What is the difference between a state arson investigator or fire marshal and an insurance fire investigator?
A. State investigators and fire marshals are usually certified by the State. Insurance investigators get their certifications mostly from the IAAI (International Association of Arson Investigators) The IAAI is heavily influenced by insurance companies. This partly accounts for the IAAI’s official stance that fire investigation is an art rather than a science and should therefore not be subject to the Daubert standards. Daubert allows a judge to keep junk science out of the courtroom. I consider certification by the IAAI as just another paper to hang on the wall.
