Job Description of an Arson Investigator
While most fires are accidental, some are set purposely in order to recover money from an insurance claim or cover up another crime. An arson investigator's role is to examine these intentional fires in order to determine the truth. Consequently, he must be comfortable in the roles of both a firefighter and a law enforcement agent or investigator.
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Job Description
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Arson investigators are law enforcement officials who are responsible for verifying the cause of a fire that resulted in property damage, injury or death. Their role is to gather substantial evidence that will effectively lead to the arrest or even prosecution of the suspect involved. Arson investigators also testify as expert witnesses in court. They work in both the private and public sector.
Background
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Experience is usually gained from work in law enforcement, and taking special courses in criminal justice. Some arson investigators are graduates of schools that provide investigation and fire science programs, which cover topics such as incendiary fire, insurance and fire investigation, fire dynamics, and motor-vehicle fire investigation.
While earning their degrees and gaining work experience, aspiring arson investigators do volunteer work for local fire departments, attend seminars and conferences that focus on fire and arson investigation, pursue further studies, and join professional organizations such as IAAI (International Association of Arson Investigators) and NAFI (National Association of Fire Investigators).
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Work Environment
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The job of an arson investigator is a combination of field and paper work. On some days, especially when handling cases, arson investigators go out to acquire evidence by inspecting damaged properties such as buildings and vehicles. They may also gather and interview witnesses or testify as expert witnesses in court. They either work in police departments or insurance companies.
They could also spend time in the office doing research, contacting witnesses, writing and filing reports, or conducting interviews. Finally, work may involve performing surveillance actions and interacting with suspects, which could potentially be dangerous.
Work hours are irregular depending on surveillance activities and the availability of key witnesses and other contacts.
Salary
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of 2006, the median annual salary for a fire investigator was $48,050. Fire inspectors and investigators employed by local governments earned a slightly higher median of approximately $49,690 a year.
Salaries correspond to experience, and arson investigators who work in the private sector generally have a higher income than those who are employed by the government.
Job Prospects
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The competition for investigation-related jobs remain keen because the job attracts many qualified individuals, including law enforcement retirees, military retirees and experienced insurance investigators. Increased public vigilance and extensive media coverage of frauds and other injustices also attract a good number of applicants to this field. Based on Bureau of Statistics data, projected employment for fire inspectors and investigators by 2016 is 15,000 positions.
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