Fire Damage Expert Witnesses

We’ll help you retain an industry-leading Fire Damage expert

Fire damage expert witnesses practice in a variety of fields, including fire investigation, building codes, insurance claims, product defects, and construction safety. Some of the most common specialties include origin and cause analysis, electrical fires, arson, industrial accidents, and NFPA standards compliance. They can opine on the effects of fire patterns, material failure, code violations, liability, and damages valuation.

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Average Fire Damage Expert Witnesses Court Fees

Review Fee

Deposition Fee

Court Fee

  • Review Fee $250/hr
    Deposition Fee $250/hr
    Court Fee $250/hr

    This expert is a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, California Council of EMS Educators, California Fire Chiefs, California EMS Educator/QI Group, and National Association of EMS Educators. He is currently the President and Education Program Director of a private EMT training center. He has 26 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services and 20+ years as an Educator. This expert also has extensive expert witness experience.

    Field Paramedic, An Emergency Medical Care Company in CA

    Master of Science (MS), University of Maryland

    Simi Valley,

    California

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  • Review Fee $375/hr
    Deposition Fee $375/hr
    Court Fee $375/hr

    This expert specializes in electrical engineering issues, and has performed numerous investigations into fires caused/allegedly caused by electrical issues. His experience includes evaluation of electronics products and their failure modes to determine whether they adhered to relevant safety standards, including those established by Underwriters Laboratories and the Canadian Standards Association. He has also evaluated products and components for structural wiring compliance with the National Electric Code. His projects have included a wide array of products and components, including but not limited to electronics, appliances, HVAC/R, residential and commercial wiring, and battery failure analysis, with an emphasis on lithium ion battery chemistry. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states, and holds a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator certification.

    Senior Staff Consultant, An Engineering Consultancy in TX

    Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Texas at Austin

    Dallas,

    Texas

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  • Review Fee $150/hr
    Deposition Fee $200/hr
    Court Fee $200/hr

    This electrical expert has nearly forty years of experience in the electrical industry, having been a licensed Master Electrician for a quarter century. He currently serves as a faculty member in the electrical apprenticeship program at a technical college in Wisconsin. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors.

    Electrical Apprenticeship Instructor, An electrical company in WI

    Green Bay,

    Wisconsin

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  • Review Fee $400/hr
    Deposition Fee $800/hr
    Court Fee $800/hr

    This fire protection and construction codes expert has been active in his field for over 33 years. He earned his B.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of New York. The expert began his career with fire protection and alarm system companies before becoming a Consulting Engineer with Lehr Associates, where he prepared code reviews. From 2000 until 2009, the expert was the Director of the New York office of Hughes Associates and was responsible for preparing detailed code analysis reports. He now runs his own consulting business and is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

    Principal, A Protection and Building Code Consulting Business

    Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Maryland

    Garden City Park,

    New York

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  • Review Fee $275/hr
    Deposition Fee $375/hr

    This fire analysis expert received his PhD in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech. He is a licensed fire protection engineer. He has been involved in research for over 17 years and is currently an associate professor in fire safety engineering technology at an elite university.

    Associate Professor, A Major University

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Concord,

    North Carolina

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  • Review Fee $150/hr
    Deposition Fee $250/hr
    Court Fee $250/hr

    This highly qualified expert received his BS in Mechanical engineering, an MS in mechanical engineering and a second in aerospace engineering. His PhD in aerospace engineering was granted by the the University of Michigan. Formerly he served as as a senior fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in their fire research division. Currently he serves as professor and director of undergraduate studies for the department of fire protection at a major MD university. He has over 20 years experience in fire combustion and research.

    Affiliate Professor, A University in MD

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Michigan

    College Park,

    Maryland

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  • Review Fee $595/hr
    Deposition Fee $650/hr
    Court Fee $650/hr

    This former Chief California State Fire Marshal is a consummate expert in fire protection, building codes, and window safety. He has over 40 years of hands-on expertise and currently serves as Executive Director of the National Code Services Association. He also served as the Chair of California‟s Special Arson Task Force and has extensive experience in the investigation of fire origin, cause and spread and also negligence of fire department operations and management. He is a leading expert in window safety and serves on the National Safety Council's Window Safety Task Force.

    Consultant, An independent fire safety and building code consultancy

    Master of Public Administration (MPA), Golden Gate University

    California

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  • Review Fee $500/hr
    Deposition Fee $600/hr
    Court Fee $600/hr

    This expert has over 20 years of experience in wildland fire investigation, suppression, prescribed fire, and training. He is currently the President/Owner of a private wildfire investigation, consulting, and training firm. Previously, he served as a Special Agent with the US Forest Service, specializing in wildland fire investigation and performing as the national wildland fire investigation expert, as well as, detailing as the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge. He was also the Incident Commander of the US Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations Fire Investigation Team and received the US Forest Service's Special Agent of the Year Award. He is currently an active member, and former Co-Chair, of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Wildland Fire Investigation Committee. He has investigated hundreds of wildland fires, to include the largest fires in the history of Arizona and New Mexico. He has also instructed numerous wildland fire investigation training courses, both nationally and internationally. He was also a Subject Matter Expert in the U.S. Forest Service's International Programs organization. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration/Finance from Northern Arizona University.

    Owner, A wildland fire consulting firm in AZ

    Bachelor of Science (BS), Northern Arizona University

    Eagar,

    Arizona

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  • Review Fee $185/hr
    Deposition Fee $185/hr

    This highly qualified expert has extensive experience in the field of fire protection engineering. He received his bachelors and masters from the University of San Diego, both in mechanical engineering. His PhD in mechanical engineering was also granted from UCSD. He is on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Wildland Fire as well as the NFPA Technical Committee on Wildlife and Rural Fire Protection. Currently he serves as an associate editor for a fire technology publication and associate professor in the department of Fire Protection Engineering at a major Maryland university.

    Associate Professor, Major MD University

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of California San Diego

    Silver Spring,

    Maryland

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  • Review Fee $225/hr

    This expert is currently a fire and explosion investigator and analyst at a top forensic firm in the Southeast. He is a highly qualified fire and explosion expert and has extensive credentials, including: multiple certifications, fire and explosion research, many published articles and papers, presentations, teaching, years of experience including hundreds of fire and explosion investigations, analyses, and testimony on numerous cases.

    Principal Fire and Explosion Investigator and Analyst, Two engineering consulting firms in FL

    Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Akron

    Palmetto,

    Florida

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  • Review Fee $225/hr
    Deposition Fee $400/hr
    Court Fee $400/hr

    This expert on Electrical Engineering has over 28 years of experience. He is experienced in lighting, power, fire alarm and communication design for institutional, medical, commercial and design/build projects. He has performed analysis of electrical systems for hospitals, military and industrial facilities. His background in electrical engineering provided a solid platform for performing Forensic Services. Over the past fifteen years, he has given testimony at arbitration and deposition for Superior and Federal Court cases. His cases have involved residential construction defects, fire investigations, product defects, electric shock, overhead and underground building systems, lighting surveys, electrical failures, code analysis, personal injury and electrical design. This expert also performs commissioning of electrical and lighting systems, electrical design and construction document reviews and is LEED AP certified.

    Principal Consultant, An electrical engineering firm in CA

    Bachelor of Science (BS), California State University Long Beach

    Irvine,

    California

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  • Review Fee $500/hr
    Deposition Fee $500/hr
    Court Fee $500/hr

    This expert has over years of experience in prescribed fire, controlled burns, wildfire, and smoke impacts to people, vegetation, and infrastructure. He earned his BS in plant science at Cameron University and his MS in range science at Texas Tech University. This expert is active in his field as a member of the Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Department, the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils, and the Alliance of Prescribed Burn Associations. He is also highly-published in his field, having written one book on prescribed fire, authored or co-authored 36 extension fact sheets, and 42 peer-reviewed research articles. He began his career as a research assistant at Texas Tech University before going on to serve as a research station superintendent and a research associate at Oklahoma State University. Currently, this expert serves as a research extension specialist in prescribed fire at a university in Oklahoma.

    Associate Extension Specialist, A University in OK

    Master of Science (MS), Texas Tech University

    Orlando,

    Oklahoma

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What Can a Fire Damage Expert Witness Opine On?

Damage Assessment

Evaluate extent of fire damage.

Smoke Removal

Eliminate smoke odors and residues.

Water Extraction

Remove water from firefighting efforts.

Structural Repair

Fix damaged building structures.

Content Restoration

Restore personal belongings affected by fire.

Fire Prevention Consultation

Advise on fire safety measures.

FAQs for Fire Damage Expert Witnesses

What is a fire damage expert witness?

A fire damage expert witness is a qualified professional who analyzes fire origin, cause, and property damage. They assist by reviewing records, inspecting scenes, and testifying to clarify complex fire damage issues.

What types of cases can a fire damage expert witness opine on?

A fire damage expert witness opines on fire origin and cause, code compliance, product defects, insurance claims, subrogation, construction defects, and liability disputes.

How can a fire damage expert witness support causation analysis in a property loss claim?

A fire damage expert witness supports causation analysis in a property loss claim by scientifically identifying the fire’s origin, ignition source, and spread to link damage to the event.

What specific methodologies does a fire damage expert witness use to assess structural impact?

A fire damage expert witness uses NFPA 921 guidelines, visual inspection, material testing, structural engineering analysis, and fire pattern analysis to assess structural impact.

What credentials should counsel require from a fire damage expert witness?

Counsel should require a fire damage expert witness to have relevant engineering or fire science degrees, certifications (e.g., CFI, CFEI), extensive case experience, and courtroom testimony history.

What is Expert Institute’s process for selecting fire damage expert witnesses?

Expert Institute delivers a tailored approach to connect you with top-tier experts. We identify actively practicing professionals who meet your exact criteria for specialty, experience, litigation background, fee structure, credentials, location, and more.

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