Fires / Explosions

Our Fires and Explosions Group consist of Fire and Explosion Investigators supported by our Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Mining, and Material Engineers. These Certified Investigators and qualified Engineers have the credentials and experience to determine the origin and cause of structure, vehicle, and mine fires and explosions, including arson.

All investigations are conducted in accordance with the industry standard NFPA 921 (Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations). With or without a fire scene to examine, these experts analyze all available information to form origin and cause opinions and provide expert reports and testimony, as required.

In addition to fires and explosions, these seasoned experts also conduct investigations involving carbon monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation. Heating, cooling, cooking, ducting, and venting systems can be examined, analyzed and tested, including all controls and safety systems.

First Name	Last Name	Title	CV Abstract
John M.	Agosti, CFEI	Fire & Explosion Investigator	Structure fires; vehicle fires; fire deaths/injuries: evidence collection and spoliation; witness interviews; still and video photography; building and fire codes, including fire/building code violations; life safety code violations; smoke, fire, carbon dioxide detector and alarm issues; fire spread issues; fire sprinklers, walls, and doors.; fire exits and illumination; fire prevention analysis; fire department practices, including fire department operations/practices/management; firefighter deaths/injuries/safety; origin and make initial determination of cause including structures, vehicles, equipment, and marine; insurance claims and criminal cases involving theft, fires, fraud, and conspiracies to commit arson; electrocutions; investigation of bombings and incendiary fires; boiler and furnace fires/explosions; LP and natural gas fires/explosions; kitchen range fires; spontaneous combustions; electrical fires, including automobile, truck, boats, and equipment; fireplace, flue, and chimney fires; home appliance fires; industrial fires and explosions.
Timothy J.	Dickson, PE, SE	Civil/Structural Engineer	Civil/structural engineering; field investigations; laboratory studies; commercial and residential buildings and bridges constructed of reinforced concrete (conventional, pre-stressed and post-tensioned), structural steel, masonry and timber; foundation underpinning systems; earth retention systems using soil nail walls, segmental retaining walls and sheet piles; structural failures/collapses; water infiltration; roofing failures; building façade evaluations; work zone safety; windows, doors, floors, stairs, and ramps; fire, wind, ice, and snow damage; professional liability claims; preparation of construction documents; evaluation of field test-data; property loss; construction defects; natural gas explosion damage; building settlement; deteriorated concrete and masonry; building rehabilitation and renovation; high wind, tornado, and blizzard damage; precast concrete planks; structural steel frames; fatigue and static performance tests; jointless bridges; parking garage rehabilitation; bracing failure investigations.
Todd D.	Feliks, PE	Civil Engineer	Licensed Engineer in Michigan Hospital, healthcare, and educational building design and construction, including flooring, painting, lighting and ceiling replacement; building standards and safety code compliance, including ADA, ANSI, NFPA, BOCA, IBC, and OSHA; Professional Liability issues and Standards of Practice; clean rooms and operating rooms; project contracts, including shop drawings, submittals, bid and project documents, and change orders.
William H.	Glidden, PE, CFEI, PI	Mechanical Engineer	Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Licensed Private Investigator Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Ohio, Texas Vehicle crash reconstruction; mechanical systems failures; structure, vehicle, equipment and marine fires and explosions, origin and cause; product failures and injuries, including vehicle, marine, firearms, and aircraft; personal watercraft incidents and injuries; aircraft crash investigations; building plumbing, electrical, fire and HVAC systems; fire safety compliance; air and water environmental regulatory compliance; defensive driving instruction; building preventative maintenance; hospital mechanical, electrical and fire facilities; construction supervision; equipment failure evaluation; turbine engine repair.
James R.	Heyl, PE	Senior Electrical Engineer	Licensed Engineer in Michigan Industrial equipment; material handling systems; automation and robotic systems; power supplies; control systems; computer and PLC programming; quality control and safety; manufacturing operations; facilities construction and maintenance; electrical fires and explosions for equipment, structures, and vehicles; switchgear and substations; automated machinery; safety, predictive, and preventive maintenance programs; conveyor systems; safety interlocks; safety violations; instrumentation systems; AC/DC motors; code compliance; marina electrical systems; underground electrical distribution; welding systems; test cells; lighting systems including sport facilities and roadways.
James R.	Hill, PE	Senior Mechanical Engineer	Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Wisconsin Building HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and electrical, including design, installation damage, malfunction, and personal injury; code and safety compliance, including ADA; maintenance requirements and implementation; hot water and steam boilers; air/steam turbines, compressors, pumps, fans, and vacuum systems; refrigeration and freezer defects; bakery and food processing equipment and facilities; power and lighting systems; locker rooms and restrooms; ventilation and indoor air quality requirements.
Blaine J.	Hoffmann, MS, OSHM	Safety Expert	Workplace safety, training, investigations, accident investigations and audits; legal aspects of safety and health; training and development programs; written program development; interpretation of OSHA general industry and construction industry, healthcare industry standards; VPP program management; MSHA training and regulatory interpretations; 40-hr HAZWOPER; Arc-Flash (NFPA 70E).
Robert C.	Krause, MS, EMT-P, CFI	Emergency Medical Services Expert	Emergency Medical Services (EMS); Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT); emergency vehicle driving operations; EMS chart and protocol reviews; EMS, EMT, and paramedic policies, procedures, and standards of care; emergency communications procedures; fire department operations, ambulance operations, fire department training procedures; fire suppression tactics; fire, rescue, and extrication operations; law enforcement policies and procedures; safety and security training; emergency medicine, including pediatric; medical records review; first responder training; OSHA compliance; water safety; telecommunications; respiratory and cardiac arrest; chemical agents, including WMD's; school violence and security; workplace violence.
Tracey T.	Lemmon	Propane Specialist	Propane system components, installations, and servicing; propane system engineering and design; propane bulk plants.
Stephen K.	Li, RA	Senior Forensic Architect	Building design and planning; codes and standards; security systems; ADA compliance; zoning board regulations; grading and drainage; building failures; warnings; shelving and racks; fall protection; glazing, roofing, walls, windows, foundations, floor treatments, sidewalks; slips, trips and falls on walkways, ramps, stairs, docks, kitchens, and parking lots; illumination issues; design and construction of stairs, railings, ramps, ladders, and scaffolding; architectural professional liability issues and standards of practice; property damage investigations, including wind, water, and hail damage; cost estimating; surveying issues; building mechanical and electrical systems, including refrigeration; injury claim investigations; supervise field construction activities; parking lot safety guidelines.
David M.	Manuta, PhD, FAIC	Senior Environmental/ Occupational Expert	Fundamental chemical principles; electrochemistry, thermodynamics; handling safety of gases, chemicals, and oxidizers; industrial and manufacturing operations safety; fire and explosion investigations (including arson); hazardous material and radiation exposure; clandestine manufacturing of illegal drugs; cleaning and disinfecting products and equipment; worker chemical sensitivity assessments; dust and fumes exposure; fireworks incidents; spontaneous combustion; skin care products; infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography testing; refrigerant hazards.
Rob	Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI, CVFI, CFTE	Senior Forensic Vehicle Analyst	Vehicle transponders, ignition locks, steering columns, and anti-theft systems; vehicle fraud; production and testing of keys and locks; air bags; fire and explosion origin and cause; vehicle collision repair; auto and medium/heavy duty trucks; vehicle brakes, steering, suspension, engines, drive train, axles, air conditioning, and electrical/electronic components; auto dealership management.
Rick A.	Smith, PE	Senior Mechanical Engineer	Licensed Engineer in Ohio Industrial power plants and processes; thermal and combustion systems including boilers, furnaces, and ovens; CFC management; HVAC systems; air pollution control; process and power piping and equipment; cathodic protection; pump failure analysis; heat and fluid transfer processes, including energy conservation.
Bruce E.	VanDorpe, CFI, CFEI	Fire & Explosion Investigator	Origin and cause of fires; fraud fires; arson and conspiracies to commit arson; fire science technology; safety engineering; electric and gas appliance fires; auto theft fires; bomb scene investigations; clandestine drug labs; criminal/terrorist incidents; interviews and interrogations; bomb disposal.
Michael T.	Williams, PE	Civil/Environmental Engineer	Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Indiana, New Mexico Civil/sanitary design including water distribution, sanitary and storm water sewer systems, pump stations, and wastewater treatment plants; administration, inspection and testing for construction of storm sewers, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, activated sludge systems, aerated lagoons, oxidation ditches, sequencing batch reactors, and secondary/tertiary treatment systems; inspector/technician training; site surveying and safety plans; project certifications; failures and malfunctions including foundations, retaining walls, roofs, structural failures, appliances, furnaces, swimming pools, spas, saunas, plumbing systems, hydraulic systems, fire suppression systems, environmental releases, and environmental remediation systems; hydrogeological investigations, aquifer tests, design and permitting.