Plures Intelligens Modicum Machinatorem
808 Gilman Street Berkeley, CA 94710 | 510-549-3300 | admin@bearinc.com
Dr. Glen Stevick, P.E. ext. 101 | Dr. Dave Rondinone, P.E. ext. 102 | Derek King, P.E. ext. 103 | Mingxi Zheng, P.E. ext. 106
Fire Investigations.
Fire incidents are unique in that they often destroy much of the physical evidence key to determining their cause(s). BEAR's certified fire investigators and engineers follow a systematic and scientific methodology to determine how and why a fire started and propagated.
Our fire experts have the knowledge required to conduct and manage complex fire investigations. Our engineers investigate chemical fires, electrical fires, structural fires, and explosions of all kinds. We understand the importance of a quality report that is easily understood whether dealing with fraud, fire cause, or subrogation. Our investigations are multidisciplinary. We draw upon expertise in fire science and engineering to find the cause.
Our experts communicate the findings in a clear and concise manner that can be readily understood by non-technical individuals.
our services and expertise
Incident investigation and documentation
Cause, origin, and fire propagation analysis
Analysis of ignition temperatures and combustible gases generated by fire
Thermal transient structural integrity evaluations
Creep failures resulting from high temperatures
Meet our Fire Investigation Engineer
Derek King, M.S., P.E., CFEI
Derek has been working with Berkeley Engineering And Research for over 15 years as a mechanical and electrical engineer. He has investigated failures of all kinds, following a disciplined process designed to protect evidence, clarify facts, and produce accurate findings. His work has included but is not limited to - stoves, heaters, dryers, electrical wiring, solar panels, lithium batteries and ruptured piping.
Give Derek a call at 510-725-6003.
origin and cause investigation
The initial investigation of a fire is referred to as an "Origin and Cause" investigation. The sooner it is performed after a fire, the more likely it is to obtain crucial evidences. Fire scene evidence is usually heavily damaged by the fire and easily damaged further by weather, scavengers and repairs. BEAR's fire investigators and engineers are available to probe for an origin and cause on site and perform a scene documentation using photography, videography, and laser scanning.
The image on the left shows the carrier box after an electrical fire deteriorates a medical imaging facility. Careful examination of the carrier box and inside of 2 inch diameter electrical cables revealed that the screws used to attach the conduit box panels eroded into the 12,000 volt cables, causing a short circuit to the ground and igniting the cable insulation. The green arrows in the picture on the left indicate wear damage that had not made it all the way through the insulation when the fire occured.