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In this Christmas Eve Embercast, Chasity and Scott slow things down with a short, informal episode focused on listener feedback, community connection, and the continued growth of the fire investigation profession. Rather than a full-length case discussion, this Ember-style episode highlights messages from investigators around the world—including Australia—and explores meaningful conversations sparked by listener questions, critiques, and ideas. Topics include a listener-requested concept for a wildfire investigation roundtable series, advice for investigators preparing for the IAAI CFI certification exam, and a discussion on the difference between studying for a test and conducting real-world research. The episode also addresses a technical terminology correction—“arc” versus “arc site”—and why precision in language matters in both investigations and the courtroom. Chasity and Scott reflect on the importance of collaboration between public and private fire investigators, introduce a new 2025 segment titled “Here’s the Scenario—Figure It Out,” and discuss why NFPA 921 should be viewed as a framework rather than a standalone research document. The Embercast closes with shoutouts to fellow fire investigation podcasts helping move the industry forward and a holiday message to listeners. Full episodes return January 7. 🎄🔥

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This episode is basically a training recap and a reality check for anyone trying to level up in origin and cause—especially in motor vehicle fires and evidence handling. Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens kick things off by talking about hosting multiple IAAI classes in Orange County, including the newer Evidence Collection course and the Evidence Collection Technician (ECT) practicum, with real talk about what surprised them, what they wish the class showed more clearly, and why “verbalizing the process” is the make-or-break skill on skills-based testing.

Then they sit down with Chris Ellis (motor vehicle fire investigation instructor) to talk about how he got into the fire service, how he became an investigator, and why vehicle fires intimidate even seasoned investigators: fast consumption, heavy damage, and patterns that don’t behave like a structure fire. Chris breaks down what the 3-day Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation class covers, why the curriculum was recently rewritten, and how the course is built to serve both the 6-month investigator and the 20-year veteran—including the value of having manufacturer reps (Volvo, Subaru, Honda, Mercedes, etc.) in the room to strengthen real-world knowledge and future case networking.

The episode also gets practical: how instructors build diverse investigation groups (not “buddy groups”), why public/private collaboration matters, and how inviting the public agency to private vehicle exams can unlock crucial scene context you can’t get later at a yard. You’ll also hear student perspectives from Elliot and Annabelle Brown (children of fire investigator Kevin Brown) on what clicked for them—especially the confidence boost from learning vehicle-specific dynamics and applying them in the final scenario.

Finally, you get a fun courtroom-minded segment on donut patterns (NFPA 921 reference included), why terminology can wreck your testimony if you’re unprepared, and a teaser “word of the week” for next time: white paper.

Trainings and dates (from the WTF segment)

• Kansas IAAI Annual Conference — February 3–5, 2026 — Wichita, Kansas
• New Mexico IAAI Annual Training Conference — February 23–27, 2026 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
• California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) — February 23–26, 2026 — San Luis Obispo, California (discounted rate if registered by February 2)
• IAAI International Training Conference (ITC) — April 26–30, 2026 — St. Louis, Missouri

National Fire Academy (NFA) application windows mentioned:

• Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026 (for on-campus classes occurring in April–June 2026)
• Mar 15, 2026 – Apr 15, 2026 (for on-campus classes occurring in July–Sept 2026)

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If you enjoyed the episode, give us 5 stars, hit the follow button, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you are listening in from.

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In this episode, Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens kick off an exciting new series diving deep into NFPA 921—starting with one of the most critical chapters in the entire guide: Chapter 4, Basic Methodology. This episode blends expert-level fire investigation insight with the podcast’s signature humor, storytelling, and real-world case experience. Scott and Chasity introduce their brand-new segment, “Investigation Interrogation,” where they challenge each other—and the audience—with key questions every fire investigator should know before stepping into a courtroom or writing a report.

Listeners will learn how NFPA 921 now officially classifies fire investigation as a forensic science discipline, why Chapter 4 underpins everything from origin determination to negative corpus debates, and how the scientific method, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, bias reduction, and certainty levels shape reliable fire investigation results. They also unpack the three NFPA-recognized types of report reviews—administrative, technical, and peer review—and explain why a proper technical review is one of the strongest safeguards against confirmation bias and courtroom challenges.

The hosts share listener fan-mail wins, discuss real-world examples involving candles, combustibles, appliances, and the limits of testing hypotheses, and even touch on holiday fire safety—from Christmas trees to oven light bulbs. As always, the episode is packed with practical, courtroom-ready insights, investigator mindset training, and memorable teaching moments… all wrapped in humor, banter, and a blues-style “Water Your Tree” holiday PSA.

Whether you're a seasoned investigator, a trainee, or someone preparing for expert testimony, this episode delivers serious value and relatable, real-world fire investigation education—NFPA 921 made understandable, memorable, and actually fun.

🔥 Upcoming Training Opportunities Mentioned in This Episode

📅 December 15, 2025 – LLRMI Webinar
Title: Conducting Comprehensive Fire Investigations While Implementing NFPA 1321
Instructor: Steve Riggs
Cost: $150 (entire department can attend)

📅 December 16, 2025 – Cozen O’Connor Webinar
Title: AI and Insurance Law: Legal Challenges, Compliance, and Industry Transformation
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST
Cost: FREE

📅 January 20–23, 2026 – Oregon IAAI 40th Annual Career Development School
Location: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Topics Include:

• Advanced Fire & Arson Investigation
• Wildland Fire Investigation Overview
• Science Advisory Workgroup (SAW Group) workshop
• Crime lab & evidence collection
• Resiliency Training

Thank you for listening!

If you enjoyed the episode, give us 5 stars, hit the follow button, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you are listening in from.

Follow us on social media!
Instagram: @infocusfire_podcast
LinkedIn: INFOCUS podcast
Facebook: INFOCUS podcast
TikTok: @infocus_podcast