Asheville Welcomes the Inaugural Mountain Fire Investigation Summit

The Inaugural Mountain Fire Investigation Summit Thrives in Asheville

Asheville opened its doors for the first time ever to host the inaugural Mountain Fire Investigation Summit on Tuesday, August 20. This comprehensive three-day program, organized by the North Carolina Internal Association of Arson Investigators, brought together participants from various fields including investigators, law enforcement, fire services, and more; and aimed to enhance their skills and understanding of fire investigations.

Intensive Training Creates More Skilled Personnel

Darren Solomon, President of the North Carolina Internal Association of Arson Investigators, outlined the summit’s unique approach to training. He said, “What is special about the training is that we specifically craft it to the needs of this region. We’ve got everything from fire protection systems, basic photography, fire scene and crime documentation, to fatal fire investigations.”

Additionally, the training included sections on improvised explosive devices, underlining the importance of awareness by quoting that it’s “very important for first responders and investigators to understand what to look for when they approach for their safety.” Solomon also emphasized the importance of recognizing the volatility of these substances to avoid catastrophic situations in the field.

Mountain Fire Investigation Summit: A Commendable Initiative

This hands-on training summit attained great success and has been perceived as a much-needed initiative, considering the significant role played by well-trained personnel in dealing with potentially hazardous situations, protecting local communities, and successfully performing their duties.

Asheville- A Perfect Host City

Hosting this impactful summit, Asheville once again demonstrated its commitment towards enhancing the skills of local investigators, law enforcement, and fire services, and their preparedness for tackling fire-related incidents. Asheville’s community demonstrated great enthusiasm and hospitality in accommodating this paramount summit.

Preparing for Future Summits

Proud of this successful inaugural summit, Solomon confirmed plans for making it an annual event. He expressed his excitement of finally being able to host the summit in Asheville, after plans spanning over two decades. He stated, “We plan to make it an annual event.”

Future Implications for Asheville and Beyond

With the commitment to host similar summits annually, Asheville not only paves the way for creating a more advanced, prepared, and efficient community of first responders, investigators, and law enforcement but also acts as a role model for other cities to host such crucial public service initiatives. The future of fire and safety in Asheville and its neighboring regions appears brighter thanks to these efforts.

The summit was concluded successfully on Thursday, August 22, furthering North Carolina’s commitment to improving fire investigation training and safety.