Indiana Chapter of the IAAI

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Indiana Chapter of the IAAI

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The scientific search for the location of the origin of a fire with the goal of determining the cause that started the fire.

To promote education and excellence in the field of fire investigation, and, to utilize our collective knowledge and experience to promote safety, protect the public and seek the truth All members of this Association strive to establish the truth and report the facts. Public and private fire investigators are committed to these principles. Quality investigations result in improved public safety. Defective products are identified, careless human practices are publicized and arsonists are prosecuted when competent fire investigations are completed.

10/21/2026

🔥MEET THE EXECUTIVE BOARD INDIANA-IAAI🔥
Today, we're excited to introduce Matt Bussard, who serves as the Central District Director for the Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)!

In this role, Matt is responsible for scheduling, coordinating, and facilitating professional training opportunities for fire investigators throughout Indiana's Central District, including the greater Indianapolis area. His passion for education and professional development makes him an outstanding fit for this important position.

Matt currently serves as a Battalion Chief and Commander of the Indianapolis Fire Department's Fire Investigations Unit (FIU). With more than 25 years of fire service experience, he has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief. Matt is also a proud United States Marine Corps veteran.

Throughout his career, Matt has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, public service, and advancing the fire investigation profession.

His extensive background in fire investigation, origin and cause determination, and investigator development is supported by several nationally recognized professional certifications:

🚒 IAAI Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), Fire Investigation Technician (FIT), Certified Instructor (CI), and Evidence Collection Technician (ECT).

🚒 NAFI Certifications: Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI), Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI), and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII).

In addition to his responsibilities with the Indianapolis Fire Department and Indiana IAAI, Matt serves on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Fire Investigation Task Force. He has been actively involved in developing and coordinating investigative training programs alongside respected instructors and subject-matter experts from across the country.

One of Matt's greatest professional passions is education and mentorship. He takes tremendous pride in helping newer investigators develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence. He believes the fire investigation profession grows stronger through collaboration, sharing experiences, welcoming different perspectives, and a continued commitment to professional improvement.

Matt also recognizes the tremendous influence that colleagues throughout both the public and private fire investigation communities have had on his own professional development. He remains committed to providing that same support and encouragement to the next generation of investigators.

We are proud to have Matt representing the Central District on the Indiana IAAI Executive Board. His experience, leadership, and dedication to providing quality training opportunities make him a tremendous asset to our chapter and the fire investigation community.

Please join us in recognizing Matt Bussard for his continued service, leadership, and commitment to advancing the fire investigation profession throughout Indiana!

10/13/2026

Historic Fire Investigation Case: The Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire from 2007. 🔥🔥🔥

On June 18, 2007, a devastating fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, South Carolina, claimed the lives of nine Charleston firefighters.

The fire began in discarded furniture and packing materials outside the store's loading dock area. Flames spread into the building and eventually reached the large furniture showrooms and warehouse. The combination of heavy fuel loads, large open spaces, limited ventilation, and the absence of an automatic sprinkler system contributed to the fire's rapid development.

Investigators determined that as the fire grew, large amounts of smoke and unburned combustible gases collected above the showroom ceiling. When the front windows were broken, additional oxygen entered the building, allowing the fire to intensify rapidly and spread throughout the showroom.

The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire remains one of the most significant tragedies in modern American firefighting history. It serves as an important reminder of the dangers of rapidly changing fire conditions, ventilation-limited fires, combustible contents, and the importance of building fire protection systems.

As fire investigators, we must continue to study and learn from incidents like this. By understanding how fires start, spread, and develop, we can use that knowledge to improve our investigations, strengthen fire prevention efforts, and help protect firefighters and the communities we serve.

We honor the Charleston Nine and their ultimate sacrifice by continuing to learn from the past and using those lessons to help prevent future tragedies. ❤️🚒

The factual details in this post are supported by the following official sources:

NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super Store Fire (2011)— fire origin, fire spread, ventilation, and contributing conditions.

NIST
Charleston Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report
— official post-incident review.

10/06/2026

🌽🚜 Harvest Season in the Hoosier State 🚜🌽
The Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators would like to recognize and thank the hardworking farmers who help feed our communities, our state, and our country. As harvest season continues across Indiana, we wish all of our farmers a safe and successful harvest.

With long hours in the fields and heavy equipment working in dry, dusty conditions, harvest season can also bring an increased risk of machinery and field fires. Combines, tractors, and other agricultural equipment operate around dry crops and crop residue, where a small heat source or mechanical problem can quickly become a serious fire.

🔥 A few simple precautions can make a big difference:
• Keep properly rated and maintained fire extinguishers readily accessible on equipment.
• Regularly remove accumulated crop debris, dust, and chaff from machinery, especially around engines, exhaust systems, bearings, and other heat-producing components.
• Inspect equipment for fuel, oil, hydraulic, and electrical problems before heading to the field.
• Watch for unusual smells, smoke, overheating, or mechanical problems while operating equipment.
• Keep a phone available and know the location of the field so emergency responders can be directed there quickly.
• If a fire occurs and cannot be safely controlled, move to a safe location and call 911.

To Indiana's farmers: thank you for what you do. Please take the extra time to protect yourself, your equipment, and your livelihood this harvest season.
Stay safe, Indiana. 🌽🚜🇺🇸

10/01/2026

🔎Okay Fire Investigators, we want to hear from you!

Tell us about your most recent lithium-ion battery fire investigation. What was the biggest challenge you encountered during the investigation? And from your experience, what do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the fire service and the public as lithium-ion batteries become increasingly common?🔥

Drop your experiences in the comments. Sharing what we're seeing in the field helps all of us become better investigators and gives us another opportunity to educate the communities we serve.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign brings attention to an issue fire departments and fire investigators are seeing more and more—lithium-ion battery safety.🔋

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. They power our cell phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, electric vehicles, hoverboards, portable power stations, toys, and countless other devices we use every day.🪫

When these batteries are damaged, improperly charged, exposed to excessive heat, modified, or used with incompatible charging equipment, the results can be serious. Battery failures can involve rapid fire growth, extreme heat, toxic gases, thermal runaway, and the potential for re-ignition.⚠️

Training. Education. Collaboration. A Safer Indiana.

09/28/2026

💡What can a distorted/incandescent lightbulb potentially tell fire investigators about fire conditions?
Let's hear from our fire investigators!

What do you see, and what could this fire effect potentially tell you during an origin and cause investigation? Drop your thoughts in the comments below👇. Keep the discussion professional and respectful—we're here to learn from one another.

We'll follow up with what 921 says about distorted incandescent light bulbs and their potential investigative significance later today.

09/24/2026

🔥 Indiana IAAI Myth vs. Fact — Crazed Glass

MYTH: 🔎
“Crazed glass proves that a fire burned rapidly or that an accelerant was used.”

FACT: 🫆
Crazed glass, by itself, does not prove rapid fire growth or the presence of an ignitable liquid. Modern fire-investigation research has shown that crazing can occur when heated glass is rapidly cooled, including when water from fire-suppression activities contacts hot glass.

Crazed glass generally appears as a complicated network of short, straight or crescent-shaped cracks.

The important investigative takeaway is that investigators shouldn't use crazed glass alone to make a determination about fire cause or ignitable-liquid involvement. It needs to be evaluated along with the totality of the scene evidence.

09/21/2026

Historic Fire Investigation Case: The Station Nightclub Fire 2003. 🔥🔥🔥

Pyrotechnics used during a Great White performance ignited combustible polyurethane foam near the stage in the nightclub. The fire spread extraordinarily quickly, and 100 people died.

Investigators had video evidence showing ignition and rapid fire development. The Station Nightclub fire remains one of the most significant cases in modern fire safety and investigation, providing important lessons in fire behavior, rapid fire development, combustible interior finishes, and occupant evacuation.

As fire investigators, it’s imperative that we thoroughly investigate, study, and learn from tragedies such as the Station Nightclub fire. By understanding how and why these incidents occur, we can apply those lessons to improve fire prevention, strengthen safety practices, and help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

We honor those who were lost by continuing to learn from the past and using that knowledge to help protect lives in the future.

09/18/2026

🔥Meet the IAAI Indiana Chapter Executive Board!🔥

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be introducing the members of the IAAI Indiana Chapter Executive Board and giving you an opportunity to learn a little more about the people serving our chapter.

First up is our Southern District Director, Anthony Walker!

As Southern District Director, Anthony helps provide training and educational opportunities throughout southern Indiana focused on fire investigation and helping investigators continue to grow their knowledge and skills.

Anthony has served with the Seymour Fire Department for 28 years, where he currently holds the rank of Assistant Chief. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous fire and EMS certifications through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, along with professional certifications through the International Association of Arson Investigators, including Fire Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT) and Evidence Collection Technician (IAAI-ECT).

When he's not at the firehouse or working with the IAAl, Anthony enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelly, and their three dogs, Archie, Margo, and Kelsie. He also stays busy working as a Realtor with Millman Realty Partners.

We're proud to have Chief Walker representing our members and helping advance fire investigation training and education throughout southern Indiana.

Please join us in recognizing Southern District Director Anthony Walker!👏👏👏

09/17/2026

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security describes arson as a leading cause of property damage and loss in Indiana.

According to the April 2025 edition of the Hoosier Responder, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Fire Investigations Section handles approximately 600 fire and explosion investigations each year across the state.

Behind every investigation is the important work of determining the origin and cause, preserving evidence, documenting the scene, and, when a fire is intentionally set, helping ensure those responsible are held accountable.

These numbers are a reminder of just how important trained and dedicated fire investigators are to communities throughout Indiana.

The Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators is proud to support fire investigators through training, education, professional development, and collaboration as we work together to advance the profession and protect the communities we serve. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

09/11/2026

🔥 IAAI-IN Represented at the Indiana Fire & EMS Leadership Conference 🔥

This week, IAAI-IN Secretary Jessica Davis and Second Vice President Mark Gillaspy proudly represented the Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators at the Indiana Fire & EMS Leadership Conference.

The conference provides a valuable opportunity for fire and EMS leaders from across Indiana to come together, exchange ideas, collaborate, train, and learn from one another, all with the shared goal of strengthening leadership and building stronger fire and emergency services throughout our state.

For IAAI-IN, the conference was also an excellent opportunity to connect with fire service leaders and highlight the critical role that fire investigation plays in the overall mission of the fire service. Jessica and Mark were able to share information about the resources, training, professional development, networking, and other benefits available through membership in the IAAI and the Indiana Chapter.

Strong fire investigations require trained and knowledgeable investigators, but they also require support and understanding from fire service leadership. By continuing to build relationships with departments across Indiana, we hope to expand our membership, strengthen our network of investigators, and provide departments with additional resources to enhance their fire investigation programs.

We appreciate everyone who stopped by to speak with Jessica and Mark, learn more about IAAI-IN, and discuss how our organization can support their department.

Together, we can continue advancing the profession of fire investigation and strengthening Indiana’s fire service. 🔥

Address

P. O. Box 80132
Indianapolis, IN
46280

Website

http://www.iniaai.org/

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