Fire Origin Expert Witness

Keywords

Fire Services Administration Public Protection Evaluation, Fire Services Administration Planning, Fire Services Administration, Fire Services Administration Codes, Fire Services Administration Ordinances, Fire Services Administration Standards, Fire Services Administration Analysis, Fire Services Administration Development, Fire Services Administration Life Safety, Fire Services Administration Risk Analysis, Fire Services Administration Evaluation, Fire Services Administration Training Instruction, Fire Arson Investigation, Fire Services Administration Legislation, Fire Services Administration Regulation, Fire Services Administration Statutes, Fire Origin, Fire Origins, Fire Consultant, Fire Services Administration Power Line Clearance, Fire Services Administration Fire Safety, Fire Cause, Fire Causes, Fire Services Administration Propane Tank, Fire Services Administration Barbecues, Fire Services Administration Security Bars, Fire Services Administration Christmas Tree Fire Regulations,

Expert Witness No.285

California

Education

August 1984, Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Golden Gate University (Fire Protection Emphasis)

June 1978, Bachelor of Arts (BA) – University of Redlands, (Management) (Fire Protection Emphasis)

June 1966, Associate of Arts (AA) – Mt. San Antonio College (Fire Science)

June 1963, Certificate in Fire Science – Mt. San Antonio College

Licenses/ Credentials

Recipient, Robert W. Gain Award, Uniform Fire Code Association

Lifetime California Community College Teaching Credential in Fire Science

State of California Private Investigator and Qualified Manager/Owner License

Qualified Forensic Fire/Codes and Standards Expert

Experience

1993- Present, Fire Protection Consultant. A Company located in Davis, CA
President of a fire protection consulting firm with both private sector and government clients. The company’s services include fire and life safety evaluations; fire and building code development for State and model codes; fire product and code analysis; fire cause investigation and evaluation; fire department management reviews; emergency management planning and training; as well as forensic fire expert services.

1992-1993, Senior Fire Protection Consultant. Gage Babbock & Associates, Inc.

2001-Present, Executive Director and Training & Education Coordinator, A Uniform Fire Code Association

2001-Present, Code Coordinator, A Fire Chiefs Association

2002-Present, Commissioner, A Fire Protection District of Davis, CA

1985-1992, California State Fire Marshal, Sacramento, CA.
Senior Fire Official for the State of California with responsibilities for fire code enforcement, regulations promulgation, legislation, public education, state fire academy/training/certification and fire investigation.

1979-1985, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Director for the City of Campbell, CA. (Santa Clara County.)
Responsible for fire suppression, code enforcement, fire investigation, emergency medical services and disaster preparedness/response for the City.

1977-1979, Fire Marshal/Emergency Services Coordinator – City of San Bernardino, CA.
Responsible for fire suppression, code enforcement, disaster preparedness, and fire investigation.

1962-1977, Fire Fighter to Chief
Increasingly responsible positions in fire suppression, code enforcement, fire investigation and emergency medical services.

Instructional Experience

University of California, Davis

University of Missouri

San Jose City College

Victor Valley College

San Bernardino Valley College

California Fire Service Training & Education Program

California State Office of Emergency Services

International City Managers Association

New York State Fire Academy

California State Fire Academy System

Fire/police academies and fire departments

Numerous professional fire safety associations (instructor/lecturer)

Emergency Services Insurance Program

National Propane Gas Association

Major Professional Affiliations

2008 – Present, Jackson Rancheria Fire Safety Committee -Member

2005 - State Assemblies For Emergency Response (SAFE) - Member

2004 – Present, National Safety Council – Member of Window Safety Task Force

2003 – Present, International Code Council – Member
2002 – Present, Forensic Expert Witness Association – Member

2000 – Present, American College of Forensic Examiners, Inc. - Member

2000 – 2002, California Electrician Certification Advisory Committee – Member. Specialty Panel - Member

2000 – 2002, California State Department of Housing and Community Development Mobilehome Park Fire Protection Task Force – Member. (Northern and Southern Task Forces)

2000 – Present, International Association of Arson Investigators – Member.

2000 – Present, National Code Services Association - Active Life Voting Member, Executive Director/Member of Code Interpretation/Development, Annual Conference, Strategic Planning, and Protocols Committees.

1998 – 2002, California Building Standards Commission – Member, 2000 Code Partnership; Member, Technical Task Group; Commissioner (1981 – 1985).

1994 – 2001, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) - Member of
Sub-committee F15.38 – Window Fall Prevention.

1994 – 2000, International Fire Code Institute (IFCI) – Member

1991 – 1992, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Operation Urban Wildfire” Task Force – Member.

1990 – 1992, National Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Training Program – Management sponsor.

1989 – 1992, CAL OSHA Advisory Committee on Personal Protective Clothing And Equipment for Firefighters -- Committee Member.

1989 – 1993, California Seismic Safety Commission – Commissioner; Chairman of the Emergency Planning and Response Committee and member of Earthquake Task Force.

1989 – Present, National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) – Founding President and Member Emeritus.

1989 – 1992, Panel for Fire Research of the National Research Council – Member of panel of National Institute of Standards and Training (NIST) Center for Fire Research.

1986 – 1992, California Chemical Emergency Planning and Response Commission – Member and served on the Hazardous Materials Training Funding Committee.

1985 – 1992, California Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee – Management sponsor and member of the Board of Directors.

1985 – 1992, California Historical Building Safety Board – Advisory Member.

1985 – 2002, California Rural Fire Association – Member.

1985 – 1992, California State Board of Fire Services –Chairman.
1985 – 1997, Congressional Fire Services Institute – Senate and Charter Member. Chair of the Western Steering Committee for the Annual Dinner. Served as a member of the Institute’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.

1985 – 1992, Governor’s Special Arson Task Force – Chairman.

1985 – 2003, International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) – Member. East Bay and Sacramento Valley Chapters – Member (1999 – 2003)

1985 – 1992, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. – Corporate and Fire Council Member.

1979 – Present, International Association of Fire Chiefs - Life Member. Former Vice Chair of the Operation Life Safety Board of Trustees.

1979 – Present, Western Fire Chiefs Association - Life Member. Code Coordinator. Official Representative to California State Building Standards Commission.

1972 – Present, California Fire Chiefs Association – Life member and former member of Board of Directors. Former liaison chief to the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Section. Member of both the Northern California and Southern California Fire Prevention Officers Sections. Life member of the Southern California Fire Training Officers Section.

1972 – Present, National Fire Protection Association - Member, Educational Messages Advisory Committee, International Fire Marshals Association, Education, Building Fire Safety Systems, Wildland Fire Management and Fire Service Sections; Member Advisory Council; Strategic Planning Committee for Public Education; Public Education Advisory Committee. Former Chair: Presidential Advisory Committee; Center for High Risk Outreach; Home Security and Fire Safety Taskforce. Past Chair: Nominating Committee.

1962 – Present, California State Firefighters’ Association – Life Member.

Publications

Available upon request

References