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37 years experience
Expertise
  • Fire & Explosion Investigation
  • Forensic Engineering
Overview

Jimmy is a certified Fire and Explosion Investigator. His professional experience includes 22 years as a Fire Fighter with the Ottawa Fire Service and 10 years as a Fire Investigator with the Ottawa Fire Department, Fire Investigations Unit. He has performed over 200 investigations and assisted in a further 12 investigations with The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, three of which were fatal fires and one a large explosion. Jimmy has been accepted as an expert witness in Ontario Provincial and Civic court.

Certifications
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
  • Certified Fire Investigator (NFPA 1033)

November 2020 – Present
Fire and Explosion Investigator, Origin & Cause Inc.
Mississauga, ON


September 2012 to Present
Assistant Division Chief, Fire Prevention, Ottawa Fire Services
Ottawa, ON

  • Supervise a staff of 12 Fire Investigators
  • Responsible for fire prevention inspections of existing buildings, structures and premises under the scope of the Ontario Fire Code and relevant municipal bylaws
  • Responsible for the management of leave and conducting performance appraisals/evaluations of Fire Prevention personnel
  • Responsible for the management of fire investigation to determine cause, origin and circumstances
  • Responsible for the scheduling of on-call Fire Investigations personnel
  • Supervise site plan verification concerning fire safety requirements
  • Review and approve Emergency Planning for all buildings required under Division B sentence 2.8 of O Reg. 213/07
  • Supervise the enforcement of Fire Safety By-laws and Federal/Provincial Statutes
  • Schedule fire prevention personnel duties
  • Assist in managing the receipt and processing of complaints from the Fire Operations Division and the public in regards to Fire Prevention
  • Supervise the civilian and uniformed Divisional personnel
  • Assist in the preparation of annual reports and budget for the Prevention Division to the Division Chief of Fire Prevention
  • Respond to public concerns regarding fire prevention
  • Responsible for and review of all fires in Ottawa to ensure thorough review of proper data entry of all Standard Incident Report (SIR) for all fires (Fire Marshal’s Directive #2015-02)
  • Keep a record of every fire reported to the Fire Marshal with the facts, statistics and circumstances that are required under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act 1997 (FPPA)
  • Develop and maintain statistical records and conduct studies in respect to fire protection services
  • Oversee and participate in revenue generation projects
  • Respond to media regarding fire investigation and public interest issues
  • Recommend appropriate training for members of the Division
  • Assist with project management teams when required
  • Ensure public awareness/education and promote a positive public attitude towards Fire Prevention
  • Assist with the protection of the environment through fire prevention
  • Perform the duties of the Chief Fire Official as described in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act when required
  • Ensure Divisional policies are kept up to date
  • Perform other duties as assigned by a higher authority, which are unplanned, or of a transient nature and are consistent with the above job summary and duties
  • Acted in the role of Division Chief reporting to the Assistant Deputy Fire Chief – Fire Prevention and Community Standards with all Duties and Responsibilities of the Division Chief of Prevention

August 2008 to September 2012
Fire Investigator, Fire Prevention, Ottawa Fire Services
Ottawa, ON

  • Investigate Incendiary Fires, Accidental, Fires, Fatal Fires, and Fires with Serious Injuries and Explosions
  • Conduct fire scene investigations which include the collection of data: interviews, photographs, diagrams and field notes
  • Conduct scene excavation and seize fire debris samples and other physical evidence as required
  • Prepare Origin and Cause fire investigation reports and Crown Briefs when charges are laid
  • Liaise with other agencies, including Fire Investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Ottawa Police Service, the Ottawa Fire Service K9 Unit, Inspectors from the Electrical Standards Authority, Ministry of Labour Investigators as well as Inspectors from Technical Standards Safety Authority, Municipal Police Services, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

1988 to Present
Fire Fighter, Ottawa Fire Services
Ottawa, ON

Member – International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
Member – Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA)
Member – National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
Member – International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
Member – Ontario Professional Municipal Fire Prevention Officer Association
Member – Ottawa Arson Task Force

Fire Investigation

  • Certified NFPA 1033 certified Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator, August 2016
  • Delivered and developed training on Burn Cells to Ottawa Fire Services Operation Officers for the Cause, Origin and Circumstance Course for senior Officers, June 2012, May 2013 and August 2014
  • Certified NFPA 921 Fire and Explosion Investigator, October 18, 2012
  • Instructor for Ottawa Fire Services’ Fire Cause and Determination Course, June 2012
  • Lectured on Fire Behaviour, Fire Science, Data Collection, and Electrical Fires to Ottawa Fire Services Operations Officers, June 2012
  • Level 1 Certified Fire Investigator – New York State Academy of Fire Sciences a Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, August 3, 2011
  • Certified – Electrical Cause Determination Fires Level I – New York State Academy of Fire Sciences a Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, June 24, 2011
  • Certified – Electrical Cause Determination Fires Level II – New York State Academy of Fire Sciences a Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, June 24, 2011
  • Certified – Fire Behaviour and Arson Awareness & Principles of Fire Investigation (36 hrs.) – New York State Academy of Fire Sciences a Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, May 6, 2011
  • Awarded completed 38-hour tested program on the Fundamentals of Fire Investigation with the International Association of Arson Investigators, May 17 – 21, 2010
  • Fire Cause Determination (FCD) Course – Ottawa Fire Services, 2008
  • Pyrotechnic Certification – Explosive Regulatory Division, NRC, 2008
  • Display Fireworks Certification – Explosive Regulatory Division, NRC, 2008
  • CFI ongoing online training courses
  • Certified Fire Investigation (CFEI) designation with the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)

Ontario Fire College

  • Certified NFPA 1033 certified Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator, August 2016
  • Pro Board – Fire Instructor NFPA 1041-10, 2012 Edition, May 9, 2014
  • Certification – Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, Improving Fire Safety for Vulnerable Ontarians: Training for Chief Fire Officials (CFOs), June 12, 2014
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 504 Retrofit, 2013
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 505 Courtroom Procedures and Prosecution, 2012
  • Certified NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Level I
  • Certified NFPA 1035 Public Information Officer
  • Certified NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Level I
  • Certified NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Level II
  • Certified NFPA 1035 Fire Life Safety Educator
  • Certified NFPA 921 Fire and Explosion Investigator, 2012
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 501 Fire Prevention Theory, 2012
  • Completed Fire Investigations for Fire Prevention Officer’s FI FPO, December 7, 2012
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 301 Introductory Fire Prevention Theory, 2011
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 302 Introductory Fire Prevention Inspections, 2011
  • Completed Ontario Fire College FPO course 101 Legislation Module, 2010

Further Training and Education 

  • Completed Leadership Foundations, 2014
  • Completed Communication Effectiveness, 2014
  • Completed Conflict Resolution, 2014
  • Certification of Mental Health First Aid – Mental Health Commission of Canada, April 7, 2013
  • Completed Leading in a Virtual Environment, 2013
  • Completed Equity and Inclusion, 2013
  • Completed Basic Emergency Management
  • Practical skill test evaluator organized by the Academic Standards and Evaluation Section of the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management as a technical evaluator for NFPA 1033 of the Fire Investigation Reports
  • Sat on the Technical Review Board with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management in regards to Validation of Ontario Test Banks for NFPA 1033, November 2016
  • Testified as a qualified expert witness for the Crown August 1, 2012
  • Testified as a qualified expert witness for a Civic trial, 2011
  • Testified as a qualified expert witness for the Crown December 13, 2009
  • Testimonies at Landlord Tenant Board

Where to Find Jimmy Fata

Ottawa

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