|
|
Welcome to the Idaho Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators web site. We hope you find the site useful and informative.
|
|
A letter from the President
Craig Etherton, Firefighter/Shift Investigator
Coeur D’Alene Fire Department
I would like to begin by welcoming all of our new members and thanking all of our returning members. For anyone who I have not had the pleasure of meeting at our training conferences I will just take a few minutes and introduce myself. I have worked for Coeur D'Alene Fire Department for 9 years. I began my career as a volunteer with Post Falls Fire Department in 1997 and began tagging along on fire investigations as soon as they would let me. I joined the now defunct North Idaho Fire Investigation Task Force and attended trainings there until the training stopped. When I joined CDAFD I began coming to the Idaho Chapter Annual Training Conferences. It wasn’t very long after that that Dan Cochran and Brian Keating (Halvorson) had me roped into the secretary position for the Chapter. I have also held the position of Fire at Large before being asked to run for 2nd VP a few years ago. Since I am a line Firefighter my job is slightly different than some of yours. My primary focus is on Cause and Origin. When I get done with suppression I switch hats and begin investigating the fire so that overhaul can be completed faster and the Prevention boys can sleep till morning. I then turn over my findings and any incident that requires follow up will be handled by our prevention department: Interviews, and coordination with PD.
Last year I attended the ATC on behalf of our Chapter and had a great time meeting Investigators from around the world. Attending that sort of training is great because you can see that no matter where you are from or how large or small your department is we all have the same challenges to work through.
I believe that we have a great Chapter here in Idaho. I am proud to consider you all Friends, Brothers, and Sisters. The main purpose of our chapter in Education. Our job as Fire Investigators is ever changing, from the accepted science and how we view and interpret data, to documentation and interview techniques used to shine the light on the picture we’re painting. We strive to always bring in training opportunities that Will benefit you in your job as Fire Investigators. Additionally provide an excellent chance for Fire Investigators from Police, Fire, and Private Industry to get together and meet prior to seeing each other in the middle of the night on a fire scene for the first time. You will know when you work a fire scene with a member of the Chapter that they are well trained and Ethical Fire Investigators.
Over the last few years we have seen many changes within our Chapter. From our Bylaws being finally revised in 2007 to an increased focus on getting our members the training needed to become CFI’s. The latter being my main focus for this Chapter in the next year (or so). We have current CFI’s willing to take the train the trainer class for the Expert Witness and Testimony class. We currently only have one Instructor in the state to teach this class and scheduling has been impossible. We have many members ready to take their CFI test as soon as they complete the Testimony class. So I ask you all to be patient and know that we are working on this problem and it is a priority.
I thank you all again for the opportunity to represent you and lead this fine organization this year. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns, a great training you did that would benefit our group or just to say Hey. cetherton@cdaid.org.
|
|
