Wisconsin DOJ, Mid-state Technical College, and Stevens Point Fire Department Conduct Fifth Annual Fire Investigation Certification Class
STEVENS POINTS, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation State Fire Marshal’s Office, in partnership with Mid-State Technical College and the Stevens Point Fire Department, is conducting the fifth annual certification class for Basic Fire Investigation in Stevens Point, Wis. from September 15, 2025, to September 26, 2025. This ten-day course provides an introduction to fire investigation for public safety fire investigators that work for law enforcement or fire service agencies in Wisconsin. This is the only accredited fire investigation course through the State of Wisconsin.
“This training is helping to enhance the capacity to effectively investigate fires in Wisconsin,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to Mid-State Technical College and the Stevens Point Fire Department for your partnership.”
“Over the past five years, the Stevens Point Fire Department has forged a critical and deeply beneficial partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Mid-State Technical College (MSTC),” said Stevens Point Fire Department Chief Jb Moody. “By leveraging the expertise of DCI in complex criminal investigations and the robust educational programs at MSTC, we have been able to provide unparalleled training in fire forensics, arson investigation, and evidence collection. This partnership has created a core group of highly trained professionals who are committed to safety and justice for the citizens of Stevens Point.”
This class gives law enforcement and fire service professionals training to properly assess fire origin and cause and know the indicators of arson. Learning those skills allows the trained individuals to investigate a large majority of the fires that occur in their communities and gives them the skills to know when to reach out for further investigative assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s office. Having certified fire investigators in Wisconsin communities gives law enforcement agencies the tools to hold those who commit arson accountable.
Over the past four years, the State Fire Marshal’s office has assisted local Wisconsin law enforcement and fire service agencies with more than 300 fire investigations. Approximately twenty four percent of those investigations were classified as arson.
The Basic Fire Investigation certification class has twenty-four available spots each year with twelve spots going to fire service professionals and twelve spots going to law enforcement professionals. Those who don’t get selected are always encouraged to reapply the following year. The course covers the following topics:
- Building construction
- Residential fuel gas systems
- Fire alarm and suppression systems
- Photography
- Scene documentation and report writing
- Fire Science/Fire dynamics
- Live burn demonstrations
- Electricity related to fire investigations
- Fire patterns and origin determination
- Fire cause determination
- Cause classification
- Explosions
- Witness interviews
- Physical evidence collection and processing
- Fire death
- Legal considerations/courtroom testimony
- Mock jury trial
- Hands on fire scene examination with multiple scenario-based burn cells
About the State Fire Marshal’s office
The State Fire Marshal’s office, housed within DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation, has twelve special agents that assist all 72 Wisconsin counties. The State Fire Marshal’s office also has two accelerant detection canines certified by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. These two canines are the only accelerant detection canines in Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Wisconsin Department of Justice
