Fire Cause Origin Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.284

Oregon

Summary

Expert 284 has more than 23 years experience in the field as a fire consultant, determining the cause and origin of fires.  Although he regularly handles structure and commercial losses for his clientele, he has highly specialized expertise with fires involving Recreational Vehicles, Heavy Equipment, Automobiles, Propane, Welding & Cutting Operations, and others.  His experience includes the examination and/or case analysis and review of over several thousand fires throughout the United States, England, Canada, and Mexico.

Expert 284 has been a featured expert on a high-profile case covered by the CBS News-48 Hours national television program, and both a featured fire expert and consultant on recent episodes of Court-TV’s Forensic Files.  Expert 284 has taught numerous courses on Fire Investigation at the college level.  He has taught Vehicle Fire Investigation for the California Dept of Justice, and currently provides limited consultation support for both NTSB and NHTSA on vehicle fire issues.  Expert 284 has also been the featured expert teaching several State Chapters of the International Association of Arson Investigators on the topic of Basic and Advanced Motorhome and Recreational Vehicle Fire Investigation and Vehicle Fire Investigation.  Expert 284 has provided additional support, in the form of consultation and contributing author, to NFPA 921, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, and other leading industry Technical Reference Manuals.

Education

Formal
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Bachelor of Science - Atmospheric Science Degree-June 1993

Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, OR
1 year - General studies

Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR
2 years - Engineering studies

Hidden Valley High School, Grants Pass, OR
Diploma - College prep courses in Physics and Chemistry

Informal
Numerous College Courses in Fire Science Studies, including Investigations, Prevention, Engineering, Physics and Chemistry

Practical work experience in Building Construction, Electrical Systems, Welding & Cutting, Aircraft Systems, and Computer Hardware and Software

Certifications and Awards

Licensed Private Investigator
Arizona # Available upon request
Oregon DPSST # Available upon request
Florida # Available upon request

Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator,  National Association of Fire Investigators

Oregon State University, Bachelor of  Science Degree-1993

IAAI District President, Southern Oregon (Rogue Valley) District, 1997-1998

Volunteer of the Year, Corvallis Fire Department, 1992

Expert Witness

Trial Certified :
States of Oregon & Georgia

Professional Affiliations

National Fire Protection Association - NFPA 1192, NFPA 1194, NFPA 51B, NFPA 921

American Society Testing and Materials - ASTM E30 - Forensic Sciences Committee

National Association of Fire Investigators

International Association of Arson Investigators - State &, International Chapters

IASIR, International Association Security Investigative Regulators

Sigma Pi Fraternity, Oregon State University, (Ώ Chapter) -Alumnus

Articles Authored

Available upon request