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Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens recap the California Conference of Arson Investigators’ fall conference, including live demonstrations, electrical training, and the strong turnout. They look ahead to the February conference, which will feature a live Scientific Advisory Work Group presentation and sessions on confirmation bias, fire dynamics, and defense challenges. They also share a short NFPA 921 refresher on the difference between a vapor and a gas.

Guest Melinda Rios joins the conversation to discuss how crime and intelligence analysis can support fire investigation. Drawing on her experience in law enforcement and her new role as a fire marshal, she explains how mapping, timelines, phone records, and other data can help investigators identify patterns, guide follow-up, support prevention, and organize case information. The group also discusses the limits of cell-site data, the need to consider alternative explanations and corroborating evidence, and how defense questions can strengthen investigative work.

The episode also shares information about IAAI student meetings and upcoming chapter trainings. Sponsor updates include an ITL Solutions offer for CleanSpace filters and a Fire Department Coffee discount for listeners.

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What can fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and suppression equipment reveal about a fire? In this episode, Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens explore NFPA 921 (2024), Chapter 8: Active Fire Protection Systems, and how these systems can help investigators reconstruct fire timelines, evaluate fire spread, and test origin and cause hypotheses. They discuss fire alarm event logs, smoke and heat detection, projected beam detectors, linear heat detection, acoustic soot agglomeration, and water-based and non-water-based suppression systems. The conversation also examines sprinkler performance, changes in building use, equipment placement, and the importance of comparing system design documents with actual installations. Throughout the episode, Scott and Chasity emphasize preserving electronic data and physical evidence, recognizing potential spoliation issues, and involving a qualified fire protection engineer or technician. Plus, hear field updates, Chasity’s experience using a CleanSpace half mask, training opportunities, and a terminology challenge: What is the difference between a vapor and a gas?

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What can a fire investigator learn from the remains of a burned smart outlet? In this short episode, Chasity and Scott speak with Eastern Kentucky University students Madison Hall and Elias Phipps at the 2026 IAAI International Training Conference in St. Louis. They discuss their research on identifying Wi-Fi-enabled smart outlets after a fire and distinguishing their components from those of standard AC adapters.

Madison and Elias burned and disassembled devices, then documented the surviving components with photographs and X-rays. In their experiments, relays and Wi-Fi chips remained recognizable even after substantial heat exposure. They explain how those components could help an investigator identify a smart outlet in a fire scene and decide what additional evidence to examine.

The conversation also explores why identification matters: a smart outlet can remotely supply power to a device that has already been left switched on. The students discuss a case from Sweden involving a remotely activated soldering iron, along with the potential value and challenges of obtaining device activity records. Their work offers a starting point for recognizing emerging technology in fire investigations and points to further research on the data these devices may retain.

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If you enjoyed the episode, give us 5 stars, hit the follow button, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you are listening in from.

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