Quality training is the heart of the Utah Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. This page brings together the chapter's annual conference, past agendas and the other training pathways that help Utah fire investigators build and maintain their skills.
The Utah IAAI Annual Conference
The chapter's annual conference is its main training event. Recent conferences have been held in Wendover, Nevada, at the Rainbow Hotel and Casino, and typically include an early registration and President's Icebreaker on Sunday evening, the chapter business meeting on Monday morning, two to three days of instruction, hands-on burn cells or demonstrations, and the Utah IAAI awards ceremony. For a full overview, read our guide to the Utah IAAI annual conference.
When the next conference is announced, its dates, agenda, registration link and lodging details will be posted on this page and in the events calendar.
Topics Covered at Recent Conferences
- 2022: electrical fires, including how electricity can serve as an ignition source, electrical theory and electrical effects demonstrations; fatal fire investigations with multiple agencies; wildland fires; and a legal case review. See the 2022 conference agenda.
- 2018: fire scene photography and a night photography lab, scene safety, evidence collection, submitting evidence to the state crime lab, burn cells, writing an expert curriculum vitae and getting evidence admitted. See the 2018 conference agenda.
- 2009: interview and interrogation training, presented in cooperation with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy.
Study Guides for Investigators
Build on conference sessions with our free Fire Investigator Resources:
- NFPA 921 and the scientific method
- Fire scene photography and evidence collection
- Electrical fire investigation and vehicle fire investigation
- Fatal fire investigations and wildland fire origin and cause
- Interviews and canvassing and courtroom testimony
Certification and Online Learning
Conference hours can help document the continuing education expected of fire investigators. Our certification guide explains NFPA 1033, IAAI credentials, Utah fire service certification through the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, and wildland investigator training. The IAAI's online learning network, CFITrainer.Net, and other training providers are listed on our Links page.
Sponsorships for Agencies
The chapter's sponsorship program has helped agencies that need to train investigators but do not have the funds to do so. When applications are available, they are announced in the chapter's news posts and on the Sponsors page.
Archived: 2022 Utah IAAI Conference Information
The information below was published for the 2022 conference (February 27 to March 2, 2022) and is kept for reference. It is not a current registration notice.
The 2022 Utah IAAI Conference was planned by your elected board and officers. That year's theme centered on electrical fires, with a couple of breakout subjects also covered. The conference was held February 27th through March 2nd, 2022 in Wendover, Nevada at the Rainbow Hotel and Casino.
The following was the agenda for the conference.
Sunday February 27, 2022
- 1700 – 1900 Early Registration
- 1800 – 2000 President’s Icebreaker
Monday February 28, 2022
- 0700 – 0800 Registration
- 0800 – 0930 Business Meeting
- 0930 – 1200 Investigating fire fatality with multiple agencies for better results. (Scott Campau)
- 1200 – 1330 Lunch (on your own)
- 1330 - 1430 Legal Case Review (Jeff Hall)
- 1445 – 1700 How Electricity can serve as an ignition source including concepts of voltage. (Troy Mills)
Tuesday March 1, 2022
- 0800 – 1200 Electrical Theory
- 1200 – 1330 Lunch (on your own)
- 1330 – 1700 Electrical Effects and Demonstrations @ the Wendover Airport
- 1830 – 2030 Utah IAAI awards ceremony
Wednesday March 2, 2022
- 0800 - 0845 Review of Electrical Effects from the burn cells
- 0900 - 1100 Electrical NWCG Course & Wildland fires (Jason Curry)
The conference offered three days of training. Registration was $275.00 through 1/15/2022, $325.00 from 1/16/2022 and $475.00 after 2/15/2022. A virtual option was also added that year for those unable to attend in person because of budget cuts or pandemic-related travel restrictions. The virtual option cost $175.00 and did not include the outdoor demonstrations. Registration was handled through the IAAI event page: Utah Chapter Conference 2022
Lodging was arranged with the Rainbow Hotel and Casino in Wendover. The group had a block of rooms at a group rate. Archived lodging details: http://utahiaai.com/2018-utah-iaai-conference-lodging/.
Attendees were asked to follow the health and safety rules in effect in Nevada at the time of the conference.