Table of Contents
- Capture Evidence in Real-Time
- Record with Body-Worn Cameras
- Build a Supportive Network
- Engage with the Community on Lost Person Cases
- Stick to a Monthly Training Plan
- Focus on the Basics
- Train with Water Mapping Rigs
- Create Building Information Cards
- Run Real-World Training Scenarios
- Appreciate Volunteer Firefighters
1. Capture Evidence in Real-Time
From:
Crime To Burn - "Burn, Marry, Kill: The Wicked Web of Sarah Hartsfield - The Finale"Listen at: 00:20:09 – 00:20:39
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Technology Integration
Who is this for? Forensic Specialist
Operational Impact Score: 10/10
Using real-time mobile apps lets you grab photos, jot down notes, and record witness statements right at the scene. This helps plug any evidence gaps and keeps the chain-of-custody tight.
What to do? Try out a mobile evidence collection app like SceneDoc or ForensicCapture at your next fire scene. Make it a rule that every investigator uploads photos and notes before wrapping up the scene.
Success Indicator: Aim for 90% of scene documentation to happen on-site and notice a drop in chain-of-custody issues within two months.
2. Record with Body-Worn Cameras
From:
Poorly Made Police Podcast - "S6E67 – Recreate"Listen at: 01:54:50 – 01:55:20
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Evidence Management
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Body-worn cameras do more than just record events, they provide clear, time-stamped footage of interviews and evidence handling. This transparency can help calm complaints and make testimony in court rock-solid.
What to do? Write up a funding proposal that lays out the costs and training required for body-worn cameras. Kick off the process with a three-month trial for your investigation unit.
Success Indicator: Check that 100% of interviews are recorded during the trial and see a 30% drop in the time spent fixing evidence-related complaints.
3. Build a Supportive Network
From:
Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Joshua Resweber"Listen at: 45:00 – 46:00
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Collaboration & Communication
Who is this for? Administrative Staff
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Regular check-ins with your peers and open chats about mental health can really help cut burnout and boost decision-making when things get tough.
What to do? Start a monthly “coffee and check-in” session led by a peer-support leader. Also, offer mental-health resources and let people give feedback anonymously.
Success Indicator: Look for more participation in peer support and a 15% drop in stress-related sick days over six months.
4. Engage with the Community on Lost Person Cases
From:
Poorly Made Police Podcast - "S6E67 – Recreate"Listen at: 01:32:00 – 01:32:30
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Multi-Agency Team
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
When families learn what to do before emergencies hit, it can lessen the number of search-and-rescue calls and lead to quicker, better responses when someone goes missing.
What to do? Team up with local parks to hold seasonal safety workshops for kids and families. Hand out “If You’re Lost” pocket cards to spread the word.
Success Indicator: Track attendance at the workshops and aim for a noticeable drop in lost-person calls during the next recreation season.
5. Stick to a Monthly Training Plan
From:
Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Nick Cripps"Listen at: 40:47 – 41:14
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Training Officer
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
A reliable, printed training calendar is a game changer, especially for departments with a mix of volunteers and full-timers. It keeps everyone on track and hones their skills.
What to do? Create a 30-day rotating calendar in Google Sheets that covers tactics, tool checks, and investigation techniques. Post it in the bay and send out weekly email reminders.
Success Indicator: Aim for 95% attendance at scheduled drills and see improved scores on quarterly skills evaluations.
6. Focus on the Basics
From:
Student Of The Game Fire Podcast - "Nick Cripps"Listen at: 40:47 – 41:14
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Training Officer
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Nailing down the core skills like stretching lines, forcible entry, and search procedures is the foundation for tackling advanced tactics, and it’s crucial for nailing every investigation.
What to do? Kick off each shift with a quick 15-minute “back-to-basics” drill over the next quarter.
Success Indicator: Look for faster task completion during live burns and better scores on post-drill evaluations.
7. Train with Water Mapping Rigs
From:
Firefighters Podcast - "Collaboration Over Tradition"Listen at: 00:32:30 – 00:34:00
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Understanding how water flow touches fire behavior is key to writing clear cause-and-origin reports. Seeing it in action makes a big difference.
What to do? Either borrow or build a clear-pipe water mapping rig and organize a quarterly “see the flow” training session with investigators and suppression crews.
Success Indicator: Use post-training quizzes to check for a 20% improvement in spotting effective nozzle patterns.
8. Create Building Information Cards
From:
National Fire Radio - "Building Legacy"Listen at: 01:28:05 – 01:29:03
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Case Management
Who is this for? Investigator
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
Building Information Cards (BICs) give you all the essential details about a structure, floor plans, hazards, systems, and more. This makes on-scene tactics faster and safer.
What to do? Identify your 10 highest-risk buildings, gather their floor plans and system information, and then create two-page PDF cards that are easy to access on tablets and in rigs.
Success Indicator: Make sure you have 100% documentation of the targeted buildings, and aim for a 25% reduction in the time it takes to size up a scene.
9. Run Real-World Training Scenarios
From:
National Fire Radio - "Chapter 100 Capt. Mike Gray FDNY"Listen at: 01:29:16 – 01:30:45
Difficulty: Medium
Application Area: Training & Education
Who is this for? Instructor/Trainer
Operational Impact Score: 9/10
When you put your team into realistic, hectic scenarios, it builds stress resilience and sharpens their decision-making skills.
What to do? Organize a quarterly “black-out burn” or simulate a mock courtroom testimony where radios fail or key evidence goes missing. End with a thorough debriefing session.
Success Indicator: Expect at least a 15-point jump in trainee confidence and more efficient, accurate decisions in follow-up simulations.
10. Appreciate Volunteer Firefighters
From:
National Fire Radio - "53 Years, My Senior Man"Listen at: 00:57:11 – 00:59:00
Difficulty: Low
Application Area: Process Improvement
Who is this for? Case Manager/Supervisor
Operational Impact Score: 8/10
A little appreciation goes a long way. Recognizing volunteer work not only boosts morale but also helps keep your department fully staffed.
What to do? Start a “Thank-You Thursday” email series and plan a quarterly awards night to spotlight those behind-the-scenes contributions.
Success Indicator: Look for a 10% increase in volunteer retention and higher morale scores in annual surveys.
Bring These Ideas to Your Fire Investigations
Focus on technology, hands-on training, and building a strong team culture to boost your investigation outcomes. Start with the quick wins, like using mobile apps for evidence collection and showing appreciation for volunteers, and then move on to more involved initiatives like Building Information Cards or water mapping rigs. Pick two ideas to try out this quarter, check how well they work based on the success indicators, and tweak them as needed. Your team and your community will thank you!
