Working Together to Fight Arson

About us

The successful prevention, investigation and prosecution of arson require a team effort.

Within British Columbia, Chapter 15 of the IAAI is the lead organization working within the field of arson investigations. Our members are committed to ensuring that those professionals whose responsibilities include the prevention, investigation,or prosecution of arson have the necessary tools.

Parent Organization - IAAI

We are part of a larger parent organization known as “The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)” that was formed and chartered as a non-profit organization in Louisville, Kentucky in 1951. The IAAI is the parent organization of Chapter 15 in British Columbia and manages its own separate membership registry with separate membership benefits and annual fees.

History

The idea to form the local British Columbia Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators was initiated in 1973 during an unofficial meeting held at the Burnaby Fire Department headquarters by a group of fire wardens and fire investigators.

The group agreed that an organization devoted to furthering the professional development of those persons engaged in the control of arson and related crimes was needed within British Columbia. Membership quickly grew from 10 to 35 under the leadership of Vancouver Fire Warden Ed Jackson within the first 8 months and it was then decided that the group would apply to become an official IAAI Chapter.

In 1973, Dan Lemieux attended a meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska and was granted a Chapter Charter by the IAAI for “British Columbia Chapter 15” of the IAAI. Chapter 15 became the fifteenth chartered Chapter and the very first Canadian Chapter of the IAAI. Dan Lemieux became the first official President and served for a term of 9 years.

Our Mission

Our organization is a professional association with representation from law enforcement, fire service, insurance professionals, governmental organizations and agencies, lawyers and private fire investigators. These individuals believe in working together to reduce loss of life and property, further fire prevention, and finding innovative ways to provide specialized training in fire and arson investigation.

We fulfill our mission by providing our members with an array of membership services designed to enable them to succeed in fighting arson within thier various jurisdictions and as applicable to thier various roles and responsibilities. Our core services include expansion of networking opportunities, providing training and dissemination of information related to fire investigation.

Code of Ethics

  1. I will, as an arson investigator, regard myself as a member of an important and honorable profession.

  2. I will conduct both my personal and official life so as to inspire the confidence of the public.

  3. I will not use my profession and my position of trust for personal advantage or profit.

  4. I will regard my fellow investigators with the same standards as a hold for myself. I will never betray a confidence nor otherwise jeopardize their investigation.

  5. I will regard it my duty to know my work thoroughly. It is my further duty to avail myself of every opportunity to learn more about my profession.

  6. I will avoid alliances with those whose goals are inconsistent with an honest and unbiased investigation.

  7. I will make no claim to professional qualifications which I do not possess.

  8. I will share all publicity equally with my fellow investigators, whether such publicity is favorable or unfavorable.

  9. I will be loyal to my superiors, to my subordinates, and to the organization I represent.

  10. I will bear in mind always that I am a truth-seeker not a case maker; that it is more important to protect the innocent than to convict the guilty.

Objectives

The objectives and purposes of this Association shall be:

  • To unite for mutual benefit those public officials and private persons engaged in the control of arson and kindred crimes.

  • To provide for exchange of technical information and developments.

  • To cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and associations to further fire investigation and the suppression of crime.

  • To encourage high professional standards of conduct among members, and to continually strive to eliminate all factors which interfere with the administration of justice.

  • To foster the advancement of the fire investigation profession through the promotion and facilitation of research; and the sponsorship of training, education and professional development.

Members can request a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws, or Minutes of the past meeting by contacting the President or Secretary.