Fire origin and cause investigators, arson experts, fire damage analysts.
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Comprehensive fire origin and cause investigation services nationwide.
Forensic engineering and fire investigation specialists.
Based in Omaha, NE
Multi-disciplinary forensic engineering and fire investigation firm serving 44 states since 1991. Over 5,000 projects completed for attorneys, insurance carriers, and government agencies. Licensed…
Based in Omaha, NE
Licensed · Certified · Trusted. Fire origin and cause, structural forensic engineering, and product failure analysis from a team of licensed engineers and certified fire investigators. A division of…
Based in Marietta, GA
Applied Technical Services is one of North America's leading consulting engineering firms, founded in 1967, specializing in forensic engineering, fire investigation, and materials testing.
Based in Columbia, MD
Combustion Science & Engineering provides fire and explosion investigation services with certified investigators and professional engineers specializing in residential, commercial, and industrial fire…
Based in Birmingham, AL
Crain & Associates is a technical investigation company specializing in fire and explosion investigations throughout Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi since 2001.
Based in Plymouth, MN
Crane Engineering, part of ESi, provides forensic engineering, fire science, building science, and motor vehicle testing services from offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Based in Cayce, SC
EDT Engineers provides forensic engineering and consulting services from multiple offices nationwide, specializing in failure analysis, fire investigation, and expert witness testimony.
Based in Sodus Point, NY
Fire Research & Technology is the nation's first fully accredited forensic investigative firm, offering fire and explosion investigation services from offices in New York and Florida.
Based in Covington, LA
Forensic Investigations Group is an A2LA-accredited fire and explosion investigation firm providing expert witness, evidence collection, and laboratory services since 2006.
Based in Long Beach, CA
Garrett Forensics has provided superior forensic investigations, analysis, and reporting since 1971, specializing in fire investigations, accident reconstruction, and engineering expert services in…
Based in Worcester, MA
Genesis Forensics is an ISO 17020:2012 accredited fire investigation and forensic engineering firm in Massachusetts, serving clients across the United States and Canada.
Based in Bethesda, MD
Gexcon US provides high-quality consulting in fire and explosion safety, accident investigation, and forensic engineering from offices in Bethesda, MD and Houston, TX.
Based in Bartlett, TN
Investigative Services Companies provides fire investigation services including subrogation investigations, product liability inspections, fire code analysis, and expert courtroom testimony.
Based in Green Cove Springs, FL
Jack Ward Fire Consultants provides fire investigation services with satellite offices across the Southeast, licensed in ten states including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas.
Based in Raleigh, NC
Kimley-Horn is a national engineering firm with over 80 offices providing forensic engineering services including construction defect evaluations and fire cause and origin investigations.
Based in Grandville, MI
Nederveld is a multi-discipline organization in Michigan providing forensic engineering, fire investigation, and HVAC consulting services.
Based in Rochester, NH
NEFCO Fire Investigations provides fire and explosion investigation services with rapid response and court-qualified investigators across New England and the Northeast.
Based in Huntsville, AL
Southeastern Origin & Cause specializes in investigating fire and explosion events throughout Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Based in Central Falls, RI
Thermalogix provides fire and explosion investigation services throughout New England, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Based in Prior Lake, MN
Whitemore Fire Consultants has investigated fire and explosion origin and cause since 1994, providing expert witness services from Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Based in Mt. Juliet, TN
Wright Fire & Forensics provides fire investigation and forensic consulting services from their Tennessee offices, with over 30 years of expertise in engineering, construction, and fire investigation.
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Fire investigators apply scientific methodology to determine where a fire started, what caused it, and how it spread — answers that drive insurance decisions, criminal prosecutions, and civil litigation.
Fire investigation is a forensic discipline focused on determining the origin, cause, and development of fires and explosions. Qualified fire investigators — including certified fire investigators (CFIs), professional engineers, and former fire marshals — examine burn patterns, witness statements, physical evidence, and laboratory results to reconstruct fire events with scientific rigor. Their findings inform insurance coverage decisions, subrogation actions, product liability claims, arson prosecutions, and wrongful death lawsuits.
The gold standard for fire investigation methodology is NFPA 921, the Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations published by the National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 921 requires investigators to apply the scientific method: collecting data, developing hypotheses, testing those hypotheses against the evidence, and reaching conclusions that are supported by the facts. This systematic approach replaced older, experience-based methods that courts and the scientific community have largely rejected.
An investigator following NFPA 921 begins by documenting the fire scene through photography, measurements, and evidence collection. They examine fire patterns — including char depth, smoke deposits, and calcination of materials — to trace the fire's path from the area of greatest damage back to the area of origin. Once the origin is established, the investigator systematically evaluates potential ignition sources and first fuels to determine the cause.
Fire causes are classified as accidental, incendiary (arson), natural, or undetermined. A cause should be classified as undetermined when the evidence does not support a definitive conclusion — a finding that is scientifically honest but can have significant implications for insurance coverage and litigation strategy.
When fire patterns, witness information, or laboratory analysis suggest an intentionally set fire, the investigation shifts to establishing the presence of ignitable liquids, identifying multiple points of origin, or documenting the removal of personal property before the fire. Forensic laboratories use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify accelerant residues in fire debris samples. However, experienced investigators understand that many common materials produce hydrocarbons during combustion that can mimic accelerant signatures, making careful interpretation essential.
Fire investigation plays a central role in insurance subrogation — the process by which an insurer that has paid a claim seeks recovery from the party responsible for the fire. Appliance fires, electrical failures, and contractor negligence are common subrogation targets. The investigator's report and testimony must establish both the fire's cause and the responsible party's connection to it.
Wildfire forensics has become an increasingly important subspecialty, particularly in the western United States. These investigations determine the origin and cause of wildfires that destroy homes and infrastructure, often involving utility equipment, vehicle emissions systems, or human activity. Wildfire investigations require specialized skills in large-area origin determination, weather data analysis, and fire behavior modeling.
When retaining a fire investigator, look for certification through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) as a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) or through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI). A professional engineering license adds credibility, particularly in cases involving electrical or mechanical fire causes. The investigator should demonstrate thorough familiarity with NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033, a track record of testimony that has withstood Daubert challenges, and the ability to communicate complex findings clearly in written reports and courtroom settings.
A fire investigator for subrogation can make or break recovery. How early, defensible cause findings and preserved evidence protect a carrier's claim.
The disputed 2026 Boyle Heights cold-storage fire shows how a fire origin and cause expert's NFPA 921 findings decide liability. What attorneys should demand.
