Starting Fires with Firefighters

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 Local firefighters are teaming up with investigators to learn how fires start.
 
The two groups are flipping roles and starting the fires so that investigators can get hands–on training.
 
In the first part of the investigation, firefighters and investigators are starting fires at a West Fargo home.

Later on, local investigators will have to try to determine how those fires started.
 
These fires aren’t being started by arsonists, but by firefighters and fire investigators.

They’re being set up so local emergency responders can get training on fire cause and origin.

This is one of the few times firefighters like Captain Joey Porter gets to see fires actually start.
 
“It’s real helpful for us. We kind of learn. They kind of teach us as they go the fire patterns and stuff and we get to see how the fire develops,” said Captain Porter.
 
Forensic Fire Investigator Lorne Brunner is leading the project.
He works with EFI Global.
The company offers different investigation services across the nation, one of them being fire.
 
“Fire investigation leads to fire prevention which leads to less casualties,” said Brunner.
 
West Fargo Fire Chief Roy Schaschneider appreciates EFI Global reaching out to the department.
 
“Too often when we called out to a fire the fire is already full blown, flames high and everything. In a setting like this it gives us an opportunity for our firefighter to be there when the fire begins and just watch how it spreads, how it grows,” said Chief Schaschneider.
 
Fire investigators are working to make sure the investigations are done properly and one of the key points is that safety is paramount.
 
“The last thing we want to have to happen is for anybody to get injured on a training scenario like this so we take every precaution here on a training ground as we would out in an actual fire scene,” said Chief Schaschneider.
 
There are safety officers who keep track of who’s in the building and how the fire is developing so everyone is safe.

Later on in the project, local emergency responders will go through the aftermath of these rooms and try to determine what happened.

Investigator Brunner will be leading the class.
 
“The goal is fire safety, at the end of the day trying to make sure that training for fire departments, for fighting fires as well as fire prevention,” said Brunner.
 
It’s an opportunity for firefighters like Captain Porter to get extra training on how fires start, and an opportunity for our local investigators to get hands on training.