Late July at the Hyatt in Sarasota, Florida was the setting for this year’s National Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Training Program and the National Seminar on Fire Analysis Litigation. The National Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Training Program, as you might recall, was traditionally held in the Chicagoland area but with the move of our offices last summer to Sarasota came the opportunity to relocate the program. This change of geography did not hurt the attendance but, in fact, with a combined enrollment of 105 students for the Main Program, Litigation Seminar and the pre-program events, gave us our most successful training week in recent history.

Students spent several days increasing their knowledge and skills, networking and enjoying the company of other fire investigation professionals. Attendees ranged, once again from fire fighters, to professional engineers, attorneys, police detectives and private fire investigation professionals. Large groups from all over the country were in attendance at this year’s programs. We had students from 25 different states and Canada.

Main Program students, instructors and their families had a chance to mingle and relax at a NAFI sponsored barbeque Monday evening for at GeeWhiz, an interactive hands on science museum in Sarasota. A cocktail reception for Litigation Seminar attendees was given Thursday evening in the Tropics Lounge at the Hyatt Sarasota on Sarasota Bay.

The 2001 NAFI General Membership Meeting was held Tuesday July 24, 2001, a number of NAFI members and the Board of Directors were in attendance. The meeting minutes are printed in the enclosed supplement.

60 students sat for the Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Exam, beating last years record-breaking number. Scores for students taking the exam at the training program topped that of mail exam average by over ten points and included several near perfect exams.