Zaid is a licensed Professional Engineer based in Ontario. He is a graduate of Concordia University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Infrastructure. He specializes in forensic structural investigations in the analysis, design, and restoration of structural systems across residential, commercial, and industrial structures. His work spans the design and analysis of wood, steel, and concrete structures, design of fire separations, code compliance reviews, and detailed structural assessments of environmental and structural failures. Zaid possesses sound and extensive knowledge in the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and Ontario Building Code (OBC).
Chris is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Level II Fire Inspector with over 18 years of experience at the London Fire Department, where he worked in fire suppression, inspections, investigations, and as Acting Chief Fire Prevention Officer. Since 2021, he has served as a Fire Prevention Officer and Investigator with the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex Fire Department.
In addition to his operational work, Chris is a professor at Fanshawe College, teaching fire inspection and investigation in the Fire and Life Safety program and Public Safety Fundamentals. He is the Lead Instructor for the NFPA 1033 Fire Investigation Course with the Ontario Fire College and delivers organization-wide fire inspection and investigation training for the London Fire Department. He also teaches the NFPA 921 Course “Guide for Fire and Explosions” with IAAI Ontario.
Chris specializes in fire department litigation, providing expert analysis in fire origin and cause, suppression tactics, and response protocols. His work supports legal teams and municipalities in defending or prosecuting claims related to fire department conduct, equipment failure, and operational decision-making. With a deep understanding of NFPA standards, the Ontario Fire Code, and departmental guidelines, policies, and procedures, he bridges the gap between fire inspection/investigation and the legal complexities surrounding fire department liability.
Russ is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, as well as a former Fire Captain, Fire Prevention officer, and member of the Arson Strike Force. He has over 20 years of experience and has performed over 1,200 fire and explosion investigations, including large structural losses, vehicle fires, and wildland fires. Russ also investigates and reports on technical failures, specializing in fire sprinkler systems.
John is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Fuels Specialist. He has over 17 years of experience, including 3 years with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority where he was Fuels Safety Inspector and Fuels Technical Trainer. Prior to that, he spent 10 years as a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic (313A Journeyperson) and Construction and Maintenance Electrician (309A Journeyperson). John has also taught refrigeration and gas fitting at Fanshawe and Conestoga Colleges.
Paul is a licensed Professional Engineer specializing in Mechanical and Materials Engineering with expertise in forensic failure analysis. His skills encompass materials testing, metallurgical sample preparation and microstructure characterization.
With hands-on experience in automotive product design and testing, Paul’s knowledge extends to failures in consumer and industrial products, plumbing systems, automotive components, and issues stemming from corrosion, fatigue, improper installation, and poor material selection.
He is proficient in analysing failures related to metals, polymers, glass, ceramics and composites using analytical tools like XRD, XRF, SEM, EDX, and optical microscopy. Paul has collaborated with insurance companies, law firms and industrial risk management teams. His contribution to the field of materials science and engineering is validated by 25 technical publications and presentations.
Gary is a Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator. He has over 25 years of professional experience investigating fire and explosion scenes with an urban Fire Department. He has been involved in more than 2,000 structural fires, 500 vehicle fires, and has been the senior officer involved in 36 fatal fire investigations. He has also conducted more than 800 reconstructed test burns over the course of his career.
Martin is a licensed professional engineer specializing in electrical engineering and fire investigation. With more than 15 years of experience, he has performed over 700 fire investigations as well as electrical failure analyses, site reviews and code consultations. Martin is qualified as an expert witness in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Accepted as an expert witness by the Ontario Superior Court, Steve specializes in fires and explosions and has conducted investigations for over 1,000 fire and explosion scenes. His professional experience includes over 10 years with the Office of the Fire Marshal, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and extensive experience in automotive repair and inspection.
With more than 30 years of professional experience, Vladimir’s career has encompassed a number of industries and roles: Insurance appraiser of commercial and industrial machinery, equipment and buildings; quality, production and design engineer and forensic engineer. Vladimir has completed over 1,500 forensic cases, investigating fires and explosions, product failures and various other types of losses. Vladimir graduated with an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Toronto. He is an Internationally Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator and serves as a board member and training chair of the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators (CAFI), having served in the past as the national president. Vladimir also assists the Standard Council of Canada (SCC) as a designated expert in their Certifying Body (CB) and Laboratory Accreditation programs. Vladimir is also the author of Chapter 10, “Fire Investigation,” in The Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences (Irwin Law, 2016), edited by Caitlin Pakosh. He is also the winner of the 2017 Walter Owen Book Prize recognizing excellent legal writing and outstanding contributions to Canadian law.
