Study of the August 6, 1997 International Harvester Plant Fire in Canton
Sunday morning's class will be a nationally known fire case study. On August 6, 1997, the International Harvester Plant in Canton, Illinois, burned out of control. First hand, from the firemen who led the extinguishment effort, to the investigation and prosecution teams, you will hear and see the case. Following the fire suppression, the investigation was initialized. Utilizing the expertise of local, state and federal agencies, the investigation ran its course and then laid cold for two years. Through the tenacity of two Canton investigators, the case was re-opened and new leads were followed. See how the investigation stretched from Illinois to Texas until finally the arsonist was held accountable in federal court. John Stanko will present the case with help from the Canton detective, ATF agent, and federal prosecutor involved with the case. This is a case study you won’t want to miss!
Mark Geever
Special Agent Mark Geever has served with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for the past 23 years. During that time he has investigated a wide variety of cases. Agent Geever has been a certified explosives specialist since 2001. He has been assigned to the ATF National Response Team since 2008 and has participated in a number of responses since that time. At the time of the fire at the former International Harvester facility in Canton, Agent Geever was the assigned case field agent from ATF.
Dean Putman
Lieutenant Dean Putman served the Canton Police Department for 30 years. At the time of his retirement he served as Supervisor of Special Operations which included the detective division. Lt. Putman served many years in this position and was actively involved in many types of investigations, including narcotics enforcement and arson at both the state and federal levels. Dean is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Institute. He was twice awarded the Police Officer of the Year Award and has also received a Red Cross Life Saving Award.
John Stanko
John Stanko currently serves as MABAS Operations Branch Chief for the Central Region of Illinois. He previously served more than 32 years with the Canton Fire Department, retiring in 2007 after serving more than eight years as Fire Chief. He has 27 years of both criminal and civil fire investigation experience. John is a Certified Fire Investigator and Certified Arson Investigator and has been a member of the Central Illinois Fire Investigator’s Association, International Association of Arson Investigators and the Illinois Chapter IAAI for 27 years. John has instructed classes related to fire and arson investigation at both the local and state level.
Duane C. Stonich
Duane Stonich has served as a fire science professor and the Fire Science Program Coordinator at Joliet Junior College since 1996. His experience in the field includes 30-plus years on the Joliet Fire Department. He retired after serving for 10 years as the Arson Task force Coordinator. He was also a member of the ATF’s National Response Team for 15 years. His education includes an AAS in Fire Science, a BS in Fire Science Services and an MS in Public Safety. He also has numerous certification, awards and professional affiliations.
Disclaimer: No liability is assumed by the Central Illinois Fire Investigators Association for changes in program content, speakers, or venue. The speakers presentation and content of program are the responsibility of the individual instructors and not necessarily endorsed by any of the persons or organizations associated with this seminar.
| Hotel Information |
Holiday Inn City Centre
500 Hamilton Blvd.
Peoria, IL 61614
(Downtown Peoria)
(309) 674-2500
FAX (309) 674-8705
Indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, and fitness center.
$93 Single or Double occupancy plus taxes
on or before
Friday, March 20, 2010.
To hold your room(s) on a guaranteed arrival basis, contact the hotel at (309) 674-2500 by Friday, March 20, 2010. Tell them you are attending the Central Illinois Fire Investigators Conference.
| Sponsors |
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Schaefer Engineering FireTech, Inc. Grinnell Mutual Rensurance Co. Country Financial Insurance West Peoria Fire Department Chillicothe Fire Department |
| Scholarship |
The Miller/Grier Memorial Scholarship was established in 1991 in honor of two founding CIFIA members and State Arson Investigators, Hollis Miller and James Grier. The conference established the funding and promotes the scholarships that are offered semi-annually.
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