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This episode is basically a training recap and a reality check for anyone trying to level up in origin and cause—especially in motor vehicle fires and evidence handling. Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens kick things off by talking about hosting multiple IAAI classes in Orange County, including the newer Evidence Collection course and the Evidence Collection Technician (ECT) practicum, with real talk about what surprised them, what they wish the class showed more clearly, and why “verbalizing the process” is the make-or-break skill on skills-based testing.

Then they sit down with Chris Ellis (motor vehicle fire investigation instructor) to talk about how he got into the fire service, how he became an investigator, and why vehicle fires intimidate even seasoned investigators: fast consumption, heavy damage, and patterns that don’t behave like a structure fire. Chris breaks down what the 3-day Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation class covers, why the curriculum was recently rewritten, and how the course is built to serve both the 6-month investigator and the 20-year veteran—including the value of having manufacturer reps (Volvo, Subaru, Honda, Mercedes, etc.) in the room to strengthen real-world knowledge and future case networking.

The episode also gets practical: how instructors build diverse investigation groups (not “buddy groups”), why public/private collaboration matters, and how inviting the public agency to private vehicle exams can unlock crucial scene context you can’t get later at a yard. You’ll also hear student perspectives from Elliot and Annabelle Brown (children of fire investigator Kevin Brown) on what clicked for them—especially the confidence boost from learning vehicle-specific dynamics and applying them in the final scenario.

Finally, you get a fun courtroom-minded segment on donut patterns (NFPA 921 reference included), why terminology can wreck your testimony if you’re unprepared, and a teaser “word of the week” for next time: white paper.

Trainings and dates (from the WTF segment)

• Kansas IAAI Annual Conference — February 3–5, 2026 — Wichita, Kansas
• New Mexico IAAI Annual Training Conference — February 23–27, 2026 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
• California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) — February 23–26, 2026 — San Luis Obispo, California (discounted rate if registered by February 2)
• IAAI International Training Conference (ITC) — April 26–30, 2026 — St. Louis, Missouri

National Fire Academy (NFA) application windows mentioned:

• Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026 (for on-campus classes occurring in April–June 2026)
• Mar 15, 2026 – Apr 15, 2026 (for on-campus classes occurring in July–Sept 2026)

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