Fire Investigation and Prevention: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Fire Investigation and Prevention is a specialized academic field dedicated to understanding the science behind fire ignition, spread, and impact, with the goal of accurately determining fire origins and causes. This program equips students with advanced analytical and investigative skills essential for public safety, legal accountability, and fire risk mitigation.

• Fire behavior and combustion: Explores the physical and chemical processes that govern how fires start, grow, and extinguish, focusing on the fundamental principles of fuel, heat, and oxygen interaction.
• Fire dynamics: Analyzes the movement and propagation of fire within structures and environments, including heat transfer, flame spread, and flashover phenomena.
• Hazardous materials chemistry: Covers the identification, properties, and reactions of flammable and toxic substances commonly involved in fire incidents.
• Incendiary fire analysis: Teaches methods for detecting deliberate fire-setting through forensic evidence, burn patterns, and anomaly detection.
• Fire-related human behavior: Investigates how individuals respond to fire emergencies, including decision-making, evacuation patterns, and psychological factors influencing survival.
• Forensic procedures: Provides training in the systematic collection, preservation, and documentation of physical evidence at fire scenes.
• Investigative techniques: Focuses on systematic approaches to scene examination, data interpretation, and the development of credible fire cause determinations.
• Case management and case preparation: Develops skills in organizing complex fire investigations, preparing reports, and presenting findings in legal or administrative settings.