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In this live episode, Scott opens the show solo from San Diego where he's instructing a 40-hour basic origin and cause class, while Chasity is held up at home with the flu. Scott extends a heartfelt thank you to conference attendees who shared feedback and listening habits, with many enjoying the podcast during workouts, commutes, or before calls. He encourages listeners to get involved with their local IAAI chapters to accelerate their learning curves through networking with experienced investigators.

The featured interview showcases two IAAI leaders: Immediate Past President Trace Lawless and current President Dave Bridges. Their discussion highlights the organization's impressive progress on strategic planning goals, with a focus on operational excellence and international expansion. Trace shares his 43-year journey in fire investigation, from public service to leading a major carrier's investigation team before retirement. Dave reveals his unusual path from firefighter and accelerant detection canine handler to attorney, driven by a desire to bridge the gap between technical investigation and legal expertise.

Both leaders emphasize IAAI's commitment to serving investigators worldwide through initiatives like Spanish-language captioning, online testing platforms, and an upcoming mobile app that will facilitate networking among members. They encourage new investigators to get involved through the IAAI website (firearson.com) and local chapters. The episode concludes with a sponsorship message from Clean Space, ITL, and Tim Costa, followed by the "Can You Use It in a Sentence?" segment introducing the term "plume" for discussion in the next episode.

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In this episode, hosts Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens record live from the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) International Training Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With nearly 900 attendees at the conference, the hosts discuss the value of networking and the exciting atmosphere of the event, intentionally keeping background noise to give listeners the authentic conference experience.

Scott and Chasity begin by emphasizing the importance of connection in the fire investigation community, encouraging listeners to attend these conferences, bring business cards, and engage with experienced professionals. The hosts share their excitement about upcoming interview segments with industry leaders including Doug Byron and Elaine Pope, which will be released in future episodes.

The main segment features an interview with Sawyer Garriques, chair of the IAAI Student Committee, who discusses the vital role of the committee in connecting students with industry professionals. Sawyer, a fire investigator for an insurance carrier who graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, explains how the student committee works to bridge the gap between education and professional practice. He shares information about student memberships ($50 annually compared to the regular $100 fee), the resources available through IAAI, and upcoming virtual events including a career fair planned for September. Sawyer emphasizes that anyone interested in fire investigation can reach out to students@firearson.com, even if they're not technically students.

The episode also includes a brief segment with Tim Costa from Clean Space, who discusses their respiratory protection products designed specifically for fire investigators. The hosts close with their regular segment, "Can You Use It in a Sentence," where they explain fire science terminology, including laminar versus turbulent flames and premixed versus diffusion combustion. Scott introduces "networking" as the word of the week, highlighting its importance at conferences like the IAAI.

Throughout the episode, Scott and Chasity emphasize their commitment to connecting new investigators with resources and mentors in the field, making this live conference episode a perfect example of their mission to share knowledge and ignite curiosity in fire investigation.

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In this episode, hosts Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens dive into several hot topics in fire investigation. They begin with a lighthearted generational gap test comparing lyrics to "Blame It On..." across different age groups, before transitioning to important professional content. The hosts discuss upcoming classes at the International Training Conference (ITC) in New Jersey, highlighting courses on AI in fire investigations, lithium-ion batteries, and forensic evidence processing.

The conversation takes a serious turn as they discuss safety protocols for investigators exposed to lithium-ion battery fires, revealing a new departmental procedure for blood testing after exposure to these hazardous materials. They share valuable insights on evidence collection, including a practical tip about an IAAI Evidence Collection Guide app that investigators can download to their phones for quick reference in the field. The episode wraps up with their "Unbiased Opinion" segment analyzing liability in a case involving a wall heater fire and teases their next topic on laminar versus diffusion flames. They also celebrate reaching 100 five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts ahead of schedule.

Thank you for listening!

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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