Maryland Fire and Explosive Investigators Association upcoming events

2026 MFEIA Ocean City Training Conference (14 May 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

2026 MFEIA Training Conference Announcement

The Maryland Fire & Explosive Investigators Association is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 MFEIA Training Conference, to be held May 14–15, 2026 in Ocean City.

This year’s conference will again be hosted at the Ocean City Fire Department Headquarters, located at 1409 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842, the same location as last year’s successful event, bringing together fire investigators and allied professionals from across the region for two days of professional instruction, practical case-based learning, and networking.

Daily instruction will begin at 8:00 a.m. each day. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for check-in and morning refreshments.

Conference Program

Attendees can expect a strong lineup of relevant investigative topics and experienced presenters:

Managing the Fire Investigation Unit (May 14 – full day)
Chimney Fire Examinations (May 15 – morning session)
Investigator Bias and Decision-Making in Fire Investigations (May 15 – afternoon session)

Managing the Fire Investigation Unit

Presenter: Robert Disbrow Jr.
IAAI-CFI & NAFI-CFEI, CFII

Managing the Fire Investigation Unit is designed for fire officials, fire inspectors and fire/arson investigators. It teaches the tools necessary to manage a local enforcing agency/fire investigation unit. During this full day course, students will discuss NFPA 921, 1033 & 1321. Topics will include, Administration, certification process (both state and national), fire investigation JPR’s, fire investigation methodology, fire pattern identification, fatal fires, Curriculum Vitae, depositions, and courtroom testimony. Actual case studies will also be discussed.

Rob Disbrow has cultivated a distinguished career spanning over 37 years within the Fire Service, encompassing roles in Career, Volunteer, and Federal Departments. Mr. Disbrow is a retired Fire Captain/Investigator from the City of Bayonne Fire Department, where he commanded Squad Company 5 under the city's Special Operations Command. He also served as a member of the UASI Northern Region USAR Team, responding to numerous technical rescue incidents. He holds an associate degree in Fire Science and possesses certifications as a New Jersey Level 2 Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, and Fire Officer 2. Mr. Disbrow is recognized as a subject matter expert in Fire Investigation, holding the IAAI-Certified Fire Investigator Certification, and currently conducts origin and cause investigations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the five boroughs of New York City. Furthermore, he demonstrates extensive expertise in Engine Company Operations, Rescue Company Operations, and Special Operations. He has authored multiple articles on firehouse.com for Firehouse. Over nine years ago, he co-founded Superior Fire & Emergency Response Training, an organization dedicated to providing instruction to various departments throughout the tri-state area. Additionally, Mr. Disbrow serves as a District Fire Warden for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and functions as an Adjunct Professor in the Fire Science program at Middlesex County College.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Technical Analysis of Fireplace and Chimney Fire Failures

Presenter: Leo Herrmann

This advanced program provides fire investigators, inspectors, and forensic professionals with a structured approach to identifying fireplace and chimney-related fire causes through code analysis, construction evaluation, and application of the scientific method.

Program Topics Include:

Forensic identification of construction, installation, and code compliance deficiencies in solid-fuel fireplace and chimney systems
Construction and defect analysis of factory-built and masonry fireplace systems
Application of NFPA 211 and NFPA 921 to determine fire causation, code violations, and system failure mechanisms
Identification and interpretation of fire patterns associated with fireplace and chimney fires
Proper documentation, evidence recognition, and preservation techniques for defensible investigations
Fundamentals of NFPA 211 and inspection of existing chimneys, including the role and responsibilities of the inspector

Leo Herrmann brings over four decades of hands-on and investigative experience in the fireplace and chimney industry. He spent 28 years in the field as a professional chimney sweep, where he serviced, inspected, constructed, and installed chimney systems and solid fuel–burning appliances. For the past 13 years, Mr. Herrmann has specialized in forensic investigations involving fire loss and mechanical failure of fireplace and chimney systems. His combined practical and investigative background provides a uniquely qualified perspective in determining origin, cause, code compliance, and system performance.

Investigator Bias and Decision-Making in Fire Investigations

Presenter: Steve Avato

The forensic sciences, including fire investigation, have become focused on the issue of bias and its influence on the opinions rendered by forensic science practitioners. Since confirmation bias and expectation bias were included in NFPA 921, fire investigators have been confronted with accusations of bias in both civil and criminal proceedings and, in many cases, the investigator is ill-prepared to address the allegations. Because bias can be both explicit as well as implicit, it is easy to accuse an investigator of succumbing to the influence of biases. This presentation will discuss what bias is, the various forms of biases, how they can influence an investigation and how to mitigate the influence of bias in a fire scene investigation. The presentation will also explore some suggestions for assessing an investigation for signs of bias, avoiding allegations of bias and how to articulate steps taken to avoid biasing influences during an investigation.

This presentation will also discuss heuristics, or cognitive “shortcuts” that, while useful in analyzing complicated issues may lead to errors in origin and cause determinations and have resulted in some of the “myths and legends” that plagued fire investigations in the past.

Through discussions and case examples, the presentation will address the above topics as well as the NFPA 921 recommended “no presuppositions” approach to fire investigations and how “right of entry” issues can affect that approach.

Steve is an IAAI-CFI. He retired as an ATF Supervisory Special Agent CFI in 2016 after 27 years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At ATF, he held numerous fire and explosion-related specialty positions, including operational, training, and supervisory roles in arson and explosive investigative groups, as the ATF National Response Team Supervisor, and in the ATF Certified Fire Investigator Program. He then served as a Fire Marshal Captain with the Loudoun County, Virginia, Fire Marshal's Office, retiring from that position in 2022. Mr. Avato was selected as the IAAI Fire Investigator of the Year in 2000 for his investigation of a double fatal fire in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He now dedicates his time to mentoring and educating fire investigators.

These presentations are designed to strengthen investigative methodology, reinforce professional decision-making, and provide practical tools applicable to both new and experienced investigators.

The conference welcomes current members and fire investigators broadly, including public-sector and private-sector professionals with an interest in advancing fire investigation knowledge and practice.

Coffee and donuts will be provided each morning, and lunch will be included for attendees.

Lodging Options for Attendees

Quality Inn Boardwalk
Weekday rate: $129 per room, per night
Holiday Inn Oceanfront
Southern Ocean View: $109 weekday
Eastern Oceanfront: $124 weekday
Hampton Inn & Suites Ocean City/Bayfront Convention Center
May 13–16, 2026
Rates: $99–$109 per night
Group Code: MFEIA
Phone: 443-664-5147
Rates available through April 12, 2026

All hotel rates are per room, per night, plus 12% state and local tax. Complimentary parking, free Wi-Fi, and fitness center access are included.

Registration Information

Registration is $100 for MFEIA members and $110 for non-members and is now open.

For registration information or conference questions, please contact:
mdfeiaiaai@gmail.com

We encourage early registration and look forward to another outstanding training event in Ocean City.

2026 MFEIA Ocean City Training Conference (15 May 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT