SWAIT Reno 2025
SWAIT Reno 2025 has concluded for the year. Another great year of training! We are hard at work lining up next year’s training and presenters. The 2026 dates will be posted once we have them set. We expect to conduct the training around mid February or early March 2026.
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Is your agency looking for specialty training in wildland arson? Contact us for your wildland arson training needs.
Support@invfconsultants.com
Synopsis:
The 2025 Serial Wildland Arson Investigation Training will emphasize the application of data analysis in identifying, prioritizing resources for, and monitoring emerging arson events or series of fires. Attendees will benefit from insights by a highly experienced practitioner from the FBI, who will illustrate how cellular data aids in dynamic and ongoing criminal investigations. This session will include vivid examples from complex investigations in which cell technology played a crucial role in tracking, identifying, and apprehending multiple serious offenders.
Additionally, there will be presentations focused on the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in crime analysis. Participants can expect to review a variety of case studies that demonstrate how GIS can significantly enhance arson investigations and assist in strategic planning.
The training will also address the "human aspect" of arson investigation. Multiple speakers will present case studies of serial arsonists and discuss methods for engaging with arsonists who have mental health concerns or special needs. An award-winning arson investigator will specifically address the impact of cognitive bias in modern investigations and provide strategies for mitigating its effects.
Furthermore, a crime lab expert will deliver a lecture on the exploitation of questioned documents in the criminal investigation process, rounding out a comprehensive training experience.
Real world Serial/Wildland Arson Investigation Training is hard to come by! Networking opportunities abound at this high-caliber training event. We invite you to join us in Reno and encourage you to bring your colleagues along for this invaluable experience.
Make sure to sign up for the newsletter for additional training updates and keep an eye on the website for additional information on SWAIT Reno 2025.
Schedule
Day 1
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
0745-0800 Check-in
Nordskog/Taylor/Fischer
0800 - 0815 Opening Remarks
0815-1000 Cell Data Analysis
1000-1200 Analysis of Questioned Documents
1315-1500 Mental Health Related Wildland Arson
1500-1600 10 Most Common Errors in Collecting Fire Debris
1600-1700 The Evolution of Fire Debris Analysis
Day 2
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
0800-1200 Cognitive Bias in Arson Investigations and Strategic Approach to Fire/Arson Investigation
1315-1700 Case Linkage during a Wildland Arson Homicide:
Cody Virgin Murder
Day 3
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
0800-1200 Serial Wildland Arson Investigations
1315-1500 Lessons Learned - Serial Arson Investigations and prosecuting firearms related fires
1500-1530 NWCG Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Update and the new PMS412 Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Investigations
1530 - 1700 Wildfire Arson Factors
We reserve the right to change the schedule due to unforeseen circumstances and last minute cancellations from our speakers. The speaker or the agency/company they work for are responsible for the content of their presentations. Opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of INVF Consultants and the Serial Wildland Arson Investigation Training. See Terms and Conditions for additional details.
Mike Easter
Special Agent, FBI (Retired)
CAST National Asset
Contact: (805) 539-3285 measter@csliexpert.net
Mike Easter is a retired FBI Special Agent with over 20 years of investigative experience and over a decade of experience as a National Asset with the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.ST.). Mike worked on thousands of cases involving the analysis of mobile device location information to locate victims and subjects of kidnappings, homicides, robberies, other violent crimes, and national security matters. Over the course of his career, Mike designed and created the curriculum the FBI used to teach law enforcement partners the methodology for using mobile device location information to find the missing, the lost, and the hiding. Further, Mike has been an expert witness in over 200 criminal cases and has taught expert witness testimony for over a decade.
Class Topic: Cell Data Analysis for Criminal Investigations
Class Synopsis: SA Easter will be presenting his highly acclaimed class on the modern use of cellular technology in support of criminal investigations. His class takes a complex subject and makes it easy for investigators to understand and to present in a courtroom. He has an excellent mix of real-world case studies and high-quality graphics to support his lecture. He will also be available for questions and assistance to investigators on current cases.
Scott Fischer
INVF Consultants, LLC
Contact: scott@invfconsultants.com
Scott Fischer retired a year ago as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Land Management. While working for the BLM, Scott specialized in wildland fire arson. He was an agency rep and vice chair of the NWCG Willdland Fire Investigation Subcommittee when he retired. He currently is an associate member of the Subcommittee and is the project lead for the FI310 update. Additionally, Scott is assisting with the PMS 412 and FI210 updates. He was the lead author for the updated Wildland Arson Factors chapter in the upcoming PMS412. Scott is the owner of INVF Consultants, LLC providing training and consultations services for wildland fire investigations.
Class Topics: NWCG Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Update, the new PMS412 Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Investigations and Wildfire Arson Factors
Class Synopsis: Scott will talk about what is happening with the Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee and upcoming release of PMS412. He will briefly discuss some of the changes to the document. Scott will spend the bulk of the time reviewing the new PMS412 Chapter 8: Wildfire Arson Factors.
Nicole Brewer
Portland Fire and Rescue Service (Retired)
Envista Forensics Consultant
Contact: Nicole.brewer@envistaforensics.com
Nicole Brewer is a recently retired Arson Investigator from the Portland (OR) Fire and Rescue Service. She worked for that agency for more than 26 years and now is employed as a Consultant for Envista Forensics. She is an IAAI CFI, and also a CFEI through NAFI. Nicole has a master’s degree in forensic sciences from Oklahoma State University, and is currently pursuing her PhD. Nicole is highly decorated and due to her work in the arson field was named both the Oregon Fire Investigator of the Year, and the IAAI’s Investigator of the Year-2022. Brewer will be presenting two different subjects during her four-hour block of instruction.
Class Topic: Cognitive Bias in Arson Investigations with Arson Case Studies
Class Synopsis: We will look at common issue within the arson investigation field and the role of Cognitive Bias as it pertains to arson investigations.
Class Topic: A Strategic Approach to Fire/Arson Investigation
Class Synopsis: This presentation will explore serial arson case studies and will discuss the transition from emergency response to fire investigation. It will also cover strategies to minimize cognitive bias, ensuring objective and effective investigations in complex fire scenarios.
David Brien
Forensic Lab Manager (Retired)
Contact: djb314159@gmail.com
David Brien has an MS in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. Retired manager of EFI Forensic laboratory with 32 years experience. Analyzed over 50,000 fire debris samples and testified over 90 times.
Class Topic: 10 Most Common Errors in Collecting Fire Debris
Class Synopsis: Lists the most common concerns and issues associated with collection of evidence for the analysis of ignitable liquids. Class goal is to improve the value and success rate of fire debris sample collection.
Class Topic: The Evolution of Fire Debris Analysis
Class Synopsis: A brief history of ignitable liquids and laboratory testing methods: Class goal is to give a basic understanding of forensic laboratory testing and give specific issues in the past, present and future of arson investigations.
Sophia Fong
Special Agent
US Forest Service
Contact: Sophia.fong@usda.gov
Sophia Fong is a Special Agent with the U.S. Forest Service, working on both criminal and civil wildland fire cases. She is a Certified Wildland Fire Investigator, has been part of Wildland Fire Investigation Teams throughout the Southwest, and has taught numerous NWCG courses. Her law enforcement career began in 2005 for the state of Arizona before transiting to her federal career.
Class Topic: Mental Health Related Wildland Arson
Class Synopsis: Mental health related arson is on the rise throughout out the U.S. Fires are common place within our unhoused communities. SA Fong will give us several case studies and lessons learned from arson fires she has investigated related to suspects with mental health issues.
Morgan Dale
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Forest Service
Contact: morgan.dale@usda.gov
Morgan Dale is the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Northern Region of the Forest Service. Morgan began his Forest Service career in 1999 as a seasonal employee. He was a wildland firefighter five years before joining Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations as an officer in 2007. Morgan has worked both criminal and civil wildland fires cases across the country. He has also taught numerous NWCG courses in the US and abroad including FI-110 and FI-210.
Class Topic: Serial Wildland Arson Investigations
Class Synopsis: SA Dale will present multiple wildland arson case studies focusing on identifying and collecting physical evidence, the effective use of geolocation data in identifying the scope of a series, and witness/suspect interviews.
Suji Lee
Forensic Document Examiner
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept.
Scientific Services Bureau
Forensic document examiner Suji Lee is an expert with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Scientific Services Bureau, specializing in the analysis of questioned documents. With expertise in handwriting analysis, alterations, latent writing impressions, and document authentication, she plays a vital role in criminal investigations and provides expert testimony in court.
Class Topic: Analysis of Questioned Documents
Class Synopsis: In her upcoming presentation, Lee will focus on the proper collection and preservation of evidence related to questioned documents, emphasizing key techniques to ensure the integrity of the evidence is maintained throughout the investigative process.
Ed Nordskog
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office (Retired)
Contact: ednordskog@gmail.com Arsonprofiler.com
Ed is a recently retired Arson/Bomb Detective from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office. He has 34 years experience as a Detective with 21 years and 2,100 cases as an arson/bomb investigator. He specialized in major cases, serial arsonists, and fire death scenes. He is an arson profiler and expert who has testified over 108 times on arson, serial arson, and fire death cases, including multiple arson murders and death penalty cases. He has written six books on arson, arsonists, serial arsonists, arson profiling, wildland arson, and fire death investigations. In retirement, Ed is working as an author, instructor and consultant to prosecutors, federal, and local agencies on major arson cases, cold cases, and any fire fatalities.
He is a longtime instructor for arson, serial arson, arson profiling, and fire death investigation, throughout the US, Canada, and multiple other countries.He has over 115 medals, awards, and commendations for investigations over his career, including IAAI’s Investigator of the Year, and IAAI’s Accomplishment of the Year for major arson investigations. In 2005 he was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Class Topic: Case Linkage during a Wildland Arson Homicide
Class Synopsis: Many investigators have heard of the terms "case linkage" or "linkage analysis" as related to Wildland Serial Arson Investigations. This class will present a real-world case history of a murder/arson in a wildland setting, and the use of "case linkage" techniques to connect the offender to at least six other crime scenes. In this complex case, the investigators connected multiple, widely spaced crime scenes together via a combination of cell phone analysis, tire impressions, and social media history. The instructor, Ed Nordskog was brought in as a "Profiler/Case Analyst" for this investigation.
C. Todd Smith
Senior Special Agent (Retired)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives
Contact: christopher.smith@atf.gov
Todd Smith is a Senior Special Agent (retired 2025) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He is a Certified Fire Investigator and Certified Explosives Specialist and was a member of the National Response Team. SA Smith spent a total of 29 years in law enforcement, with he last 22 years assigned to the ATF’s Spokane Field Office
Class Topic: Lessons Learned - Serial Arson Investigations and Prosecuting Firearms Related Wildland Fires
Class Synopsis: SSA Smith will present his technical insights on the unique field of Exploding Targets/Tannerite-caused wildfire investigations- where he was a technical expert on 8-10 cases in his career. He will also talk about a wildfire-caused fatality event which was initiated by a “Dragon’s Breath” shotgun round. In addition, SA Smith will speak about “lessons learned” during serial arson investigations.