FFDIC 2026 Law

Participants will learn the various aspects of fire-related death investigations as well as common approaches to process each scene appropriately. Participants will learn a systematic process for handling the crime scene, from the initial approach, through scene documentation, and appropriate evidence collection techniques. Additionally, participants will see how the latest technology and forensic sciences can assist in your investigation.
 
In addition to hands-on processing of crime scenes with human cadavers, you will gain valuable knowledge regarding interagency working relationships.
 

“Students must bring their own standard field equipment, PPE and field apparel as per their agency's protocol for conducting a fatal fire investigation.  If you're unsure what to bring, please refer to our FAQ page. Laptop computers or equivalent devices are mandatory, as all training materials, handouts, and tests will be provided electronically. Each team will also be required to create a PowerPoint presentation on the last day of the course.

SLOFIST will have shirts and hats available for purchase.”

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus are not needed. Students are also welcome to bring (but not required) any investigation tools, vehicles, or equipment they have available to them. 

Our video equipment is not compatible with Apple Mac computers.  When your team puts together your Power Point Presentation for the last day, your program should be loaded on a PC or have the ability to be loaded onto a Windows Based Computer.

Topics Include:

  • Fire death scene preservation
  • Duties of responding fire personnel
  • Duties of responding law enforcement
  • Investigative procedures at the death scene
  • The team approach to death investigations
  • Causes and manner of fire-related death
  • Roadside body dump and burn cases
  • Forensic means to determine time of death
  • Processing burned vehicles and rooms
  • Antemortem vs. postmortem burns
  • Biological evidence related to fire deaths

Audience:

Detectives, coroners. crime scene investigators, fire investigators, and medical examiners only (private investigators and non-sworn are not permitted to attend).

The course fee includes tuition, and all student reference materials (provided electronically), all lunches, and one dinner/mixer (breakfast is provided by the hotel if staying at Embassy Suites).

*Note: materials will not be printed! Laptops (or equivalent) are mandatory.

Credit card payments only (add 3.6% processing fee***Non-refundable!***).

Transportation and Lodging:

The San Luis Obispo County Airport is within ten miles of the training location.

Check-in (lobby area Sunday night and Monday morning) and classroom instruction are located at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The field training site is located near Camp San Luis Obispo (approx 10 min drive), car-pooling is recommended. 

 Booking Link

 

Coming Soon- please check back later

Room Cost:

$242.00 per night + $12.00 per night parking, + Taxes

Rate Start date: 6/28/2026
Rate End date:   7/3/2025 
Last day to book: TBD

 Booking Code

  "TBD"

Hotel Name:

Embassy Suites San Luis Obispo

Hotel Address:

333 Madonna Road

San Luis Obispo, CA. 93405
 Book By TBD
   

Phone Number:

(805) 549-0800

Continuing Education Credits:

12 CEUʼs for Emergency Medical Technicians for medical recertification. (Not gurenteed)

California attendees: FFDIC is California POST Plan IV Certified (Control #2440-30183-22001). POST will reimburse qualified agencies for subsistence, commuter lunch, and travel.

Event Information

Event Date 06-29-2026 8:00 am
Event End Date 07-03-2026 5:00 pm
Course Capacity 20
Seats Still Available 16
Individual Price $2,300.00
Location Embassy Suites San Luis Obispo
Attachment 2026 FFDIC Welcome Letter.pdf
FFDIC Brochure for 2026.pdf

Agendas

Sun 7pm-9PM

Early Registration Checkin

Students can check in early Sunday evening in the Hotel Lobby
Mon 7am-8am

Check in

Student check-in for those who did not check in on Sunday evening

Mon 8AM-5PM

Course Start

The FFDIC class room will commence in the designated Hotel Conference Room. Lunch provided in the classroom at 12PM.

Tues 8AM-12PM

Travel to training grounds

Students will travel to field training grounds to view demo burns
Tues 12PM-5PM

Travel to Classroom

Students will travel to the Embassy Suites classroom. Lunch provided in the atrium Classroom instruction continues

Tues 5:30PM

Student Mixer/Dinner

Student/staff mixer with dinner provided.

Wed 8AM-12PM

Classroom

Classroom instruction continues
Wed 12PM-5PM

Travel to Training grounds

Students will travel to the training grounds. Lunch provided in the field Field scenarios will begin.
Thurs 8AM-5PM

Field Scenarios

Field scenarios continue. Lunch provided in the field.

Friday 8AM-5PM

Testing/Presentations

Students will complete the final exam and give a presentation on their scenario.

Speakers

Patrick Wills

Supervising Investigator

Long Beach Fire/ATF Arson Unit; Investigator Training Officer Long Beach CA Retired

Randy Champion, DBA

Fire Prevention Captain (Retired)

Fire Prevention Captain (Retired). Fire Investigator, CCAI-C Champion Fire Investiga-tions (CA-PI189072).

Dr. Eric Barterlink

Forensic Anthropologist

Forensic Anthropologist Chico State University, Chico

Dr. Robert Kimsey

Forensic Entomologist

Department of Entomology University of California, Davis

Rebecca Behrens-D-ABMDI

Deputy Coroner

Yolo County Sheriff-Coroner Office, Woodland CA

Robert K. James Jr.

Deputy coroner/Medicolegal Death Investigator

Lake Count Coroner’s Office, Waukegan, IL