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

Bill has conducted over 1,456 fire investigations including fatal fires, explosions of residential structures, commercial structures and vehicles. His professional experience includes over 17 years with the Toronto Police Force and 22 years of fire investigations with the Office of the Fire Marshal. Bill has been declared an expert witness in Youth Court, Provincial Court, Coroners Court and Superior Court.

Education
Bloor Collegiate Institute Ontario Secondary School Diploma Toronto, Ontario
Certifications
  • Certified Fire & Explosions Investigator (CFEI)

 Canadian Association of Fire Investigators (CAFI) – 2012 

To date have carried out more than 1,456 investigations that include fatal fires, explosions, residential structures, commercial structures and vehicles. I have conducted 240 fire tests for various fire educational purposes since joining the Office of the Fire Marshal involving combustibles, accelerants, smouldering ignition and oxygen related products.


Fire Investigator, Origin and Cause
Mississauga, ON
September 2012 — Present 

  • My present duties include the investigation of accidental fires; incendiary fires; suspicious fires; and large loss fires. These investigations include the determination of the area of the fire origin and source of ignition; the collection of physical evidence; scene photography and related documentation. I also currently hold the position of Fire Investigator. 
  • • I am also an Associate Instructor with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management- Ontario Fire College. I develop and deliver fire cause related courses to the fire and police services in the Province of Ontario at the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst and in the field in various communities throughout Ontario. 

 Supervisor, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal
2008 — 2012


Fire Investigator /Acting Supervisor Duties Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal.
1990 — 2008

  • Over my 22.2-year career with the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) I was appointed as a Fire Investigator and Supervisor pursuant to the provisions of Part III Section 10 of The Fire Protection and Prevention Act (Bill 84), Chapter 4, Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1997. I have conducted 213 fire tests for various fire educational purposes since joining the Office of the Fire Marshal involving combustibles, accelerants, smoldering ignition and oxygen related products. 

First Class Police Constable 53 Division, Toronto Police Service
Toronto, Ontario
1972 to 1990

  • During my 17.11 year career with the Toronto Police Force (Service) and was assigned to uniform and investigative duties. During this time I achieved the rank of First Class Constable. The duties I performed included Training Constable for new recruits, investigative opportunities such as Criminal Investigation Bureau, Old Clothes Squad and Youth Bureau. My duties were served in 53 Division.
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2012
  • Northeast Training Conference
    North Bay, Ontario, 2012
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2011
  • Northeast Training Conference
    North Bay, Ontario, 2011
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2010
  • Northeast Training Conference
    North Bay, Ontario, 2010
  • Canadian Association of Fire Investigators Annual Conference
    Niagara Falls, Ontario, 2009
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2009
  • Promoted to Supervisor – Office of the Fire Marshal
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2008
  • Moose on the table, Presentation on “Leadership”
    Toronto, Ontario, 2008
  • Death Investigation – Durham College
    Oshawa 2008
  • Acting Supervisory Position – Team “A” – Midhurst Regional Office
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2008
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2007 
  • Post Fire Hazmat Training – Ontario Fire College
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2007
  • Acting Supervisory Position – Team “A” – Midhurst Regional Office
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2006/07
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2006/08
  • Fgi World (E.A.P.) Peer Support Training
    Barrie, Ontario, 2006
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2005
  • Acting Supervisory Position – Team “B” – Midhurst Regional Office
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2004
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2003
  • Effective Writing – Office of the Fire Marshal
    Barrie, Ontario, 2003
  • Acting Supervisory Position – Team “B” – Midhurst Regional Office
    Midhurst, Ontario, 2003/04
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2001
  • Pass Certification Hard Copy File Management – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2001
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 2000
  • Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 1999
  • Pass – Certification for Post Blast Course
    Ottawa, Ontario, 1998
  • Passed 921 Certification Training — N.A.F.I.
    Toronto, Ontario, 1995
  • Canadian Fire Investigation School Seminar
    Mississauga, Ontario, 1994
  • 921 Certification Training – N.A.F.I.
    Chicago, Illinois, 1994
  • Internal Fire Investigator Training – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 1990/98
  • Fire Crime Detection, Level One – Ontario Fire College
    Gravenhurst, Ontario, 1990
  • Criminal Investigation – Ontario Police College
    Aylmer, Ontario, 1988
  • Police Constable Recruit Training “A & B” – Ontario Police College
    Aylmer, Ontario, 1973
  • Tricks of the trade Part 2: Contractor liability in construction claims — 29 April 2020 
  • The critical role accelerant detection dogs play in forensic investigations – 06 May 2020 
  • Rise of the machines: Appliance fires and flood claims – 27 May 2020 
  • Under the weather: Getting to the root cause of wind & snow damage – 10 June 2020 
  • Through fire and water: Investigating marine fire and explosion claims – 20 August 2020 
  • Investigating fires at federal correction institutions in Canada – 26 August 2020 
  • Fire investigation 101: A forensic expert’s process & mentality – 23 September 2020 
  • How to build individual & organizational pathways for resiliency for first responders – 15 October 2020 
  • Water fraud investigations – 28 October 2020 
  • Vehicle fraud investigations – 28 October 2020 
  • Structure fire incendiary investigations – 28 October 2020 
  • Structural fraud investigations – 28 October 2020 
  • Break & enter investigations – 28 October 2020 
  • Dynamics of slow ignition scenarios (Application of cigarettes to various fuels) – 24 November 2020 
  • Emergency shoring: Rules of thumb & common mistakes – 17 March 2021 
  • Arson for profit – 25 March 2021 
  • Electrical vehicle fires in Canada – 06 April 2021 
  • Personal injuries: The causes & the damage done – 14 April 2021 
  • Introduction to aircraft crash investigations – 10 June 2021 
  • Fire sprinkler systems: Understanding how & why they fail – 23 June 2021 
  • Fire Dynamics 101 – Part 1 – 30 June 2021 
  • Accident reconstruction: Putting the pieces together – 26 August 2021 
  • Keeping up with fuel-burning equipment fires – 29 September 2021 

I have lectured to 66 public agencies, police fire and community groups on various fire related topics. 

Fatal High Rise Fire – 2 Forest Laneway, North York Ontario. Published in the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators Journal – Quarterly report 

  • My duties also require me to present my findings in court, and I have been declared an expert witness in Youth Court, Provincial Court, Coroners Court and Superior Court. 
  • I have been qualified as an expert 31 times in all levels of the court system. 
  • I have also testified in four inquests. 

Where to Find William “Bill” Hiscott

Mississauga

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