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Fire Investigation & Training

MSP Fire Investigation Training

Fire Investigation & Training

Fire Investigation

Fire investigation services are available to police and fire service agencies throughout Michigan, 24 hours a day. The Michigan State Police, Fire Investigation Unit has field offices located in strategic locations to provide convenient and timely services.

Police and fire agencies may call 1-888-684-3473 (1-888-684-FIRE) toll-free from anywhere in the state to reach their area investigator.

Find Fire Investigation Unit Contact Information

 

The Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit is hosting the 2026 Fire Investigation I Cohort. The cohort will be broken down into 4 different sessions during 2026. The program is nationally accredited and is recognized as a leader in fire investigation training. The purpose of the program is to provide investigators with a solid foundation of fire investigation skills. A variety of methods and resources will be utilized to facilitate learning, including classroom lectures and hands-on training.

Topics include:

Fire Chemistry & Behavior
Fire Suppression
Building Construction
Electrical Fire Causes
Origin and Cause Determination
Accidental Fire Causes
Fatal Fires
Explosions
Incendiary Fire Causes
Arson Motives
Legal Aspects
Photography
Thermodynamics & Thermometry
NFPA 921 and 1033
 
Interview & Interrogation
Courtroom Testimony
Fire Scene Diagramming
Report Writing and Case Preparation
Evidence Collection
Accelerant Canine
Building Electrical and Gas Systems
 

Pre-Course Work:

The following courses on CFI Trainer (no cost) are required to be completed prior to start of the course:

  • Ethics and the Fire Investigator
  • The Scientific Method for Fire/Explosion Investigations
  • NFPA 1033 and Your Career
  • The Practical Application of the Relationship between NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921
  • HAZ-WOPER (if no awareness)
  • Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling
  • Search and Seizure

Dates & Locations: 

Session I:

April 20-23, 2026
MSP Grand Rapids Post
2290 4 Mile Road NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544

This session will focus on the fundamentals of fire investigation, fire science, fire effects and burn patterns, building construction and suppression systems, NFPA 921/1033, evidence collection and determining origin and cause.

Session II:

May 18-21, 2026
Consumers Energy, Flint Gas City
3201 E. Court St
Flint, MI 48506

This session will focus on fuel gas systems to include their generation, distribution and use by appliances. It will also include instruction on complex investigations, explosion investigations, and scene documentation.

Session III:

June 16-17, 2026
Consumers Energy Lineman Training Facility
1220 S Kalamazoo Ave
Marshal, MI 49068

This session will focus on electrical systems to include distribution, building electrical systems, identification of electrical fire causes and data collection outside of the fire scene.

Capstone:

August 17-21, 2026
Delta College Saginaw Campus
319 E Genesee Ave
Saginaw, MI 48607

The capstone event will be a culmination of sessions I through III that will include practical skills examinations for the job performance requirements (JPR’s) in NFPA 1033, legal considerations, building a curriculum vitae, courtroom testimony, drug related fires and policy implementation.

Cost:

The cost of the program will be $1,000 (includes lunches and materials) during all four sessions. Each student will receive a copy of the current edition of NFPA 921 and 1033.

Lodging:

Lodging is the responsibility of each agency/attendee. Lodging information will be shared in a confirmation email.

Registration:

Applications (CID-005) must be emailed to MSP-FireTraining@michigan.gov. Application deadline is January 16, 2026. 

The course availability is limited, all registrants will be placed on a waiting list until approximately one month prior to the class start date. Once final selection has been made, each student will receive an email confirmation which will include registration instructions. 

For more information, contact Spl/Sgt. Jeff Hoyt at 989-255-8920. This course is MCOLES and LARA approved.

 

The Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit is hosting a four-day Fire Investigation II School. Applicants must have completed the Fire Investigation I School prior to attending this training. The purpose of the program is to provide investigators with a solid foundation of fire investigation skills. A variety of methods and resources will be utilized to facilitate learning, including classroom lecture and live demonstration.

Topics included but not limited to:

Electrical Fires
Ventilation / Arc Mapping
Fatal Fires
Insurance Process and Investigation
Utility Investigations
Forensic Anthropology
Bomb Awareness
MIOC/Intelligence/MSP Assets
Fuel Gas Explosions 

 

Next training will be hosted in 2027. More information will be available at a later date. 

This program will provide students with knowledge of the latest investigative tools relating to vehicle fire and theft investigations. A variety of methods and resources will be utilized to facilitate learning, including classroom lecture and a one-day hands-on training exercise.

Topics include:

  • Basic Fire Science
  • Incendiary and Accidental Vehicle Fires
  • Origin and Cause Investigations
  • Live Vehicle Burns
  • Vehicle Systems (Electrical, Chassis, Diagnostic, Immobilization)
  • Hidden VIN Detection
  • Vehicle Inventory and Inspection
  • Case Studies
  • Heavy Equipment and Commercial Motor Vehicle Familiarization

This course is MCOLES and LARA approved.

Dates:

Next training will be in 2027. More information will be posted at a later date.

Interested parties may attend the Michigan International Association of Arson Investigators Training Conference in Mt. Pleasant, May 18-21, 2026. This year’s conference focus will be on Vehicle Fire investigations.

 

The Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit is hosting a five-day Arson Prosecution School. The purpose of the program is to provide prosecutors with a foundation for the successful prosecution of arson cases. This class will be taught by experienced prosecutors that have been successful in the prosecution of arson cases. It will also be held in conjunction with the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation I school which enable prosecutors to interact with and conduct practical exercises along with fire investigators.


Topics include:

Fire Science, Effects and Patterns
Legal Considerations for Investigation and Charging
Examining the Scene
Origin and Cause Determination
Incendiary Fires and Motives
Expert Testimony: Direct and Cross
Courtroom Testimony: practical exercise
Michigan State Police services
Drug Related Fires
Civil Litigation


Dates:

August 17-21, 2026


Location:

Delta College Saginaw Campus
319 E Genesee Ave
Saginaw, MI 48607

Cost:

Program cost is $260 (includes lunches, materials, and NFPA 921/1033). Lodging is the responsibility of each agency/attendee. Lodging information will be shared in a confirmation email.

Registration:

Email MSP-FireTraining@michigan.gov to be putting on a waiting list, with registration information to follow. 

For more information, contact Heather Maynard at 517-256-5506. 

 

Find Fire Investigation forms

If you have questions, please contact:

Ms. Heather Maynard
517-256-5506
MaynardH1@michigan.gov

D/F/Lt. Trever Slater
269-251-1309
SlaterT@michigan.gov