Fire Origin Cause Investigation Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1827

Employment

Private Fire Investigations Firm-Owner
Licensed Private Investigator/Certified Fire Investigator
Origin & Cause Investigation
Arson Investigation
Fire Origin and Cause Training
Case Report Review and Analysis
Post Blast as related to Fires.
Fire Cost Recovery Issues

Career

Employed by:

2002 to Present:  Owner Manager of a Private Fire Investigations Firm – Established 1997.

1969 to January 6, 2002
North County Fire Protection District
Fallbrook, CA

Assignments:

Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal
Division Chief / Fire Marshal
Supervisor Fire Prevention /Arson Investigation Unit
Fire & Arson Investigation
Fire Origin and Cause Investigation Training
Code Enforcement-Plan Checks-Public Education
Custodian of Record
Cost Recovery Program Manage

Chronology:

2000 to 2002: Division Chief/Fire Marshal/Fire and Arson Investigation
1999 to 2000: Battalion Chief Fire Marshal/Fire & Arson Investigation 1983-1999:  Captain Suppression-Fire & Arson Investigation
1978-1983:  Fire Prevention-Fire & Arson Investigation
1976-1978:  Fire Suppression/Fire & Arson Investigation
1969-1976:  Fire Suppression

1976 -2002 assigned to supervise the District’s Arson Investigation Unit and conduct criminal and civil investigations. (Peace Officer)  Duties included, law enforcement, origin and cause training. I conducted fire analysis to identifying and apprehend arsonists.
Fire & Arson Investigation:  Supervising four to five shift investigators and case management as a field investigator. Coordinate and initiate civil litigation for collection of District funds expended on negligent or criminal caused fires.

Preformed a variety of fire assignments including, but not limited to, Incident Commander, Public Information Officer, Logistics Officer, Division and Branch Assignments.

Memberships

International Association of Arson Investigators
California Conference of Arson Investigators
1995 to 2003-Education Committee- Re-Write Committee for Level 1A & 1B Fire Investigation Curriculum
1987-1988 President (CCAI)
1986-1987 1st Vice President (CCAI)
1985-1986 2nd Vice President (CCAI)
1982-1985 Board of Director (CCAI)
1981-1992 Training Committee (CCAI)

San Diego County Wide Fire & Arson Task Force
1996 to 1999-Secretary
1981-Chairman
1986-1984-1983-1977-Co-Chairman
1983-1980-1976-Secretary
Fraternal Order of Police
California Firefighters Association
California Association of Licensed Investigators
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Testimony

Escondido Superior Court, San Diego County
Vista Superior Court, San Diego County
El Cajon Superior Court, San Diego County
Escondido Municipal Court, San Diego County
Vista Municipal Court, San Diego Federal Grand Jury
El Cajon Superior Court, San Diego County
Riverside County Superior, Kern County, Superior Court Bakersfield

Certification & Education

2006 FI-210-Wildfire Coordinating Group-Wildland Fire Inv.
2006 Certified Fire Investigator- California Conference of Arson Investigators
1994 Fire Prevention Officer III
1991 Fire Prevention Officer II
1990 Fire Prevention Officer I
1989 Chief Officer
1989 Fire Officer
1988 Fire Investigator II-CFI
1987 Firefighter II
1983 Teaching Credential California, Community College-Fire Science
1983 Fire Investigator Instructor I NNG
1981 Fire Investigator I
1977 Associates of in Arts-Palomar Junior College
1976 Peace Officer NNG
1973 Certificate of Achievement in Fire Science
Palomar Junior College-San Marcos, CA

Additional Formal Fire and Law Enforcement Training Hours, in Excess of 2000 hours Approximately 80 additional College Units in fire and law enforcement training, not including ongoing annual training hours.

Investigations

Primary origin and cause investigator on over 1100 fires, including vehicles, wildland, structures, miscellaneous and post blast investigations.  Primary investigator in over twenty internal affairs investigations.  Primary and assisting investigator on several, fraud theft and burglary cases.

Work Product

Published California Conference of Arson Investigators.

I have conducted over 125 “Live Fire“ Presumptive Burning Experiments.

I developed several Investigation and Law Enforcement Policies for North County Fire Protection District.  Approximately 1750 hours of primary instructor in the investigation field at the Community College level.