Investigator/Founder

Certifications, Licenses, Education, and Experience

Continuing Training History compliant with NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator 2022, Expert Witness Testimony, Publications and other Experience attached upon request. I regularly attend training conferences and other Fire Investigation related training. 

IAAI® Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) 
CCAI-'Master' Certified Fire Investigator (MCFI) -
National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications (PROBOARD)
Certified Fire Investigator
​Retired Fire Captain Sworn Peace Officer Fire/Arson/Bombing Investigator 

1992-2025 California Licensed Private Investigator # 15809 
Office of the California State Fire Marshal Certified: Fire Investigator II, Chief Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, Hazmat First Responder and Apparatus Operator. 

 Formal Education 

1993 Bachelor of Science Degree Applied Studies - California State University Stanislaus 
*Additional Units completed at Community Colleges and The University of California Berkley. 

1990 National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland - Certificate of Achievement - Fire/Arson Investigation ‘Tested’ 

1974 Associate of Arts - Degree and Certificate of Completion in Fire Science Merced College 

Expert Testimony 

I have testified in criminal and civil court matters as an expert witness in fire origin and cause determination related issues on multiple occasions, and prepared and served search warrants. I also served in Merced County Superior Court as Juror and Jury Foreman in a civil matter. [Expert witness testimony on approximately 15 occasions] 

Experience 

More than 31 1/2 years of service as a Firefighter, Engineer and Fire Captain with the City of Merced Fire Department – Regular duties included approximately 20 years as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator – Retired Oct. 2002. 

As a Private Fire and Explosions Investigator - I have participated in the investigation of 
approximately 507  (11-20-2024) Commercial / Structure / Mobile Home / Vehicle / Marine,
fire and explosion incidents; including the fire related deaths of 10 persons, for private and corporate entities.I have determined that at least (16) of these fires were intentionally caused (approx. <4.2%). 

Fire Service - Fire and Explosions Investigative Experience 

20 Years Experience as Fire Captain.  During this time I served as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator and Fire Investigation Team Leader (Phoenix Fire & Explosions Investigation Team) – During my fire service career I responded to more than 2000 fire and explosion related incidents, and assisted with and/or had the responsibility for origin and cause determination and investigation of approximately 1011 Fire and Bomb related incidents: 

• 451 Residential Structure Fires / 14 Explosions And Bombings 

• 41 Commercial / Industrial Fires Including: 

•  179 Vehicle / Aircraft Fires / 13 Fire Related Deaths 

•  12 Mobile Home Fires 314 Grass / Brush Outdoor Fires 

During my tenure as a Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator/Peace Officer, I participated in the 
apprehension, arrest and successful prosecution of multiple felony and misdemeanor suspects. 

I have participated in and directed Fire/Death Investigations with California Department of Justice (D.O.J.), California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (In addition to working with Merced City and County Fire Police/Sheriff Officials) 

Professional Organizations and Awards

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) + Sections Member 
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Past Member 
International Fire Service Training Assoc. (I.F.S.T.A.) Past Validation Committee Member  
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Member 
Central Valley Arson Investigators Assoc. (C.V.A.I.A.) Past President / Member 
California Conference of Arson Investigators (C.C.A.I.) Member 
C.C.A.I. -Gold Coast Round Table #8 Coordinator 2012 - 2016
C.C.A.I. Training, Ethics, Scholarship,Certified Fire Investigator Committees Member
C.C.A.I. -Sierra South Round Table #4 Coordinator 2007 – 2012 
Peace Officers Research Association of Calif. (P.O.R.A.C) - Associate Member 
California State Sheriff’s Association - Associate Life Member 

Awards -  CCAI - Round Table Coordinator of the Year 2010 
CCAI - Thomas 'Ski' Kuczynski Memorial 'Officer of the Year' Award 2014
Merced Firefighter of the Year 1988 - Company Operations and Fire/Arson Investigations
​
Training Burns 

I have participated in the organized controlled burning of many more than 50 buildings and vehicles for fire investigative and firefighting training. During many of these training burns I have acted as instructor or assistant instructor of fire/arson/explosions investigation. We ignited or caused the ignition of buildings, objects and vehicles in many different ways to observe the effects of: ignition, fire behavior, ventilation, fuel package arrangement and geometry, explosions, fire environments and the various effects of the fire control and overhaul efforts have on the fire behavior and relative evidence. 

Publications 

I co-wrote (authored) a fire investigation related article which was published in the California Fire/Arson Investigator. For approximately 9 years I participated in the validation of two IFSTA Training Manuals: Fire Origin and Cause and Fire Investigator – both developed for international publication and distribution.

Investigator

Certifications, Licenses, Education, and Experience

Continuing Training History compliant with NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator 2022, Expert Witness Testimony, Publications and other Experience attached upon request. I regularly attend training conferences and other Fire Investigation related training. 

CCAI- Certified Fire Investigator Technician (CFI-T) 

Training Highlights

• 5/2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Investigator 1C 40 HOURS

• 5/2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Investigator 1B 40 HOURS

• 4/2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Investigator 1A 40 HOURS

• 2/2025 CCAI FIRE DYNAMICS/BIAS/IGNITION 28 HOURS

• 10/2024 CCAI FUNDAMENTALS  28 HOURS

• 10/2017 CCAI FUNDAMENTALS  28 HOURS

• Wildland Fires Investigation  5 HOURS

• Ethics and the Fire Investigator 3 HOURS

• The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation 3 HOURS

• Digital Photography and the Fire Investigator 4 HOURS

• Motive, Means, and Opportunity: Determining Responsibility in an Arson Case 4 HOURS

• Physical Evidence at the Fire Scene 4 HOURS

• Residential Electrical Systems 4 HOURS

• Writing the Initial Origin and Cause Report 3 HOURS

• Documenting the Event 4 HOURS

• Introduction to Evidence 4 HOURS

• Personal Protective Equipment for Post-Fire Scenes 3 HOURS

• Fire Flow Analysis 3 HOURS

• Fire Effects Part 2: Combustion By-Products Effects 3 HOURS

• Fire Effects Part 1: Heat Effects on Fuels 3 HOURS

• Fire Chemistry 3 HOURS

• Understanding Fire Through the Candle Experiments 4 HOURS

• The Practical Application of the Relationship Between NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921  2 HOURS

• Arc Mapping Basics 4 HOURS

• Basic Electricity 4 HOURS

• Fundamentals of Residential Building Construction 3 HOURS

• Thermometry, Heat, and Heat Transfer  3 HOURS

  
  TOTAL TRAINING HOURS TO DATE: 289

Training Burns 

I have participated in the organized controlled burning of buildings and wildland for fire investigative training. We ignited or caused the ignition of buildings, objects and vehicles in many different ways to observe the effects of: ignition, fire behavior, ventilation, fuel package arrangement and geometry, explosions, fire environments and the various effects of the fire control and overhaul efforts have on the fire behavior and relative evidence. 

Investigator

Certifications, Licenses, Education, and Experience

Continuing Training History compliant with NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator 2022, Expert Witness Testimony, Publications and other Experience attached upon request. I regularly attend training conferences and other Fire Investigation related training.