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Richard Kooren

CFII
Consultant

Primary Service Area Burlington

Email rkooren@ocig.com

Contact PH: 1 (888) 624-3473, ext: 136 / M: (905) 520-2284

Industries

Legal

Solutions

Forensic Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Fire & Explosion Investigation, Litigation

Overview

Richard specializes in fire and explosion investigation, fire department litigation, wood-burning appliance investigations, marine fires and chemical reactions. As a forensic engineer and designated consulting engineer with more than 35 years of industry experience, Richard has conducted over 3,500 fire and explosion investigations and has been accepted as an expert by all levels of courts in five provinces.

Certifications

National Association of Fire Investigators Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
National Association of Fire Investigators Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII)
Canadian Certified Fire Investigator, Level C

Professional Experience

Involved in the investigation of over 3,500 fire losses to date.

Vice President and Investigative Engineer, OCI Group
Ancaster, Ontario
1991 – 2021

Investigation of fires and explosions in buildings and vehicles.
Analysis of fire scenes with respect to temperatures attained and combustibility of materials exposed to a fire.
Installation of wood burning appliances.
Investigation of chemical spills.
Fire suppression system failures and fire spread analysis.
Liability issues pertaining to Fire Departments.

Part-time (Volunteer) Firefighter holding the rank of Lieutenant, Hamilton Fire Department,
Ancaster, Ontario
January 1993 – December 2010 (Retired)

Senior Associate and Investigative Engineer, Forensic Engineering Incorporated,
Burlington, Ontario
1985 – June 1991

Investigation of fire and explosions in buildings and vehicles.
Research of fire causes and effects.

Special Projects Engineer, Office of the Fire Marshal, Minister of the Solicitor General (Government of Ontario)
Toronto, Ontario
1982 – 1984

Fire and vapour explosion investigation and research.
Inspections of buildings for Fire Code violations.

Process Engineer and Quality Control Manager, Prestolite Battery Company of Canada,
Maple, Ontario
1980 – 1982

Supervised Q.C. program for manufacturing facility.
Set up and developed operating parameters for processing equipment.
Research and qualifying company to supply original equipment to major automotive manufacturer.

Research Engineer, Lever Detergents Limited
Toronto, Ontario
1978 – 1980

Development of new and existing products for the manufacturer of liquid detergents and hard surface cleaners.
Manufacturing trouble-shooting and product quality.

Co-op Student, Stelco
Hamilton, Ontario
1974 – 1978

Employed by industries during work terms while attending the Co-Operative Engineering Program at the University of Waterloo
Air and water quality control analysis
Plant water consumption surveys
Co-op Student, Proctor & Gamble, Hamilton, Ontario
Various engineering projects including processing and pollution surveys

Further Training & Education

69th Annual International Training Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators, May 2018, Dallas, Texas.
67th Annual International Training Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators, April 2016, Orlando, Florida.
27th Annual Training Seminar, International Association Marine Investigators, March 2017, Savannah, Georgia.
International Association of Marine Investigators Mobile, Alabama, March 2015
International Association of Marine Investigators, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 2014
International Association of Marine Investigators, Charleston, South Carolina, February 2013
International Association of Marine Investigators, San Diego, California, February 2012
International Association of Marine Investigators, Galveston, Texas, January 2010
International Association of Marine Investigators, Portland, Oregon, March 2009
International Association of Marine Investigators, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, February 2008
Fire Investigation Professional Development Seminar – Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs, Saskatoon, November 2007
International Association of Marine Investigators, Panama City Beach, Florida, February 2007
Fire Investigation Professional Development Seminar – Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs, Regina November 2006
International Association of Marine Investigators, Virginia Beach, Virginia, February 2006
Investigation of Boat Fires, IAAI/ IAMI, Wells Beach, Maine, June 2005
Investigation of Boat Fires, CAFI, Orillia, Ontario, October 2001
52nd Annual seminar – International Association of Arson Investigators Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 2001
Investigation of Gas and Electric Appliance Fires, Benton Harbour, Michigan, May 2000
48 Annual Seminar – International Association of Arson Investigators Toronto, Ontario, May 1997
Canadian Coalition against Fraud Seminar – Program Facilitator, Banff, Alberta, June 1996
UBC Fire Science and Fire Investigation Workshop, Vancouver, British Columbia, May 1996
47th Annual Seminar – International Association of Arson Investigators
St, Louis, Missouri, April 1996
NAFI/NFPA Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Training Program – CFII (Certified Fire Investigation Instructor) Certification, Chicago, Illinois, August 1995
45th Annual Seminar – International Association of Arson Investigators
Biloxi, Mississippi, May 1994
39th Annual Seminar – International Association of Arson Investigators
Niagara Falls, New York, May 1988
Electrical Fire Investigation – University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, April 1987
Level III – Canadian Fire Investigation School, Toronto, Ontario, November 1983
Level II – Canadian Fire Investigation School, Arnprior, Ontario, September 1982

Presentations

Boat Fires, IAAI Ontario Chapter, Kingston, Ontario, June 2016
Boat Fires, IAAI Ontario Chapter, Barrie, Ontario, June 2013
Causes of Fires & Explosions on Marine Vessels, IAMI, Charleston, South Carolina, February 2013
Working with Private Sector OMFPOA Symposium, Brantford, Ontario April 2014
Lectured on boat fires and freshwater electrocutions, OFM Staff Conference, Ontario Fire College, Gravenhurst, Ontario, June 2012
Boat Fire, IAAI Ontario Chapter Arson Seminar, St. Catharines, Ontario, June 2011
New Building Materials & Their Effect on Fire Spread, OIAA Niagara Chapter, Jordan, Ontario, October 2010
Lectured on boat fires and freshwater electrocutions, IAMI Regional Seminar, Niagara Falls, Ontario, June 2009
Lectured on Marine fires, IAAI Ontario Chapter Arson Seminar, Kingston, Ontario, May 2009
Fire dynamics and behaviour, new recruit training, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton, Ontario, May 2009
Lectured on Fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Oxford County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Oxford County, Ontario, May 2008
Fire dynamics and behaviour, new recruit training, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton, Ontario, May 2008
Spontaneous heating and chemical reactions, IAAI BC Chapter Arson Investigators Conference, Vernon, British Columbia, April 2008
Lectured on Marine fires, IAAI Ontario Chapter Arson Seminar, Kingston, Ontario, June 2007
Fire dynamics and behaviour, new recruit training, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton, Ontario, May 2007
Fire dynamics and behaviour, new recruit training, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton, Ontario, May 2006
Origin and cause investigations, Burlington Fire Department, Fire officer training, Burlington, Ontario, October 2005
International Association of Marine Investigators, Marine Fires & Explosion Investigations, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 2004
International Association of Marine Surveyors, Marine Fires & Explosion Investigations, Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Toronto, Ontario, October 2004
Marine fires and explosion investigations, International Association of Marine Investigators, Toronto, Ontario, February 2004
Fire dynamics and behavior, new recruit training, Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton, Ontario, March 2003
Origin and cause of boat fires, Metropolitan Toronto Police, Toronto, Ontario, March 2002
Lectured on fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Selkirk Fire Station, Haldimand EMS, Selkirk, Ontario, June 2001
Lectured on fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Northumberland County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Northumberland County, Ontario, January 2001
Lectured on fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Haldimand-Norfolk Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Haldimand-Norfolk County, Ontario, September 2000
Origin and cause of fires, fire science, lectured to Bruce County Insurance Brokers Association, Walkerton, Ontario, March 2000
Properties of flammable liquids, International Police Diver Symposium, Hamilton, Ontario, September 1999
Fire scene investigation and properties of flammable liquids, IAAI Ontario Chapter Arson Seminar, Simcoe, Ontario, June 1999
Alternate uses of GC/MS/MS, Presentation at CSFS Conference, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 1998
Lectured on Fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Peterborough County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Peterborough, Ontario, September 1996
Lectured on Fire Department Liability, Association of Fire Department Training Officers, March 1995
Lectured on fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Bruce County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Bruce Country, Ontario, March 1995
Forensic Engineering, Toronto 1995, Presentation at CSFS Conference, Toronto, Ontario, 1995
Lectured on fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Wellington County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Wellington Country, Ontario, October 1995
Lectured on Fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Grey County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Grey County, Ontario, November 1994
Cellulose Insulation Fires and Vehicle Fire Fatality, Presentation at CSFS Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1994
Lectured on Fire investigation and overhauling fire scenes, Huron County Mutual Aid Fire Departments, Huron County, Ontario, September 1994
Flashover Fires, Presentation at CSFS Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1993
Origin and Cause of Fires, lectured to Insurance Claims Personnel, Cambridge, Ontario, June 1992
Origin and Cause of Fires, lectured to Hamilton Wentworth Regional Fire School, Hamilton Ontario, May 1992
Organized and Chaired Fire Investigation Program, Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS), Toronto, Ontario, 1991
Computer fire programs, presentation at CSFS Conference, Toronto, Ontario, 1998
Fire scene investigation, IAAI Ontario Chapter Arson Seminar, London, Ontario, October 1998

Publications

The Subtle Signature of Spontaneous Combustion, O&C Newsletter, August 2015
3 Strategic Advantages of Involving a Forensic Expert in Your Case, O&C Newsletter, November 2014
“Pyrolysis: Ignition by Stealth”, Without Prejudice, March 2010.
“Hazards of Propane”, OCI newsletter, October 2008.
“Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Open Spaces”, OCI newsletter, May 2007.
“Flashover: An Arson Defense Tool?”, Fire-Arson Investigator, California Conf. Of Arson Investigators, April 1997.
“Forensic Engineering”, Canadian Independent Adjuster, 1997.
“Forensic Engineering”, Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, March 1997.
“Flashover: An Arson Defense Tool?”, The Team Approach, IAAI Quarterly, Summer 1996.
“Fires Involving Chimneys and Woodburning Appliances”, Parts I & II BC Adjusters’ Quarterly, January 1995.
“Fires Involving Chimneys and Woodburning Appliances”, Parts I & II BC Adjusters’ Quarterly, October 1994.
“Flashover: An Arson Defense Tool?”, BC Adjusters’ Quarterly, April 1994.
“Flashover: An Arson Defense Tool?”, Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, March 1994.

Court Experience

Testified in High Court of Fiji.
Expert witness in all levels of Ontario Court: Supreme, District and Provincial.
Testified at numerous Provincial offences cases, including ones involving welding accidents.
Testified Queen’s Bench, Provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Testified Judicial Court, Province of New Brunswick.
Testified Queens Bench, Province of New Brunswick.
Testifying in Civil Court for Plaintiff and Defendant.
Testifying in Criminal Court for Crown and Defendant.
Testifying in Preliminary Hearings for Criminal matters.
Testifying in Coroner’s Inquests.