TO ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF NSWAFI   You are invited to attend an Education Night run by the NSW Association of Fire Investigators Inc. on the subject of:   Depth Of Calcination In Gypsum Plasterboards During Fire Exposure This presentation explores methods for predicting the depth of calcination in gypsum plasterboards during fire exposure. Researchers utilised both experimental measurements and numerical modelling to create accurate correlations between heat flux and material degradation. The study highlighted the chemical dehydration process that occurs when gypsum is heated, causing it to become brittle and change colour. Furthermore, the project investigated the use of digital image processing and artificial intelligence to identify lines of demarcation on fire-damaged walls. These advanced AI-driven edge detection methods significantly outperformed traditional algorithms, offering a more precise tool for fire investigators to analyse burn patterns. This multifaceted approach aims to improve the scientific accuracy of fire scene reconstruction and forensic analysis. ______________________________________________________________________ Dr Gregory E. Gorbett is a full-time Professor at Eastern Kentucky University, teaching in the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology Program. Dr Gorbett is also a professional Fire and Explosion Analyst with Fire Dynamics Analysts. He holds National Board Certification as a CFEI, IAAI-CFI, and CFPS Dr Gorbett holds two BS degrees: (1) Forensic Science and (2) Fire Science. He also holds two MS degrees: (1) Executive Fire Service Leadership and (2) Fire Protection Engineering. He also has a PhD in Fire Protection Engineering. He is a member of NFPA 1033, OSAC, and the CFI certification committee of IAAI. WHEN:                      Thursday, 16 April 2026               TIME: 19:00 hours AEDT RSVP:                        Wednesday, 15 April 2026 This presentation will be conducted live over Microsoft Teams. Please complete the online booking form on the NSWAFI website. The Teams Meeting details will be provided with your booking confirmation email. REMEMBER: You do not need to be a Fire Investigator to attend these evenings. If you are not a member of the NSWAFI, the cost to attend this education night is $10, payable through the website. ANZFSS, NZAFI, QAFI and VAFI financial members can book for free.  

TO ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF NSWAFI   You are invited to attend an Education Night run by the NSW Association of Fire Investigators Inc. on the subject of: Testing the Hypotheses – Throwing Petrol at a Candle   In the early morning hours of 17 March 2021, Mr Todd Bradmore was found with severe burns to about 80% of his body in the front of his property in Adelaide, South Australia (SA). He later died from his injuries. The deceased was holding a lit candle at the time he was in an argument with Mr Alessandro Cavuoto. It was the prosecution case that Mr Cavuoto threw petrol at the deceased and was subsequently charged him with murder.   This presentation is about how South Australian Police (SAPOL) and the SA Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) wanted to know the ignition sequence if someone was to throw petrol at another person who was holding a lit candle. The ODPP also had other scenarios that they wanted answers too. The presentation goes through the testing conducted over 2 days and then the court testimony during the trial.   The presenter is Michael Forbes who has been with Fire Rescue NSW for 32 years. He has been with the Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) since 2007. He was a Fire Investigator for 14 years and is currently the Team Leader Fire Research. He has investigated over 800 fires and testified as an expert on 25 occasions. He also currently holds the IAAI-CFI and the NAFI-CFEI. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ WHEN:               Thursday, 19 February 2026         TIME: 18:00 hours AEST RSVP:                Tuesday, 17 February 2026 This presentation will be conducted live over Microsoft Teams. Please complete the online booking form on the NSWAFI website. The Teams Meeting details will be provided with your booking confirmation email. REMEMBER: You do not need to be a Fire Investigator to attend these evenings.   If you are not a member of the NSWAFI, the cost of attending this education night is $10, which can be paid through the website. ANZFSS, NZAFI, QAFI and VAFI financial members as well as FICoP members can book for free  

Join us to celebrate the end of another year! The event is being held a La Pizza Ristorante, Bankstown Sports Club commencing at 18:30hrs on Thursday 11 December, 2025. Ticket includes: ENTRÉE TO SHARE Marinated Olives (GF, VG) Foccacia Oregano, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (VG) Burrata Red Pepper Relish (GF, V) Fried Calamari Aioli, Lemon (GF) Sicilian Prawns Tomato Sugo, Garlic, Chilli, White Wine (GF) Proscuitto Rocket, Pear, Pecorino (GF) MAINS TO SHARE Select 3 Pizza and 3 Pasta SIDES Caesar Salad Chips (GF) The NSW AFI will be subsidising this for members, so don't miss out on this opportunity to catch up and network.

TO ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF NSWAFI   You are invited to attend an Education Night run by the NSW Association of Fire Investigators Inc. on the subject of:   Kitchen Fires and Pre-Engineered Fire Suppression Systems: Understanding Their Role in Commercial Kitchens   Commercial kitchen fires are a frequent hazard in the hospitality and food service industries. AS 3772 – Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Systems provides guidance on the design and maintenance of dedicated suppression systems; however, it is not a legislative requirement. Current building codes only call for sprinkler protection, not dedicated kitchen suppression. This session examines how that gap can leave modern cooking risks under-protected, and why pre-engineered wet-chemical systems are a valuable tool for investigators to understand and advocate where appropriate. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mark Goldfeder is a 30-year veteran of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services arena and has been providing career advancement training to fire service and fire protection contractor personnel since 2010. He is the President and Founder of Five Bugles Institute, a Certified Fire Inspector, and the Global Training Partner for Lehavot Advanced Fire Protection Systems. Mark has been an instructor, curriculum developer, and professional presenter for almost 30 years, providing specialised training and education to public service and corporate clients. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ WHEN: Thursday, 2 October 2025 TIME: 19:00 hours AEDT RSVP: Wednesday, 1 October 2025 17:00 hours AEDT This presentation will be conducted live over Microsoft Teams. Please complete the online booking form on the NSWAFI website. The Teams Meeting details will be provided 24 hours prior to the event via email. REMEMBER: You do not need to be a Fire Investigator to attend these evenings. If you are not a member of the NSWAFI, the cost of attending this education night is $10, which can be paid through the website. ANZFSS, NZAFI, QAFI and VAFI financial members can book for free.

Wind Turbine Fires Register Here - https://vafi.com.au/public/schedule/events/75102-wind-turbine-fires Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:30 - 20:30 Our upcoming VAFI presentation on 17 September 2025 in Geelong will feature guest speakers from Fire Rescue Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria, who will present on two recent wind turbine fire incidents. The session will provide an examination of the circumstances and challenges. Green energy projects such as wind farms have increased over the decades, and the proliferation of wind turbines across the world has seen a gradual increase in fires involving the nacelle. While Australia has had limited turbine fires overall, Victoria has experienced approximately three incidents in recent years alone, including turbine CNS17 in the Portland Wind Farm that caught fire on 28 June 2024 the first turbine fire in FRV's area since the organization's establishment. The presentation will focus on the investigation process, emphasizing the joint agency approach as defined in the Victorian Fire Investigation Inter Agency Agreement, and will also cover relevant agency powers and jurisdiction under various legislation. RSVP is required by 17:00 on 14 September 2025 to attend onsite and online, no late RSVP's will be accepted. This will be an online and in person event. A link for online attendance will be sent closer to 17 September in a separate email. Register for this event here! https://vafi.com.au/public/schedule/events/75102-wind-turbine-fires

Dear Members, Please join us for our ONLINE ONLY Annual General Meeting, being held 07 August, 2025 at 18:00hrs. For those wishing to nominate for positions on the Committee, nominations close at 23:59hrs on the 22nd of July, 2025. To submit your nomination, please fill in the form located here: https://forms.office.com/r/H9ng6AYjcH ________________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Teams Link  Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 441 613 175 475 8 Passcode: oV2Tr7Pw ________________________________  

Jay Street - Case Study Wed, 16 Jul 2025 19:00 - 21:00 The Victorian Association of Fire Investigators (VAFI) is proud to present an exclusive event featuring Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In this rare opportunity, agents Mark MEEKS and Dixon ROBIN will provide an in-depth case study of a major fire incident that occurred in New York State, offering firsthand insights into the investigation process, challenges faced, and key learnings from the scene. If you would like to attend, please select 'Event Details' and 'Get Tickets' to secure your spot, and a separate Microsoft Teams link will be sent closer to the date. This will be an online event only and tickets will only be avaliable until 14 July 2025 This presentation is a valuable opportunity for VAFI members to gain direct insight from leading ATF agents as they walk through a complex fire investergation from New York State, sharing strategies, interagency coordination, and lessons that resonate across international borders. Attendees will also receive supporting materials designed to assist with fire investigation. To get tickets, please see the VAFI website here: Jay Street - Case Study | Victorian Association of Fire Investigators | TidyHQ

TO ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF NSWAFI You are invited to attend an Education Morning run by the NSW Association of Fire Investigators Inc. on the subject of: Understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Fire Investigator This presentation provides an insightful overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its types, and practical applications for fire investigations and subrogation claims. It begins by explaining fundamental AI concepts, historical development, and various types of AI, including Reactive Machines, Limited Memory, Theory of Mind, and Self-Awareness. The presentation highlights how AI processes massive datasets, identifies patterns, and makes predictive analyses, enhancing decision-making processes. It emphasizes that while AI can significantly improve efficiency and productivity, it cannot replace fire investigators but rather serve as a powerful tool to augment their capabilities. Particular focus is given to Generative AI (Gen-AI) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) within forensic fire investigations, demonstrating how these technologies assist in tasks such as summarizing documents, preparing expert reports, analysing depositions, and cross-referencing case data. Practical AI applications include fire pattern recognition, image and video analysis, predictive modelling, simulation, natural language processing, and decision support systems. The presentation also covers essential terminology, examples of AI tools, potential benefits, and ethical considerations related to AI integration in fire investigations. It underscores the importance of thorough verification of AI-generated content and the necessity for experts to maintain professional accountability while using AI tools. The concluding segment addresses the legal landscape and recent developments, emphasizing the dual-edged nature of AI reliance in legal contexts, particularly when it comes to vetting expert witnesses and ensuring AI outputs are reliable and accurate. A LINK TO THE MEETING WILL BE EMAILED TO ALL NON-NSWAFI MEMBERS THE DAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Robert Toth began his professional career in the fire service, dedicating nearly 21 years to this field. During his last decade in the service, he transitioned to law enforcement, specializing in fire investigations within both the public and private sectors. In 2002, following his retirement from the fire service, he established IRIS Fire Investigations, Inc., where he currently conducts origin and cause investigations in Colorado and neighbouring states. In addition to his investigative work, Robert is highly regarded for his expertise and frequently sought after to deliver lectures and presentations on various topics. These include fire investigations, NFPA 921, interviewing techniques, internet technology, and digital photography training. His extensive knowledge has been shared with public agencies and private enterprises throughout the United States, as well as internationally in countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Botswana, and South Africa. Furthermore, Robert is honoured to have held the esteemed position of President within the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). This presentation will be conducted live over Microsoft Teams. The Teams Meeting details will be provided the day prior to the event occuring. REMEMBER: You do not need to be a Fire Investigator to attend these evenings.

TO ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF NSWAFI You are invited to attend an Education Night run by the NSW Association of Fire Investigators Inc. on the subject of: The Challis Case: Forensics and the Destruction of Evidence In this presentation, Priya Paquet will examine a recent legal case in the District Court of Queensland involving the destruction of forensic evidence and its implications for potential civil litigation. You can re-watch the video here, or on our YouTube channel with all our other education nights, here. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Priya is a skilled insurance lawyer with extensive experience in providing advice and acting for insurers in relation to large losses and indemnity issues. She handles large property damage and liability matters and has expertise in fraud claims and recoveries. Priya applies her specialist experience to advise insurers on issues involving the Insurance Contracts Act, including indemnity, policy interpretation, non-disclosure and misrepresentation commencing from the claims stage through to dispute resolution and litigation. Many of Priya’s claims relate to dealing with large-loss fires and advising insurers on causation, policy response, or recoveries. She engages with forensic fire experts early in the claims process to ensure that she and her team work alongside the expert investigators to achieve the best outcomes for their mutual clients. WHEN:                Thursday, 3 April 2025                 TIME: 18:00 hours AEDT RSVP:                 Wednesday, 2 April 2025 This presentation will be conducted live over Microsoft Teams. Please complete the online booking form on the NSWAFI website. The Teams Meeting details will be provided with your booking confirmation email. REMEMBER: You do not need to be a Fire Investigator to attend these evenings.

QAFI is conducting an education seminar “Bias and collecting evidence and its impact on decision-making and strategies to overcome it” on Tuesday 18 March 2025 at Victoria Park Herston. This Full day seminar will feature a range of highly relevant, topical presentations.  - Bias presentation  - Report writing for first responders and private sector.  - Photography  - Evidence gathering case studies. Panel discussion   Registration includes access to the full day seminar (8.30am to 4.00pm), morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.    The seminar will be of great interest to the public, fire investigators, insurers, loss adjusters and legal practitioners.   To avoid disappointment and take advantage of the early bird rate please click HERE to register.

About the Event The New South Wales Association of Fire Investigators (Chapter 47 of IAAI) and the organising committee invite you to the 2024 Australasian Association of Fire Investigators (AAFI) biennial conference being held on 21-23 October 2024 at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith, New South Wales. AAFI 2024 will offer delegates a unique opportunity of a full-day field trip to the Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Research Testing Facility at Londonderry. Mr Novak and Mr Woods will provide hands-on experience in electrical failure analysis and wildfire investigation. The conference is an opportunity to learn and interact with two of the world’s leading experts in their field of fire investigation. Lithium-ion batteries have become an ongoing risk in the community, creating new challenges for fire services worldwide tasked with extinguishing these types of incidents. Our goal is to educate delegates about lithium-ion batteries, how to determine if they were the ignition source that started a fire, and the risks to fire investigators, both in the form of stored energy and harmful gases. The conference is the peak biennial forum for fire investigators in Australasia. AAFI 2024 aims to attract delegates from Australasia, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, in particular fire investigators, engineers, police investigators, solicitors, loss adjusters, insurers, regulatory agencies and other government departments who use fire investigation research and evidence in the prosecutions of criminal activities, civil matters and for improvements in safety requirements. The organising committee wants to build on the success of the AAFI 2022 conference. AAFI 2024 is an opportunity to showcase Australia’s capabilities and the practical benefits of live burns in fire investigation and research. It is a forum that brings together representatives involved in fire investigation and research from fire services, police services, universities, and private industry. AAFI 2022 provides an opportunity for networking between various disciplines and jurisdictions to share experiences and the latest innovations and techniques to develop more effective fire investigation methodologies. This is our industry, and the NSWAFI and AAFI 2024 organising committee encourage your attendance and any thoughts on speakers, topics, or sponsors. Visit AAFI2024 to register today.