Detroit Fire Department offers one of Michigan’s only Hands-On Fire Investigation Courses

• Two-week program provides real-world experience and national certification credits to first responders and investigators from across the region
  

The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) today highlighted its Fire Investigation Course, one of only two programs in Michigan-and the only one offered by a municipality-to provide immersive, hands-on fire investigation training. Offered twice each year, this nationally recognized course combines classroom learning with field experience in Detroit neighborhoods, helping participants master the science and skill of determining how and why fires start.

The course, taught by current and former members of DFD's Fire Investigation Division, is structured as two week-long sessions that may be taken separately or together for maximum learning. The training hours count toward national certification requirements for fire investigators.

Students from Benton Harbor to Toledo and across Metro Detroit get a deep dive into fire investigations in DFD's Fire Investigation Course.

Week One focuses on the fundamentals of fire investigation, including fire behavior, origin and cause determination, investigative methods, and fire pattern analysis. Students learn the basics of structure fire investigation and begin applying those skills in practical scenarios. They are also introduced to investigative report writing, one of the most challenging and critical aspects of the job.

Week Two expands into more complex incidents-such as vehicle fires, electrical fires, and fatal fires-providing advanced, scenario-based training. The session culminates with a mock court case, where students experience what it's like to testify as an expert witness in a fire investigation trial.

Participants come from across Michigan and beyond, including firefighters, police officers, independent fire investigators, and private investigators. The course offers a rare opportunity to train alongside Detroit's own Fire Investigation Division, which works daily with the Detroit Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Students even work with DFD's arson K-9 officers, witnessing firsthand how dogs assist in detecting accelerants and uncovering evidence at fire scenes.

Fire patterns, origin and cause are a part of the two-week long course, of which one portion touches on vehicle fire investigations.

"Detroit's fire investigation course is unlike anything else in the state," said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. "It combines technical instruction with real-world experience in our neighborhoods, helping investigators learn how to think critically, work safely, and communicate effectively in complex fire scenes."

Chief Dennis Richardson, who leads DFD's Fire Investigation Division, added: "This course gives participants the tools to do the job right-from reading fire patterns to presenting findings in court. It's rigorous, it's hands-on, and it prepares investigators for the real demands of the profession."

By opening its program to first responders and professionals statewide, the Detroit Fire Department continues to set the standard for investigative excellence and regional collaboration, building safer communities through education, prevention, and skill development.