The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the International Association of Arson Investigators announced the launch of CFITrainer.net at the IAAI's 56th annual conference in Arlington, Va.

The new distance-learning program on the Web is designed to provide affordable and consistent training to the certified fire investigator and to broader arson investigation communities. ATF participated on the steering committee that developed the training modules and beta-tested the program.

From the Web site, arson investigators can pursue programs, track their progress, take online evaluations and tests, view live programs and participate in Web seminars in a secure environment. “It brings the resources of highly experienced investigators and current training to fire investigators worldwide,” according to IAAI.

The testing and documentation features are important to fire investigators who require credit for IAAI — CFI certification. The training modules are designed to help fire investigators meet the requirements of NFPA 1033, Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators, but IAAI stresses the system is available to all fire investigators, regardless of their level of training or certification.

CFITrainer.net is ATF'S latest partnership venture with IAAI. Interfire VR, a CD-based training tool and reference source, was the first e-learning initiative between the two agencies. For more details, see www.CFITrainer.net.