Fire Service students who enrolled in the country’s first Fire Scene Investigation Foundation Degree at Teesside University celebrated their achievements at a recent graduation ceremony at the new £13M campus in Darlington. 

This proved to be a double celebration after it was announced last week that County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service had been successful in winning the Training and Staff Development Award in Star Radio’s Business Awards for 2011 for its work with the University in developing the degree for fire and rescue staff across the country.

The students’ intensive two year programme of study included modules on forensic awareness, fire scene photography, forensic reconstruction, finger print recovery from a fire scene and fire scene investigation techniques.

As part of their final practical exercise, the former Victorian pub ‘The Royal Oak Hotel’ in Darlington was used for a series of ‘live’ fire incidents. Realistic scenes were created which enabled the student to employ their newly acquired skills and knowledge to investigate the cause of fire in several rooms

Later the students went on to present their evidence in a mock trial at Darlington County Court where they were cross examined by the Coroner for Durham and Darlington Mr Andrew Tweddle and a leading Barrister.

Lee Aspery, Fire Investigation Manager, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service stated “It is essential that all investigators working within a fire scene are trained to the highest standards. Understanding the cause of fires helps the Fire Service to prevent fires in the future and improves the safety of our communities as well as supporting the police should a prosecution be needed.

Susan Johnson, Chief Executive, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service commented “I would like to congratulate all of the ten graduates who now make up a core team of highly skilled fire investigators. The Service is delighted to have been able to work in partnership with Teesside University, the National Policing Improvement Agency and Darlington Borough Council to deliver the first degree of this kind in the country.

Professor Cliff Hardcastle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Business Engagement), said: “I would like to congratulate the first cohort of fire fighters graduating from the foundation degree in fire scene investigation at our Darlington campus.

“We are acknowledged as one of the country’s leading universities for employer engagement and we are delighted to be working in partnership with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to provide this foundation degree.”