FIRE CAUSE ANALYSIS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Structural Engineer, S.E.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI, CVFI, IAAI - FIT ( V )
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI
Mr. Fisk is a National Association of Fire Investigators - Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and an International Association of Arson Investigators - Fire Investigation Technician.
In addition to working as an investigator with Fire Cause Analysis, he is a career Fire Lieutenant with a professional fire department in Central California. As an integral member of the department, he responds to emergency calls for service on shift, manages the arson and public education programs (includes CPR and the Community Emergency Response Team), serves as the public information officer, investigates fire and explosion origin and cause as a sworn peace officer, and conducts fire safety building inspections. He has numerous multi-week deployments on campaign wildland fires throughout the State of California as part of an engine company. He is also a member of the San Joaquin County Joint Fire Investigation Unit, with which he investigates fires throughout the county at the request of the various authorities having jurisdiction.
Prior to the fire service, Mr. Fisk earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. He draws on his accounting background to bring a methodical approach to his investigations. Mr. Fisk has over 1,000 hours of training dedicated to fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and fire investigations. Mr. Fisk maintains affiliations with the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the California Conference of Arson Investigators, and the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI, IAAI - FIT
Bobby Gonzalez joined Fire Cause Analysis after a 21 year career in the Fire Service.
Throughout his career with the Oakland and Fairfield, California Fire Departments, Mr. Gonzalez held many ranks with different responsibilities from Firefighter/Paramedic to Lieutenant of Fire. He became a Paramedic in 1996 and spent the last eight years of his career as a Lieutenant. In addition to fire suppression activities for commercial and residential structures, vegetation and vehicles, Mr. Gonzalez has participated in numerous origin and cause investigations of fires and explosions. As a Lieutenant, he was also tasked with the organization and completion of commercial and vegetation management fire prevention inspections.
Mr. Gonzalez holds memberships with the National Association of Fire Investigators, where he holds a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator certification, the International Association of Arson Investigators, where he holds a Fire Investigation Technician certification, as well as membership with the California Conference of Arson Investigators.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, CFI
Mr. Sutherland holds the position of Truck Captain for a leading fire department in Southern California. He has worked in the Fire Service for 24 years, serving in various capacities. He is member of the Newport Beach Fire Department cadre of instructors for new recruits. He instructs recruits on fire behavior and is a lead instructor for Flashover training. Additionally, he instructs on hose and ladder training. For the past 15 years Captain Sutherland has been the lead Fire Suppression instructor and Drill the Skills for the Newport Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He also is an instructor for Newport Beach Fire Explorer program. In this program he instructs on Engine Company operations and fire attack.
Captain Sutherland has been on numerous Campaign Fires in California working as an Engine Captain. Throughout his career he has responded to over 500 fires and has over 300 investigations through his career in the fire service. He is also a member of the Orange County Arson Task Force. Working in the private sector he has investigated over 800 fires.
Mr. Sutherland specializes in fire behavior. He has attended FDIC in Indianapolis and is certified in the Swede Fire Survival system. Through his years of instruction, Mr. Sutherland has performed numerous live burns and taught on fire behavior and dynamics. Mr. Sutherland is a lead instructor for the Basic Fire
Academy. He is a CSFM certified Company Officer and Fire Investigator. He is currently a member of the IAAI.
Job Titles:
- Director of Industry Relations
- Director of Industry Relations, CPCU AIM
eCarol McDonald CPCU, AIM is an accomplished claims executive, who was previously the Assistant Vice President of Claims for 21st Century Insurance and joined Fire Cause Analysis (FCA) to assist, direct and manage the company growth at FCA. Carol's primary responsibility encompasses corporate and business development within FCA's key areas targeted for growth.
Carol brings extensive insurance industry knowledge and experience to FCA. The last fifteen years of her time in the insurance industry was specifically devoted to leading and improving claims operations and driving service provider relationships that resulted in claims process excellence and she has served on various industry committees, including NICB Western Region Advisory Board, CCC Information Services/MD Software Estimating Services Advisory Board and the Insurance Fraud Advisory Board (IFAB). In addition to being the Vice President, Education & CE chair of the Combined Claims Conference committee, Carol is also a Past President and an active member of the EL Camino CPCU Chapter Board.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, IAAI - FIT
Craig Gault is an International Association of Arson Investigator - Certified Fire Investigator and an International Association of Arson Investigators - Fire Investigation Technician.
Craig Gault has been involved in the fire service since 1991. He initially worked as a volunteer firefighter before moving on to American Medical Response as a paramedic. In 1999 he joined the Portland Fire Bureau, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 2006. Craig then joined the Fire Investigations Unit in 2018. Craig has an extensive investigative history including serving 24 years as a reserve deputy.
During his tenure in the fire investigations unit he has investigated over 1000 fires including multiple large dollar loss fires, high profile serial and spree arson cases and arsons associated with civil disturbances. He has been the lead investigator or assisted in over 20 fatality investigations. Mr. Gault maintains affiliations with the International Association of Arson Investigators, the International Association of Arson Investigators Oregon Chapter 31, the Fraternal Order of Police.
Areas of Expertise:
Fire Expert
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI, NAFI - CVFI, IAAI - FIT
Job Titles:
- President
- President, IAAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI, IAAI - CVFI, IAMI - CMI
- Senior Fire Investigator and President of Fire Investigations
Dennis Field is a Senior Fire Investigator and President of Fire Investigations at Fire Cause Analysis. He is also a Principal of the firm. Dennis Field has over 35 years of experience in the fire service working in fire suppression as well as in fire prevention. He has conducted over 8,000 fire investigations and has testified as an expert in fire investigations in both the civil and criminal court systems throughout California.
Dennis Field has an Associates of Arts degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science. In addition, he is a California State certified fire investigator (Level II) through the State Fire Marshal's office. He is also certified in the following areas: Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI); Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI); Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI); Certified Marine Investigator (CMI) through the International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI). He is also POST certified.
Mr. Field was a police officer with the Pacifica Police Department for two years prior to entering the fire service. He also served as a member of the San Mateo County Fire Investigation Unit from 1991 through 2005. In 2000, Mr. Field was accepted to the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigations Fire/Arson Investigation School at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. In 2003, he represented his department at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In 2005, Dennis Field retired his position as battalion chief with the San Bruno Fire Department.
His knowledge in the law enforcement sector complements his fire investigation skills, especially in the area of incendiary fires. He has received over 3000 hours of instruction in the field of fire investigations. He is a licensed private investigator in California, Arizona, Nevada & Oregon.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Engineer
- Safety Engineer
Dolores Orozco is a fire safety engineer with international experience. She received her master's degree from Ghent University in Ghent, Belgium where she also worked in the design of fire exhaust systems using computational modelling for customers in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Ms. Orozco has four years of experience in Mexico working on local and international projects as a fire design engineer and adjuster in claims for the oil, gas, and chemistry industries.
Job Titles:
- President
- President Emeritus, IAAI - CFI
Mr. Perkins' background consists of education/technical training and over 50 years of professional experience since 1965. After serving in the United States Navy, Mr. Perkins worked in a major municipal fire department for 28 years and retired in 1994 at the rank of Captain. Mr. Perkins positions with the fire service includes Fire Suppression Firefighter, Engineer, and Fire Prevention Officer. He also held the position of Fire Investigator for 2 years and Arson Unit Supervisor / Investigator for 4 years. During his time with the fire department Mr. Perkins conducted or supervised over 4,000 fire investigations.
Concurrent with his work in the fire department, Mr. Perkins founded the firm, Fire Cause Analysis, in 1980. Throughout his career with the City of San Jose and privately as President of Fire Cause Analysis, Mr. Perkins has conducted or supervised over 6,000 fire investigations. He has over 45-years' experience in fire/arson investigations with commercial and residential property, vehicle and marine vessels, arson and fraud, and has given expert witness testimony in State and Federal Courts.
In addition to participating in yearly fire investigation seminars, Mr. Perkins maintains his education proficiency, specific to the field of fire science, and fire investigation. He has a degree in Fire Science, and has attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsberg Maryland, the FBI Academy in Quantico Virginia, and the ATF Academy in Glenco Georgia. Mr. Perkins was the Chairman for the IAAI, CFI Testing Committee, which established and wrote the international certification test for the Certified Fire Investigator program in 1990. Mr. Perkins has been a CFI since the IAAI program origination in 1990, and a current "Pro-Board - Certified Fire Investigator" by the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Mr. Perkins has a "Lifetime Teaching Credential" in the State of California and teaches the basic and advanced curriculum in fire/arson investigations in the community college system. He's been a guest speaker & lecturer for the California Conference of Arson Investigators, International Associations of Arson Investigators, International Association of Marine Investigators, as well as various industry related conferences.
Mr. Perkins regularly works with law firms and insurance professionals, providing additional services in all fire related disciplines, including Computer Modeling, Fire Testing, Fire Safety Consulting, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Forensic Studies.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Expert
- Vice President - Fire Investigation, IAAI - CFI
Geoff Hazard is a forensic expert in the origin and cause of fires and explosions and a Partner with Fire Cause Analysis. Mr. Hazard is a certified fire investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators and holds a Pro Board Certification as a fire investigator from the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
Mr. Hazard has participated in over a thousand investigations of residential, commercial, vehicular and vessel fires as an origin and cause investigator with Fire Cause Analysis since 2006. He is an expert in the dynamics, evolution, and spread of fires and the forensic application of NFPA 921 to fire origin and cause investigation.
He holds a Master's Degree in Forensic and Fire Science from the University of New Haven, Connecticut, and has lectured at UNH on numerous occasions. Geoff has been published in the Journal of The International Association of Arson Investigators and the California Conference of Arson Investigator's Magazine.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Certified California State Fire Marshal Level II Fire / Arson Investigator
- Fire Investigator, CFI
Glenn White, CFI holds the position of Senior Fire Investigator with Fire Cause Analysis. As a Senior Fire Investigator, Glenn performs fire investigations, presentations and consults clients in all aspects of fire investigation matters. In addition to working with Fire Cause Analysis (FCA) since 2007, Glenn is also currently employed at a leading Municipal Fire Department serving in many capacities, including Acting Battalion Chief. Glenn was voted by his peers as the 2017-18 Firefighter of The Year and his current responsibilities include complex high rise and commercial occupancy inspections, Terrorism Liaison Coordinator, Arson Task Force member and Fire Investigations as well as a Captain in the Operations Division. He has worked for the last 17 years as a truck and engine Company Captain as well as the lead Fire/Arson Investigator for the Newport Beach Fire Department. Glenn has served as a member of the Hazardous Materials Team as a HazMat Technician, functioned for 16 years as a Paramedic. Captain White has participated in over 1500 Origin and Cause Investigations and acted as the lead investigator on over 1000 of those fires. He has also testified as an expert witness in Superior Court which led to a conviction in an Arson, Kidnapping and Attempted Murder case, as well as two other court appearances as an Origin and Cause expert. Glenn has been deposed a total of four times on the civil court side of his activities.
Mr. White excels at teaching and has been used often by his department in this capacity. He has developed an in-house Urban Interface safety course and is a CSFM Certified RIC instructor he also developed a Jr. Fire Firefighter program for the Newport Mesa School District. Mr. White presented vehicle fire investigation classes to the Orange County Fire/Arson Task Force and has participated in numerous live burns. These live burns included many different scenarios using different ignition sources. He has also identified the causes of previously undetermined vehicle arson cases in San Diego, Orange and LA County. In addition, he has served as guest lecturer at Saddleback College for Paramedic students and functioned as a Paramedic Preceptor. Mr. White was chosen by his department to head a new program in the school district called Open Airways for Schools which was designed to help children with asthma. He has used his presentation skills with "Team Kids" who have partnered with the NBFD and the Newport Mesa School District to empower elementary age children with the tools to contribute to society at this early age. He also led the instruction in his department for the new Multi Casualty Incident Program as well as the Community Emergency Response Team. Glenn quality reviews fire reports for FCA as well as for his department.
Mr. White while serving as Training Officer for the Orange County Fire Arson Task Force presented two one week long classes for Orange and LA County CSI teams and Fire Investigators. The class focused on identifying patterns, photography, evidence collection and the importance of NFPA 921 and its' use in all fire investigations.
Glenn is a Certified California State Fire Marshal Level II Fire/Arson Investigator and holds the qualifications of a Chief Officer. Glenn also served four years as President of the Orange County Fire/Arson Task Force. He has assisted the Orange County District Attorney's office as an Expert Witness to review case information and provide insight as well as prepare for courtroom presentation. Glenn was recently selected to serve as a Public Information Officer for the City of Newport Beach Fire Department and wrote the new policy for Fire Investigations and Fire/Arson Investigators in Newport Beach.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- Member of the Sacramento CPCU Chapter
- Operations Manager, CPCU AIM
Greg Harwell, CPCU, AIM, AIC, ARM, AIS, API, CSP, CSMP, 3PRM, is an accomplished claims leader, who was, also a Claims Training Manager for CSAA Insurance Additionally, he was the former AIC instructor for in person and online courses with The Institutes.
Mr. Harwell joined Fire Cause Analysis (FCA) to assist, direct and manage the company's internal and external client support and other operational teams at FCA. His primary responsibility includes driving corporate operational and technical activities to deliver FCA's highest level of professional, effective, and thorough services to our clients.
Mr. Harwell brings over forty years of insurance industry knowledge and experience to FCA. He was a key partner in the establishment of AAA University at CSAA overseeing training design, delivery, and effectiveness for the claims department. Mr. Harwell has held a variety of roles at CSAA covering most aspects of property and casualty claims, handling and supervision, including large loss and complex litigation. He has helped oversee the implementation of the CA DOI regulations in the early 1990s and was a key project manager for CSAA's Business Process Redesign. Outside of the claims organization, Mr. Harwell represented CSAA, it's policyholders and members as a Lobbyist in both California and Nevada state legislature and regulatory agencies. Additionally, he has spent 6 years in Strategic Sourcing managing and sourcing contracts and vendor services, earning several industry designations in that field of work.
Mr. Harwell is also a member of the Sacramento CPCU Chapter and a Puppy Raising Club Leader for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI, NAFI - CVFI
Mr. Faw is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, Automotive Forensic Specialist, and Evidence Technician with Fire Cause Analysis. He provides Fire Cause Analysis clients a significant depth of experience that includes owning and operating his own auto repair facility and over eighteen years as an ASE certified dealership technician where he was directly responsible for mechanical issues on vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment.
Jason regularly works with law firms and insurance industry clients in, providing additional services in all fire related disciplines including fire testing and automobile related mechanical & electrical studies.
Mr. Faw has conducted or supervised over 200 fire investigations and has assisted in numerous presentations, training and live burns related to vehicle fire investigations.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, CCAI - CFI
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, ECT
- Investigations Supervisor, Certified Fire Investigator and Trainer With
Jeffrey Schlesinger is an Investigations Supervisor, Certified Fire Investigator and trainer with Fire Cause Analysis. After 30 years in the public safety field, Mr. Schlesinger retired in December 2010 as the Fire Marshal with the City of Sunnyvale, California. As a member of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, he worked in the fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services divisions of the department. After retiring with Sunnyvale, Mr. Schlesinger worked as a Deputy Chief of Police and District Emergency Manager with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Police Department. Prior to working for the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, he was a police officer with the San Carlos Police Department. Mr. Schlesinger has conducted over 1000 fire/explosion investigations and has testified as an expert in fire investigations in both civil and criminal court systems. Jeffrey Schlesinger served as the past president of the Santa Clara County Fire Investigations Task Force and the Santa Clara County Fire Marshals' Organization.
Jeffrey Schlesinger possesses a M.S. degree in Emergency Services Administration and a B.P.A. degree in Public Administration. He is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) through the International Association of Fire Investigators (IAAI), a Master Certified Fire Investigator (MCFI) through the California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI), Certified Fire Investigator (Level II) through the California State Fire Marshal's Office, and a Certified Evidence Collection Technician through IAAI. Mr. Schlesinger also possesses a California P.O.S.T. Police Manager Certificate. He spent ten years working in the crime scene investigations unit, including six years as the coordinator/supervisor for the unit of ten crime scene investigators.
Jeffrey Schlesinger has attended numerous training courses conducted by the California State Fire Marshal's Office, California Conference of Arson Investigators, National Fire Academy, National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, International Association of Arson Investigators, and other training organizations.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Certified Fire Investigator With
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI, CVFI, PI
Jimmy Bowen is a Certified Fire Investigator with Fire Cause Analysis based in the state of Washington and is conducting investigations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He began his career as a firefighter with the City of Spokane Fire Department in 1992 and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Fire Lieutenant. In 2008 Mr. Bowen was selected to the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) where he served as Lieutenant of the unit for seven years. While serving in the department's SIU, he was responsible for numerous fire origin and cause investigations and was tasked with the subsequent criminal investigation of those fires that were determined to be incendiary. Mr. Bowen prepared cases for filing by the prosecutor's office and provided expert witness testimony on matters of origin and cause in both State and Federal Courts.
Mr. Bowen is experienced in determining the origin and cause of residential, commercial, and vehicle fires. He is skilled in fire scene excavation, fire damage diagramming, witness interviews, photographic documentation, report writing, evidence collection, and chain of custody.
Mr. Bowen has experience supporting insurance carriers and attorneys in providing factual details and expert opinion enabling his clients to properly determine coverage, assisting in subrogation, providing forensic expert opinions on product liability claims and insurance liability claims.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, CCAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI, IAMI - CMI
John Teague has investigated over 700 hundred fires for Fire Cause Analysis, and is certified as a qualified fire investigator with 3 nationally recognized governing organizations: International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), and California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI). He is also certified as a qualified marine investigator with International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI).
John has experience working in the public sector doing fire investigations, public education, and assisting law enforcement as a Public Safety Diver in searching for victims, weapons, stolen property, vehicles and other submerged objects possibly used in a crime or accident. In addition, he is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 113-05-05. He has also been a self-employed professional photographer for commercial and documentary photography for over 35 years. John is a qualified instructor of basic fire investigation and fire scene photography.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Engineering
- Vice President - Engineering Services, P.E., IAAI - CFI
- Vice President of Engineering Services
John Powell White is the Vice President of Engineering at Fire Cause Analysis. He is an investigator, engineer, and scientist specializing in material ignition, and combustion studies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering and is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in the Western United States. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators.
John's work consists of fire investigation, evaluation of appliances for ignition and fire spread capability, fire initiation and growth modeling and forensic evaluation of active and passive fire protection systems. John also helps to design buildings and commercial processes by developing novel fire protection strategies and performing hazard analyses to satisfy local fire authorities.
John is a Lead Member of the National Fire Protection Association and is a member of the NFPA 130 committee on Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems. He is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and a member of the ASTM E5 committee for fire test standards.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI ( V ), IAAI - FIT
Josh Campbell is a licensed Electrical Engineer in the State of California specializing in failure analysis resulting in fires involving commercial entities and residential occupancies. Josh also provides a diverse experience in municipal electrical utility engineering projects, including project design for various capital improvement projects, project management, system planning and contingency studies to FCA's clients.
Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from California State University Sacramento. He is also a decorated veteran who served nearly five years in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Sergeant, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- Fire Investigator
- Mechanical Engineer, P.E., NAFI - CFEI
- Professional Engineer in California
Joshua Bastian is a licensed Professional Engineer in California specializing in mechanical engineering and failure analysis of residential and consumer appliances. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Digital Media. He is a Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI
Julie Lynn is currently a Fire Investigator for Fire Cause Analysis. In 2013, she retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt Colonel with 22 years of service. She served 12 years on active duty as a C-130 Aerospace Engineer and a KC-10 Evaluator/Instructor Pilot. In 2003, she transitioned from active duty to the USAF Reserves where she worked 10 years for the Air Force Academy. Upon her retirement, she was appointed by Governor Brown as the California State Director for the Selective Service System. She served in this GS-15 position from 2013 to 2016. In addition, Julie has been a full-time commercial airline pilot for JetBlue Airways since 2003.
Upon her military retirement, Julie decided to pursue a lifelong passion with the fire service. She obtained an A.S in Fire Science, completed the CSM College Firefighter Academy with the highest academic score, and subsequently volunteered as a Reserve Firefighter with CALFIRE CZU where she earned her California Firefighter I certification. Her interest and passion for fire dynamics and the many aspects of investigation, led her to pursuing a second career as a fire
investigator in addition to her simultaneous airline pilot career. Julie has been a Fire Investigator for Fire Cause Analysis since February 2016.
Karen brings over 20 years of professional experience to assist all of her clients. Her experience includes industries such as education, non-profit, real estate, insurance, professional services, retail and financial services. She quickly becomes a silent partner in each clients business helping and advising them on aspects far beyond just accounting.
Karen is a graduate of Cal State University, East Bay. She was born and raised in Northern California. She began her career as an auditor with a Big 4 firm in San Francisco. Her early career was spent as a management accountant with a large multi-national corporation and a large partnership. Karen has been practicing independently since 1999, providing tax and accounting services to small businesses, partnerships and individuals.
Affiliations:
AICPA
California Society of CPAs
Roseville Chamber of Commerce
eWomenNetwork.com
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, CIFI, AIC, FCLA, PCLA
Karl Nesler, IAAI-CIFI, AIC, FCLA, PCLA, is a retired special investigative unit investigator, who worked in the insurance industry for over 28 years investigating and resolving complex automobile, homeowner and commercial claims. Karl retired from State Farm Insurance Companies having spent the last 18 years of his career there handling special investigations within the upper Midwest. He led comprehensive inquiries; analyzed damages, causation, and potential fraud. Karl collaborated with insurance agents, repair professionals, and attorneys to interpret policies and determine proper settlements. He conducted detailed and comprehensive fire scene investigations in conjunction with origin and cause experts, participated in evidence collections, documented loss scenes through use of photography and diagrams, and has conducted thousands of detailed interviews.
Karl's areas of expertise include: Fire investigations, Evidence Handling, Interviews, Subrogation, Fraud Investigation, Property & Fire Claims, Damage Appraisal, Settlement Negotiation, Liability Analysis, Customer Service, Report Writing and Evaluation, Detailed Documentation, and Legal Testimony. He has been deposed on multiple occasions, and given testimony in court as a company witness, a prosecution witness, as well as a grand jury witness.
Mr. Nesler has served key leadership positions with the International Association of Arson Investigators - North Dakota Chapter and the Fargo-Moorhead Claim Association. He has instructed in topics relating to fire origin and cause, vehicle fires, interviewing and kinesics, evidence & spoliation, fire investigation for the insurance professional, mechanical damage (other than hail), National Insurance Crime Bureau - suspicious loss indicators, and insurance fraud awareness.
Karl is a contributing author for The Institutes on the Associate in Claims professional insurance designation course AIC 31, Property Claims Practices sections: Investigating Fire, Lightning, Smoke and Explosion Losses; Investigating Suspicious Fire Claims; and The Fire Investigation Team. He has completed over 970 hours in continuing education on topics relating to fire investigation and over 750 hours in continuing education on topics relating to insurance.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Certified Fire Investigator With
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, IAAI - FIT, NAFI - CFEI
- Member of the International Association of Arson Investigators
Mr. Tiscareno is a Certified Fire Investigator with Fire Cause Analysis and a Battalion Chief/ Fire Investigator with the City of Manhattan Beach in California. He is the President of the South Bay Arson Task Force and has served as the President of the Orange County Arson Task Force. He was a Terrorism Liaison Officer with the Newport Beach Fire Department. Mr. Tiscareno is a California State Fire Marshal's Office Certified Fire Investigator, Chief Officer, and Fire Officer Certified.
Mr. Tiscareno has over 21 years of professional experience and education in the fire service. During his fire service career, he has been a Firefighter, Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Training Captain, Battalion Chief, Fire Investigator, Public Information Officer, and Safety Officer
Mr. Tiscareno is an active member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), and is an IAAI Certified Fire Investigator. He served as a member of the California Conference of Arson Investigators Board of Directors for two years.
Kevin Tiscareno holds a position on the Board of Directors for the California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI). Additionally, holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from California State University Long Beach and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Electrical Engineer
- Engineer
Kirk Staggs has 30 years of experience as a contractor working on fire testing and safety analysis for various programs. He is experienced in conducting small and large-scale fire experiments to evaluate and determine the performance of materials, fire models, energized and un-energized electrical wire and cables, building and ventilation systems, and fire management systems. In the past, he has performed training of fire fighters and testing personnel.
He currently conducts inspections to determine the cause and origin of fires involving single and multi-unit dwellings, commercial and industrial building and/or complexes, gas and electrically powered vehicles, and a private substation. He also provides consulting in all aspects of testing (designing, coordinating, fabricating, and operations) related to fire, explosions, and equipment performance and failure.
Education:
Certificate in Fire Protection Engineering from UC Davis
AA degrees in Electronic and Computer Technology from Chabot College
U.S. Navy, Millington, Tenn.; Aviation Machinist Mate Jet (A) School
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Certified Fire Investigator With
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI
Linda Poe is a certified fire investigator with Fire Cause Analysis (FCA). Linda previously served with the Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) located in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 18 years. The challenge of investigating fires led her to take the CCFD Fire Investigator exam and scored at the top of the list. She entered into the Nevada POST Academy and became a full-time fire investigator in 2015. She also attended the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg, Maryland.
While in the CCFD Fire Investigations Division, Linda was responsible for determining the Origin and Cause for structure and vehicle fires that occurred within the county's jurisdiction. CCFD covers an area approximately 4200 square miles, roughly the size of New Jersey. Included in this area is the famed Las Vegas strip which is entirely within the confines of the county. She was also responsible for conducting criminal investigations when the fire was determined to have been intentionally set. She was the lead investigator on a serial arsonist case in which the suspect was arrested and indicted on 12 different counts of arson but was believed to be responsible for approximately 23 such fires. For her work in this case, she received the Safety Officer's Award of Recognition in 2017.
Linda is a Certified Fire and Explosives Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators and a Fire Investigation Technician with the International Association of Arson Investigators. She has testified as an expert in court related to Origin and Cause Determinations. She holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration and has continued her professional growth with numerous classes/courses in relation to the investigation and determination of fires. Linda currently resides in the city of Las Vegas. Linda enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking and spending time outdoors with her family, two children and rescue dog Stanley
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI
- Member of the North Dakota Chapter
Mr. Wilke continues to work for a municipal fire department in the capacity of a Fire Captain since 2001. Fire department duties Mr. Wilke is responsible for include fire suppression, EMS responses, conducting daily training, code enforcement (commercial fire inspections) and fire investigations. He is responsible for conducting quarterly fire investigation training for the fire department. He has been involved in over 100 investigations including investigating, report writing or technical review of fire losses.
Mr. Wilke began his employment with Fire Cause Analysis in 2013 as a fire investigator. He has conducted over 250 fire investigations including vehicle, single family homes and commercial fires. Mr. Wilke is an expert in the fire and explosion investigation process, including managing and the collection and preservation of evidence.
Mr. Wilke has been a member of the North Dakota Chapter - International Association of Arson Investigators since 2001, and a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators since 2002. He has successfully challenged the International Association of Arson Investigators examination achieving the Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) credential in 2009 and has successfully renewed it to maintain the certification.
Mr. Wilke has his Private Detective Licenses in Minnesota and Montana. He is Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 certified through the North Dakota State Fire Association. He is a Registered Emergency Medical Technician.
In 1989 Mr. Wilke graduated with a BA in Communications from the University of Mary
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, CCAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI
Michael Ginn has been with FCA since 2009 and has over 30 years of experience working with fire departments around the Bay Area as a firefighter, fire captain, fire inspector, and fire investigator. He retired (12/2008) after 15 years as Fire Marshal of the Petaluma Fire Department where one of his primary responsibilities was to conduct and/or supervise employees participating in cause and origin determinations. He has investigated fires ranging from structure type to grass and brush and from accidental to incendiary. As of 2021, he has investigated more than 1,900.
Michael Ginn holds a vocational teaching credential and has taught semester length fire investigation courses at the Community College level (24 years). He is also certified by the State Fire Marshal to teach State Certified courses in Fire Investigation 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B and has also been a primary/lead instructor for wildland fire investigation classes. Mr. Ginn is a certified fire investigator with CCAI, a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with NAFI, certified fire and chief officer with the State of California. He also holds a Level I & II Fire Investigator certification with the State of California. Michael is a member of CCAI, IAAI, NAFI. He is a former member of the Sonoma County Fire Investigation Task Force.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, NAFI - CFEI, NAFI - CVFI
Nick Castellon has over two years of experience conducting fire and explosion origin and cause investigations; including: residential, commercial, industrial, and vehicles. He has one year of experience as a research analyst with Fire Cause Analysis assisting fire investigators on scene and in the Santa Clara facility. He has over 200 hours of training focused on fire investigation and carries a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology
Job Titles:
- Expert
- Metallurgical Engineer
Peter J. Risse is an expert in metallurgical, corrosion, and materials engineering, and is an engineer with Fire Cause Analysis. Risse has provided Inspector and Senior Analyst training in numerous topics including: Fired Heaters, Crude Units, Hydroprocessing Units, FCC's, Amine and SRU's to GM and third-party joint venture clients. He is experienced in reviewing equipment reliability plans, risk-based inspection (RBI) programs, worst-actor resolution and failure mode and affects (FMEA) methodologies as well as reliability centered maintenance (RCM) methodologies. In addition, he has performed failure investigations and evaluated mechanical properties, microstructures, and alloy compositions of a variety of materials to determine their suitability for specified applications. Advised on alloy selection for weldability and product design life based on service environment. Investigated failures in aerospace, automotive, marine, electronics, medical, petroleum, and chemical processing industries.
Education:
Professional Engineer, Corrosion Engineering, State of California, 1990
Professional Engineer, Metallurgical Engineering, State of California, 1989
Master of Science, Material Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. May 1981
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering,University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island. May 1979
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, CFI
- Senior Fire Investigator With
Mr. Peterson is a senior fire investigator with Fire Cause Analysis. Recently, he retired as captain with the Santa Clara City Fire Department. Mr. Peterson has over 39 years of experience in the fire service including eight years as a deputy fire marshal with the Santa Clara City Fire Prevention Bureau. His experience includes code enforcement and the regulation of hazardous materials. He has conducted over 200 environmental criminal investigations for Santa Clara. To date, Mr. Peterson has conducted over 7,000 code-related fire safety inspections and over 1,000 fire investigations. He has testified on numerous occasions as an expert in both criminal and civil proceedings.
Job Titles:
- Fire Marshal
- Fire Protection & Mechanical Engineer
Scott D. Alber is currently the Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief for County of Marin Fire Department and is an engineer with Fire Cause Analysis.
Education & Certifications:
B. S. Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University
Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer, (CA) & (NV)
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI, NAFI - CFEI, CVFI, ECT
Steve Moore started his career with a municipal fire department located in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1984. As he worked his way up in the ranks to Captain, he also became a shift fire investigator in 1990. Steve continued to serve as a shift investigator until his retirement in 2011. Steve is certified through both the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). Steve is also certified as an evidence collection technician, motor vehicle investigation endorsement and an expert witness through IAAI.
Steve is a licensed private investigator in the state of Oregon, and is a Certified Fire Investigator with Fire Cause Analysis' Oregon and Washington region. Steve has served as primary and adjunct instructors in fire investigation classes taught for the IAAI, public and private sectors. Steve also brings his 35+ years of experience in both firefighting and origin and cause investigations with him to every investigation.
Job Titles:
- Fire Investigator
- Officer
- Certified Fire Investigator
- Fire Investigator, IAAI - CFI
Tim Enright's background consists of education/technical training and over 33 years of professional fire service experience. He has worked in a major municipal fire department for 31 years and has worked in progressively more responsible positions during his career, retiring in 2017 at the rank of Captain/Fire Investigator. During his career, he responded to numerous emergencies and supervised and investigated many fires as a line fire captain. In 2005, Tim was assigned full time to the position of Fire/Arson Investigator. His primary responsibility was to conduct origin and cause investigations, prepare detailed written reports, coordinate criminal complaints with law enforcement and train the fire department members on all aspects of fire investigation.
Tim was a managing member of the San Joaquin County Fire Investigation Team and assisted in fire investigations throughout the county as requested. Between 2020 and 2023, he was hired back with the fire department as a fire investigator to train new fire investigators, and to assist as needed with fire investigations throughout the city. In 2023 Tim was hired with a small rural combination fire department as a Fire Captain/Fire Investigator.
Tim Enright is a Certified Fire Investigator and Fire Prevention Officer through the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM). He is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) with The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and holds a CFI with The California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI) as well. Tim is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)with the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Executive Officer, CPCU
Ulises Castellon, CPCU, RPA has worked as a claims professional for over 40 years. In 1996, he associated with Fire Cause Analysis, a premier forensic investigation and engineering firm, and is currently Chief Executive Officer. He is also the principal of a consulting business, Claims Analysis.
As an insurance consultant and expert witness, Ulises has managed numerous first and third party cases through litigation and has extensive deposition and trial testimony experience. In addition, he regularly teaches courses on issues ranging from Arson and Fraud Investigation to Fair Claims Practices. Ulises is a co-author of Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony, Chapter 6 - Origin and Cause of Fire and is a contributing author of The Institutes Associate In Claims (AIC) 31 Insurance Designation on Investigating Losses Caused by Fire, Lightning, Smoke, and Explosion, The Fire Investigation Team & Investigating a Suspicious Fire Loss.
Ulises is also bilingual and has acted as a media spokesperson for local news and information programs, including Spanish-speaking television.
Professional Affiliations:
Society of Property and Casualty Underwriters.
Sacramento Valley Chapter CPCU Board of Directors. President: 1997-1998.
California Conference of Arson Investigators
Northern California Fraud Insurance Association
Insurance Education Association - Instructor
Insurance School of the Pacific - Instructor
Western Insurance Information Service - Speaker
California Insurance Education Foundation - Advisory Board
National Fire Prevention Association