For decades, the annual conference has been the centerpiece of the Utah Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). It is where public and private fire investigators from across Utah, and from neighboring states, come together for several days of focused training, hands-on demonstrations, legal updates and professional networking. If you are considering attending for the first time, or you want to understand why so many investigators return year after year, this guide explains how the conference has developed, what a typical agenda looks like and how to prepare.
A Long-Running Tradition of Fire Investigation Training
The Utah Chapter has been holding an annual training event for many years. Records on this website show the 21st Annual Seminar in 2006, the 22nd in 2007, the 23rd in 2008 and the 24th Annual Seminar in February 2009, which was presented in cooperation with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Seminars continued through the 2010s, including the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 events, and the chapter's modern conference series continued with the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 conferences.
After the pandemic interrupted in-person gatherings, the chapter president announced in the lead-up to 2022 that the conference would return, noting how much the board had worked to bring members "the best conference that we can." That commitment to continuing education is the thread that runs through every edition of the event.
Why Wendover?
Most recent conferences have been held in Wendover, Nevada, at the Rainbow Hotel and Casino, just across the Utah state line. The venue offers conference space, a negotiated group room block for attendees and access to outdoor areas that have been used for live burn and electrical demonstrations, including sessions held at the Wendover Airport. For many members, the location has become part of the conference identity.
What a Typical Conference Agenda Looks Like
Every conference has its own theme, but past agendas published on this site follow a recognizable pattern that helps attendees plan their travel and time:
- Sunday evening: early registration and the President's Icebreaker, an informal social that gives attendees a chance to reconnect before training begins.
- Monday: morning registration, followed by the chapter's business meeting. This is where members hear reports from the board and, in many years, take part in the Annual General Meeting and board elections. Technical sessions fill the rest of the day.
- Tuesday: classroom instruction in the morning and practical work in the afternoon, such as burn cells, evidence exercises or electrical demonstrations, followed in the evening by the Utah IAAI awards ceremony.
- Wednesday: a half day of sessions, often including a review of the previous day's burn cells and legal or courtroom topics, before attendees travel home.
Training Topics Covered Over the Years
Looking back at published agendas shows how the conference reflects the real needs of working investigators. Topics have included:
Interviewing and interrogation
The 2009 seminar featured a program on interview and interrogation presented by Patrick Kelly, a former FBI special agent and polygraph examiner. Interview skills remain essential for every origin and cause investigation; see our guide to interviews and canvassing in fire investigations.
Fire scene photography, safety and evidence
The 2018 conference concentrated on fundamentals: two sessions on fire scene photography, a night photography lab where attendees brought their own cameras, a session asking "The fire is out, my scene has to be safe?", evidence collection, procedures for submitting evidence to the state crime lab, and burn cells used for evidence collection and photography practice. Related reading: fire scene photography, fire scene safety and evidence collection and preservation.
Legal aspects and expert credentials
Legal education has been a recurring feature. The 2018 agenda included "Expert Credentials: How to write a Curriculum vitae" and "Legal Aspects: How to get evidence admitted," while the 2022 conference included a legal case review and legal presentation. Our article on expert testimony and CVs for fire investigators explores these themes.
Electrical fires, fatal fires and wildland fires
The 2022 conference was centered on electrical fires, with sessions on how electricity can serve as an ignition source, electrical theory, and electrical effects demonstrations at the Wendover Airport, followed by a review of electrical effects from the burn cells. Breakout topics covered investigating fire fatalities with multiple agencies and an NWCG-related session on wildland fires. See investigating electrical fires, fatal fire investigations and wildland fire origin and cause.
Fire dynamics and testing
Material from the 2014 seminar, listed on the chapter's older video page, included high-speed recordings of gas can and ignition tests, fire flow path videos, garage fire footage and mannequin tests, showing the chapter's long-standing interest in fire dynamics and testing.
Who Attends
The conference is designed for anyone involved in determining the origin and cause of fires: fire department investigators, fire marshals, law enforcement officers, insurance and private-sector investigators, attorneys and allied professionals. After the 2018 conference, the chapter reported that 99 fire investigators, both public and private, attended from all over Utah as well as surrounding states. That mix of public and private perspectives is one of the event's strengths, because investigators rarely work in isolation once a case moves toward prosecution or litigation.
Registration, Fees and Virtual Options
In recent years, registration has been handled through the International Association of Arson Investigators' website, with a link published on the chapter's Training page. Fees change from year to year and are announced with each conference. For reference, the 2022 conference used tiered pricing with a lower early-registration rate and higher rates closer to the event, and it also offered a lower-cost virtual attendance option for agencies facing budget or travel restrictions. The virtual option did not include the outdoor demonstrations, which is one reason the board encouraged in-person attendance whenever possible.
Help for agencies with limited training budgets
The chapter has also run a sponsorship program for agencies that need to get investigators trained but do not have the funds to do so. Applications were distributed to agencies in Utah and the private sector and reviewed by the board, and the chapter reported sponsoring five attendees in a previous cycle. Visit the Sponsors page and the news posts for announcements about future sponsorship opportunities.
Lodging and Travel Tips
- Book inside the group block. The chapter has typically negotiated a block of rooms at the host hotel with a group code. Rooms outside the block, or booked after the cutoff date, may not be available at the group rate.
- Watch the cutoff date. Past lodging information listed a reservation cutoff date several days before the conference.
- Plan for the payment method. If your agency is paying, check in advance whether a credit card authorization form or other arrangement is required.
- Remember state tax rules. Past lodging notices reminded attendees that Utah state tax exemption does not apply to room tax in Nevada.
Archived lodging details for the most recent published conference are available on the conference lodging page. Always confirm current arrangements before booking.
How to Get the Most From the Conference
- Register early to secure the best rate and help the board plan seating and materials.
- Keep your attendance records. Training hours from conferences can help document continuing education for professional credentials. Our fire investigator certification guide explains why a good training log matters.
- Come prepared for practical sessions. Bring a camera for photography labs and dress appropriately for outdoor demonstrations when they are on the agenda.
- Attend the business meeting. It is your opportunity to hear about chapter finances, training plans and board elections, and to volunteer.
- Network deliberately. The people you meet at the icebreaker and awards ceremony are the colleagues you may call on your next complex scene.
Stay Informed About the Next Conference
Conference dates, agendas and registration links are posted on the Training page and in the events calendar when they are announced. If you are not yet a member, read how to join the Utah Chapter IAAI so you can take part in the business meeting and elections. We look forward to seeing you at the next conference.