This program is designed to enhance the origin and cause investigative skills of the public service fire investigator. The goal of this course is to provide fire investigators with the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to systematically determine the origin and cause of a fire and to be able to present these findings to a prosecutor and to a jury in all subsequent judicial proceedings.  It involves the in-depth study of fire dynamics, fire chemistry, electrical fire causation, burn pattern analysis and fire scene documentation. Instruction will be presented through classroom lectures and practical exercises. The curriculum involves fire scene processing with an emphasis on the practical applications of scientific knowledge. Students are required to process fire scenes utilizing the Scientific Method and “team concept” as well as prepare technical reports documenting their findings for use in court proceedings as an expert witness. A written test is administered at the completion of the course, as well as a final practical exercise, and a mock trial which is designed to prepare the student to testify as an expert witness. In order to cover the amount of material required for this course, completion of work assignments and studying after classroom hours will be necessary. The course is delivered at the ATF Fire Programs & Training Branch located at the National Center for Explosives Training & Research (NCETR) on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.