Curriculum Vitae
Thomas A. Pierce, IAAI CFI, IAAI ECT, CCAI MCFI, F.I.R.E FCI, IFE GIFireE
Areas of Specialization
Fire & Explosion Investigations, Chimney and Wood-stove Venting and Fire Causation, Commercial Kitchen Fires and Commercial Pyrotechnics.
Background and Professional Experience
Mr. Pierce has over 25 years of firefighting experience. He currently holds the position of Senior Fire Investigator and owner of Pierce Fire Investigations and Consulting Inc. During the course of Mr. Pierce's career, he has participated in over 2,500 origin and cause investigations including, vehicle, structures, commercial, chimneys and vegetation fires. He has accumulated 18 years experience as a solid fuel contractor and inspector.
Mr. Pierce currently serves on the Technical Committee for the NFPA 211 Standards for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel- Burning Appliances.
Mr. Pierce serves the fire investigation community as a member of the training committee and a Past President of the California Conference of Arson Investigators.
Mr. Pierce is well versed in the field of commercial pyrotechnics and has just celebrated his 45th year in the industry.
Specialized Training
- California State Fire Training, Instructor, Oil and Gas Fire School- 1986, through 1993
- Chimney Relining School, Wood Energy Institute 1987
- Masonry Restoration School, Southwestern Technical Institute 1989
- Fire Origin and Cause - California State Fire Marshal 1989
- Wild-land Interface Fire Operations, California State Fire Training 1990
- Tactical Considerations for Structure Fires, San Bernardino Fire Department 1991
- Arson Detection for the First Responder, National Fire Academy 1999
- Methods of Enhancing Safety Education, National Fire Academy 1999
- Arson Scene Search & Evidence Recovery- Public Agency Training Council 1999
- Electrical Fire Investigation- Public Agency Training Council 1999
- Basic Air Operations-S270 United States Forest Service 2001
- Inter-agency Incident Business Management- S260 United States Forest Service 2001.
- Introduction to the Incident Command System. California Department of Forestry 2001.
- Fire Investigation 1 A (40 hours-tested), California State Fire Training 2001.
- Fire Investigation 1 B (40 hours-tested), California State Fire Training 2001.
- Fire Investigation 2 A (40 hours-tested), California State Fire Training 2001.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (22 hours tested) 2001
- PC832, with firearms, P.O.S.T. Certification (64 hours-tested) 2001
- Level III P.O.S.T. Certification (116 hours-tested) 2001
- Level II P.O.S.T. Certification (277 hours-tested) 2002
- P.O.S.T. Correctional Deputy Academy (296 hours-tested) 2002
- Fire Investigation 2B (40 hours -tested), California State Fire Marshal 2004
- Vehicle Fire Investigation, Sonoma County Arson Task Force (12) hrs. 2004.
- Hands on Fire Investigation, San Bernardino Arson task Force (8) hrs. 2004.
- Expert Testimony Program (20 hours - tested), IAAI - 2005
- Investigation of Gas and Electric Appliance Fires, Fire Findings (30 hours-tested) 2005
- Certified Fireplace Inspector, (48 hours-tested) F.I.R.E - 2005
- Advanced Fire/Arson Training. CCAI. (20) hrs. 2005
- Insurance Fraud Training. SCFIA. (15) hrs. 2005.
- Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling, IAAI - 2005 (4 hours- tested)
- Understanding the Arsonist, San Bernardino Fire Department 2006
- Prosecution of Fireworks & Explosive Device Crimes, San Bernardino County District attorney Office 2006
- Fire Instructor IA, State Board of Fire Services (40hours) 2007.
- Advanced Fire/ Arson Investigation. CCAI. (20) hrs. November 2008.
- Serial Arson Analysis, San Bernardino Fire department 2008
- Fireworks Safety, Pyro Spectaculars 2009
- Motion Picture/Television- Fire Safety Officer, California State Fire Marshal, 2009
- Ethical leadership in the Classroom, State Fire Service Training, 2009
- The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation, IAAI(3 hours-tested)
- Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction, Dr. John DeHaan, Dr. David Icove, 2010
- Advanced Vehicle Fire investigation CCAI 2010 (co-instructor)
- Utilizing NFPA 1033 and 921, IAAI CFITrainer.net (4 hours tested) 2010
- A Ventilation Focused Approach to the Impact of Building Structures and Systems on Fire, IAAI CFITrainer.net (4hours tested) 2010
- Understanding Fire Through the Candle Experiment IAAI CFITrainer.net (4 hours tested) 2010
- Effective Investigation and Testimony, IAAI, CFITrainer.net (3 hours tested) 2010
- Ignitable Liquids and Other Burn Patterns, Fire K9.org (2 hours tested) 2011
- Introduction to Wild-land Investigation, CVAI, (4hours) 2011
- Wild-land Fire Investigation, IAAI CFITrainer.net (5 hours tested) 2013
- Wild-land Fire Litigation Conference 2013
- Advanced Wild-land Fire Investigation FI-210 NWCG (40 hours tested) 2013
- How First Responders Impact The Fire Investigation, CFITrainer.net, (2 hour tested) 2013
- Investigating Commercial Kitchen Fires (16 hrs.) (Phil Ackland & Associates 2014
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) March 2014
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) November 2014
- Subrogation College (8 hrs.) National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP)
- NFPA 1033 compliance course. 40 hours. California Conference of Arson Investigators March 30-April 3, 2015
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) March 2016.
- International Training Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators. Las Vegas NV. (32 hours) May 2017.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) October 2016.
- Ethics and the fire Investigator CFI Trainer.net 3hrs. January 2017 Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) March 2017.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (20 hours) November 2017.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (28 hours) (tested) March 2018.
- International Training Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators. Frisco TX. (32 hours) May 2018.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (28 hours) (tested) September 2018.
- Documenting the Event. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (4) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- What Happens in the Lab? IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (4) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- Introduction to Evidence. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (4) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- NFPA 1033 and your Career. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (4) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- Physical Evidence and the Fire Scene. IAAI. CFITrainer.Net (4) hrs. (tested)8-2018.
- The Practical Application of the Relationship Between NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921. IAAI. CFITrainer.Net (2) hrs. (tested) 8-2018.
- The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation. IAAI,
- CFITrainer.Net (3) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- DNA. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (3) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- Accreditation, Certification and Certificates. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (3) hrs. (tested) 8-2018.
- Ethics and the Fire Investigator. IAAI, CFITrainer.Net (3) hrs. (tested) 8-2018
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (28 hours) (tested) (Cognitive Interviewing) February 2019.
- International Training Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators. Jacksonville, Fl. (32 hours) May 2019.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (28 hours) (tested) September 2019.
- Advanced Fire/Arson Investigation, California Conference of Arson Investigators (28 hours) February 2020
- Evidence Collection (International Association of Arson Investigators)(8hours)(tested) October 2020
- California Conference of Arson Investigators Fall Seminar. October 2020 (28 hours) (tested)
- Unified Command for All-Hazard Incidents. January 16,17, 2021. (16 hours.) FEMA- National Fire Academy
- California Conference of Arson Investigators. Online Wildland Fire Investigation. January 25, 2021. 3 hrs
- California Conference of Arson Investigators Spring Seminar. February 2020 (28 hours) (tested)
- Integrated EOD Concepts February 8-10. Serial Wildland Arson Investigation
- Incident Safety Officer. National Fire Academy February 2021 (16 hours)tested
- California Conference of Arson Investigators Fall Seminar. September 2021(28 hours) (tested)
- Montana Chapter of IAAI Fall Semester. September 2022. Vehicle Fire Investigation. 16 hours (tested)
- California Conference of Arson Investigators Fall Semester 2022 (28 hours) (tested) (explosives instructor)
- Idaho Chapter of IAAI. November 2022. 24 hrs. (tested) Vehicle fire Investigation, ATF explosives
- Montana Chapter of IAAI. May 2023. 20 hrs. (tested) Fire Dynamics, Li-on Batteries, smoking ignition fires
- Wyoming Chapter of IAAI. June 2023. 20 hrs. (tested) Li-on batteries
- California Conference of Arson Investigators Fall Semester (2023) 28 hrs.(tested)
Professional Experience
2023–Present
Owner, Pierce Fire Consulting Group LLC
2019–Present
Fire Investigator and Fire Ground Safety Officer. Miles City Fire Rescue. Miles City,MT
2015-2018
Instructor, Investigating Commercial Kitchen Fires, Phil Ackland & Associates
2011-Present
Fire Investigator/Owner, Pierce Fire Investigations, Inc., Bakersfield, Ca.
2004-2011
Origin and Cause Investigator, Training Officer, Fire Cause Analysis, Bakersfield, Ca.
2002-2004
Reserve Deputy, Correctional Officer, Inyo County Sheriff's Department, Independence, CA.
1980-2002
Fire Investigator, Fire Fighter, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Prevention Coordinator, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, Bishop, CA.
1982-2000
Chimney Sweep - Owner/Operator - Ye Olde Chimney Sweep, Bishop, CA. Solid Fuel Contractor - Educator of fire prevention safety programs, inspections for real estate and insurance companies. Conducted over 10,000 chimney inspections.
1980-Present
Pyrotechnician, California State Licensed Pyrotechnic Operator #122-02
Professional Certifications
- Certified Fire Investigator (California State Fire Marshal) #092782
- Certified Fire Investigator (California Conference of Arson Investigators) #587
- Master Certified Fire Investigator California Conference of Arson Investigators 2017
- Certified Fire Investigator (International Association of Arson Investigators) & #35;22-032119 (Pro Board Certified)
- Fireplace and Chimney Inspector F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Inspection Research and Education Service) #110
- Certified Solid Fuels Inspector (Independent Safety Commission) & #35;1395
- Fireplace Technician F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Inspection Research and Education Service) & #35;009
- Certified Gas Appliance Technician (Cal Gas) California Pyrotechnic Operator (California State Fire Marshal) & #35;1222-02
- Fire Fighter I (California State Board of Fire Services) & #35;1995751
- Certified Evidence Technician (International Association of Arson Investigators) & #35;603
- Graduate, Institute of Fire Engineers. GIFireE, 2018
Awards
Firefighter of the Year, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department 1997
Professional Affiliations
- California Conference of Arson Investigators (President 2014-2015)(Life Member)
- International Association of Arson Investigators (Member) (Foundation Member)
- California State Fire Fighters Association (Past Director)(Life Member)
- National Fire Prevention Association (Member Technical Committee to NFPA 211)
- Institution of Fire Engineers
- National Association of Fire Investigators (Member)
Professional Licenses
- California Private Investigator #26477 Bureau of Security & Investigative Services
- Montana Private Investigator #38184 Board of Private Security
Professional References
Tom Fee, Fire Investigator
Fee Fire Investigations
1279 N. White Ave
Pomona, Ca. 91768
(909) 865-5994
Guy Lyons, Claims Specialist
Farmers HPCS
P.O.Box 268994
Oklahoma City, OK 93126
(626)222-5791
Jim Brown, CFI
Fire Forensics and Technology
34145 Pacific Coast Hwy
Dana Point, Ca. 92629
(949) 667-0530