Arson Investigation Class Coming To Algood

Algood will bring together local fire officials over the next two days for a free arson investigation class taught by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Fire Chief David Judd said it is a two-day class for police, fire, and EMA employees throughout the region. Judd said the class is an introductory course that covers the basics of arson investigation and fire science.

“There’s some legal aspects that will have to be covered, when you go and your investigation’s turned to the legal side, so we’ll be covering some of those aspects, some case studies, and you know, just collaboration, working together between the agencies, what we’re looking for on an arson case,” Judd said.

Judd said he was inspired to bring the course to Algood after taking it himself in Monterey last February. He said it is an important way to educate first responders from departments that cannot afford additional training.

“I know of a lot of fire departments that have personnel, they can’t afford to send their firefighters off for the training,” Judd said. “So having something that’s located here in Algood, you know, right down the road from a lot of volunteer fire departments, that, you know, may need that training, it was a no-brainer.”

Judd said TBI will be bringing resources from their state lab to perform demonstrations for the class. He said he has heard from people in Putnam, Overton, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties looking to attend the course.