Master Course Outlines | Bucks County Community College

FRSC206 Fire Investigation I

3 credits

2250

FRSC100 (C or better) or permission of the Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies and FRSC103 (C or better) and FRSC112 (C or better) and Writing Placement Score of 6 or COMP107 (C or better)

FRSC202

This course aligns with Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) associate degree curriculum requirements.
Students having the appropriate prerequisites and complete both FRSC206 and FRSC216 are eligible to test for Professional Certification (ProBoard) in accordance with NFPA 1033 to the Fire Investigator Level.
FRSC206 and FRSC216 may be completed through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) if the student has ProBoard and/or IFSAC Professional Certification to the Fire Investigator Level, in accordance with NFPA 1033 or a National Fire Academy (NFA) Certificate for Fire/Cause Origin and Cause Investigations (FAOCI) course R0206.
Students should either complete FRSC202 prior to this course or at the same time.

This course provides the student with the fundamentals and technical knowledge needed for proper fire scene interpretations, including recognizing and conducting origin and cause, preservation of evidence and documentation, scene security, case law and constitutional amendments, motives of the fire setter, and types of fire causes.

Course Learning Goals

Students will:
1. Identify the responsibilities of a firefighter when responding to the scene of a fire, including scene security and evidence preservation;
2. Describe the implications of constitutional amendments as they apply to fire investigations;
3. Identify key case law decisions that have affected fire investigations;
4. Define the common terms used in fire investigations;
5. Explain the basic elements of fire dynamics and how they affect cause determination;
6. Compare the types of building construction on fire progression and describe how fire progression is affected by fire protection systems and building design;
7. Discuss the basic principles of electricity as an ignition source;
8. Recognize potential health and safety hazards;
9. Describe the process of conducting investigations using the scientific method;
10. Identify cause and origin and differentiate between accidental and incendiary;
11. Explain the procedures used for investigating vehicle fires; and
12. Identify the characteristics of an incendiary fire and common motives if the fire setter.
Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
1. Emergency Responder Responsibilities and Observations
2. Constitutional Law
3. Case Studies
4. Fire Investigations Terminology
5. Basic Elements of Fire Dynamics
6. Building Construction
7. Fire Protection Systems
8. Basic Principles of Electricity
9. Health and Safety
10. Fire Scene Investigation
11. Determining Point of Origin
12. Types of Fire Causes
13. Vehicle Fires
14. Fire Setters
Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Students satisfy the course learning goals via class discussions, written exams, assignments, papers, and/or performance based tasks and projects.
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
See course syllabus.

Courses + Programs

FRSC206 Fire Investigation I

Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies: Fire Science

Course Learning Goals

Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities

Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals

Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student: