Ancaster Office Relocated: 3-3465 North Service Rd. Burlington ON L7N 3G2

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Jimmy Fata

CFEI
Fire and Explosion Investigator

Primary Service Area Ottawa

Email jfata@ocig.com

Contact M: (613) 371-1638

Industries

Insurance

Solutions

Forensic Engineering: Fire & Explosion Investigation

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)

Professional Experience

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

Technical Affiliations

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

Professional Training

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

Instructing

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

Court Experience

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

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