President’s Message

Welcome to the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. I would like to formally thank all the individual members that voted for me to become the President of the chapter for 2024 and to Past President Jeff Koehn for the previous leadership of this great organization. As 2024 President, I will continue to focus our organization on providing top-notch training and education throughout the entire State of Ohio.  I also serve as Co-Chair of training for the IAAI and will work with the current Ohio Board members to bring the quality training that the IAAI offers to our Ohio members.

Sincerely,

Chris Ellis

The Ohio IAAI presents annual awards for photography in two (2) categories with the first and second-place awards to be presented at the annual Ohio IAAI conference held each November. The categories are:

  • Arson photographs (color)
  • Accidental and/or Training photographs (color)

Please refer to the Awards page for more details on this and other awards.

Arson Photography Winner 2024

Residential structure under construction.

Accidental Fire Photography Winner 2024

Residential structure, teenager’s bedroom caused by a make-up mirror.

Celebration of Life for Lee Eugene West

As you may know, Lee West passed through the veil and entered the Godly realm on July 30, 2024 at 3:12am at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He was there to investigate a fire and had a deadly V Fib Cardiac Arrest on our Anniversary of our first date, marriage proposal, and wedding celebration, July 24th. In only the kind of beautiful symmetry that God can create, Lee died on the very day when our love began to sprout wings, 7 years prior.

And how fitting this symmetry as it is out of death and destruction that also Life and Love begin. It was because of the most severe fire in the history of Honolulu that brought Lee to Hawaii where we met and realized we had been waiting for each other for a long time; we have such an ancient love. And through the death of others, God brought the Life of Us in that Moment together on July 24, 2017 in Hawaii. I always loved the July 24th date as it relayed that we loved each other 24/7.

Saturday September 14th at Dayton Firefighters Activity Center 3616 Needmore Rd,
Dayton, OH 45424.

Share your Lee-ism moments, bring photos, videos, speeches to share in celebrating our dear friend.

Please RSVP ASAP so I can make necessary plans & adjustments:

Cassandra, 917-995-1055, [email protected]

Celebration of Life for Lee Eugene West (Ohio)

Saturday September 21st, his home 3232 Hagerty Dr, Charleston, SC 29414

Share your Lee-ism moments, bring photos, videos, speeches to share in celebrating our dear friend.

Please RSVP ASAP so I can make necessary plans & adjustments:

Cassandra, 917-995-1055, [email protected]

Celebration of Life for Lee Eugene West (Charleston)

Training

Upcoming training opportunities in Ohio and through the International office.

Forensic Lecture Series Advanced Course

October 7-11, 2024

Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Office

More Information

Evidence Collection Practicum
November 12th, 2024

Hosted by the IAAI Ohio Chapter 

Ohio State Fire Academy
8895 E. Main St.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

More Information and Registration

Ohio IAAI Educational Seminar

November 12-13, 2024

Ohio Fire Academy
8895 E. Main St.
Reynoldsburg, Oh 43068

Each year, the Ohio IIA holds a two-day seminar to further the education of fire and arson investigators in and around Ohio.

See the 2024 Ohio IAAI Seminar Brochure for more information

A very special THANK YOU to our sponsors who have helped make this seminar successful!  

Please Support The Sponsors Who Support Our Training!

Evidence Collection Practicum
October 11th, 2024

Hosted by the IAAI Ohio Chapter 

State Fire School
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH

More Information and Registration