Provides Opinion & Testimony In:
Certified Fires & Explosion Investigator, Origin & Cause, Fire Behavior & Combustion, First Responder, Arson Laws, Evidence Collection, Vehicle Fraud Fires, Fire Loss Mitigation, Chain of Custody, Evidence Collection, NFPA 921 & 1033, Arson
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
- Over thirty six years experience in the fire service with the San Diego Fire Department
- Over seventeen years private investigation experience with FHFI and EFI
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2006 to present
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS COMPANY
San Diego, California
Owner, Certified Fire Investigator
1999 to 2006
ENGINEERING & FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
Los Angeles, California
Certified Fire Investigator
1989 to 2014
METRO ARSON STRIKE TEAM, SDFD
San Diego, California
Fire Captain, Certified Fire Investigator
1981 to 2017
SAN DIEGO FIRE DEPARTMENT
San Diego, California
Fire Captain, Fire Engineer, Firefighter
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), IAAI (10/17)
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (expired), (CFEI), NAFI
Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), NFPA / NBFSPQ
Certified Fire Investigator (CCAI-CFI), CCAI (4-19)
Certified Fire Investigator I (CFI), CSFM
Certified Fire Investigator II (CFI), CSFM
Certified Fire Officer , CSFM
Certified Firefighter I #019428, CSFM
Certified Firefighter II #006952, CSFM
Certified Fire Instructor I #092216, CSFM
Licensed Private Investigator #20635, DCA / BSIS (6/18)
SPECIALIZED EDUCATION
Fire Science A.S. Degree
Fire Investigation 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 160 hours, California State Fire Marshal
Advanced Origin & Cause, 80 hours, ATF National Academy
Arson Crime Scene Investigation, 40 hours, FBI National Academy
Fire / Arson Investigation, 80 hours, National Fire Academy
CFI Trainer; 87 programs, 297 hours, International Association of Arson Investigators
Fire & Explosion Investigation, 24 hours, John DeHaan, Department of Justice
Investigation of Electrical & Appliance Related Fires, 20 hours, IAAI / AHAM
Fire Investigation, John DeHaan, 16 hours, California Association of Criminalists
Prevention & Investigation of Commercial Kitchen Fires, 16 hours, Phil Ackland & Associates
Vehicle Fire Investigation, 40 hours, Lee Cole & Associates
Electrical Fire Investigation, 24 hours, Public Agency Training Council
Fire Pattern Certification, 24 hours, Public Agency Training Council
Fire Origin & Cause; NFPA 921, 24 hours, Public Agency Training Council
Interview & Interrogation Techniques, 40 hours, Behavior Analysis Training Institute
SDPD Academy / Peace Officer status / PC 832
COURSES INSTRUCTED
Fire Behavior & Combustion, Fire Investigation 1B, San Diego Community College
Fire Investigation, Internet-based, Santa Fe City College
First Responder Fire Investigation, Firehouse World Exposition & Conference
Arson Laws, Firehouse World Exposition & Conference
Origin & Cause for Company Officers, Firehouse World Exposition & Conference
Evidence Collection, Firehouse World Exposition & Conference
Basic Fire Investigation, ATF Regional Training
NFPA 921 Issues, FBI National Academy
Vehicle Fraud Fires, California District Attorney’s Association
Vehicle Fraud Fires, Southern California Chapter IASIU
Marine Fire Investigation Case Study, International Association of Marine Investigators
Fire Investigation, San Diego Fire Academy & San Diego Fire Cadet Academy
Fire Investigation / Evidence Preservation, San Diego Fire-Rescue In-Service Training
Physical Evidence, San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Academy
Arson Laws, San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Academy
Fire Investigations, SDPD / MAST Menu Training
Fire Investigation, IABPF Southwest Regional Spring Conference
Fire Investigation; Evidence, Spoliation & Subrogation, Auto Club of Southern California
Fire Loss Mitigation, State Farm Insurance
Fire Investigation, AON Risk Management, Department of Insurance
Public Records / Fire Department Reports, Live Burn Training, CCAI
Basic Fire Investigation, CCAI Imperial County Roundtable
Fire Investigator Professional Development, CCAI San Diego Roundtable
Chain of Custody, San Diego Lifeguards
Evidence Collection, Chula Vista Fire Department
ARTICLES PUBLISHED
Potential Fire Causes
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (4/06)
First Responder Fire Investigations
Firehouse Magazine (2/06)
Investigation of Boat Fires
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (1/05)
Digital Investigations
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (10/04)
Firesetting Motives
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (1/04)
Fire Behavior Myths & Misconceptions
ExpertLaw.Com (09/03)
Investigative Uses for Alarm Systems
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (06-03)
Submitted EFI’s Insights
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) 101
IAAI’s Fire & Arson Investigator (07/03)
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (03/03)
Practical Uses of Failure Analysis and Analytical Tools,
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (12/02)
ExpertLaw.Com (09/03)
Passenger Compartment Vehicle Fires; Incendiary or Undetermined?,
IAAI’s Hawaii Chapter Newsletter (03/08)
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (10/02)
ExpertLaw.Com (09/03)
Fourth Amendment Rights of Fire Victims,
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (01/02)
ExpertLaw.Com (09/03)
SDCDA’s LEQ (Winter 2003)
Testing the Fire Cause Hypothesis,
IAAI’s Hawaii Chapter Newsletter (06/08)
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (11-01),
EFI’s Insights (Fall 2002)
Respiratory Protection for Fire Investigators,
IAAI’s Fire & Arson Investigator (10/01)
“Red Flags” Indicators of Vehicle Fraud Fires,
SDIAA’s The Adjuster (11/03)
ExpertLaw.Com (09/03)
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (05/01),
WeTip Quarterly Magazine (06/01)
EFI’s Insights, edited (Summer 2001)
Arson Registrants; Y2K changes to PC 457,
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (01/00),
SDCDA’s LEQ (Spring/Summer 2000)
Evidence Collection, Preservation & Disposal,
IAAI’s Fire & Arson Investigator (07/99)
California Arson Registration Program,
CCAI’s California Fire-Arson Investigator (04/99)
First Responder Newspaper;
Arson Investigation Column
First Responder Fire Investigations (4-03)
Investigative Uses for Alarm Systems (5-03)
California Arson Registrants (6-03)
Fire Behavior Myths & Misconceptions (9-03) Passenger Compartment Vehicle Fires (11-03) Firesetting Motives (1-04)
Fourth Amendment Rights of Fire Victims (6-04) Analysis of Fire Cause (7-04)
NFPA 921 (8-04)
Digital Investigations (9/10-04)
Courtroom Testimony (11/12-04)
Multiple Fire Causes (1-05)
Investigative Resources (2-05)
Expert Qualification (3-05)
Evidence Collection (4-05)
Forensic Fire Investigation (6-05)
Ford Cruise Control Fires (7-05)
Electrical Fire Causes (8-05)
Investigation of Boat Fires (9/10-05)
Potential Fire Causes (11-05)
Digital Photography (1-06)
Metropolitan Grass Fire Investigation (3-06)
Spontaneous Combustion (4-06)
Private Investigators (5-06)
Public Insurance Adjusters (6-06)
Scientific Method for Fire Investigations (8-06).
PUBLICATIONS
Fire Investigator Principles and Practice to NFPA 921 & 1033, 3rd Edition & 4th Edition
Author / Contributor:
Chapter 9 Legal Considerations (3rd Edition), Chapter 10 Legal Considerations (4th Edition).
Reviewer:
Chapter 8 Fire-Related Human Behavior (3rd Edition)
Chapter 10 Safety (3rd Edition)
Chapter 16 Fire Cause Determination (3rd Edition)
Ignition Handbook, First Edition, Vytenis Babrauskas
Reference 1693 “Testing the Fire Cause Hypothesis”
Ashes of Aries, (Fiction novel), St. Martin’s Press, (09/01)
Fire behavior expert consultant acknowledgement
Store; A documentary film / Boxes; Short Film. StarVehicle Productions LLC
Fire investigation case studies.
LEGAL TESTIMONY
Criminal proceedings, Superior/Municipal Court, Board of Prison Terms (32)
Public and Private Sector deposition / trial testimony (46)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
2011 Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service
2017 Certificate of Appreciation for 20 years of continuous membership
National Fire Academy Alumni Association (NFAAA)
California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI)
Ex Officio Board Member / San Diego County Roundtable Coordinator 2000-2004
Awards Committee Chair 2001-2005
Marketing Committee Chair & Legislation Committee member 2001-2003
