Mr. Thomas Pierce, CFI,MCFI,ECT,CFCI,GIFireE
Miles City, MT 59301
Mr. Pierce has over 25 years of experience in firefighting. He currently holds the position of Principal Fire Investigator and owner of Pierce Fire Investigations and Consulting Inc. in California and The Pierce Fire Consulting Group LLC in Montana.
He has been involved in the fire service and law enforcement since 1974. He has over 1,750 hours of training specific to origin and cause, and explosion investigations, including classes from the National Fire Academy, the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agency, California State Fire Training, the California Conference of Arson Investigators, and the International Association of Arson Investigators.
During the course of Mr. Pierce's career, he has participated in over 2,500 origin and cause investigations, including vehicles, structures, explosions, commercial, chimneys, and vegetation fires. He has accumulated 18 years of experience as a solid fuel contractor and inspector.
Mr. Pierce is well-versed in commercial pyrotechnics and has just celebrated his 45th year in the industry.
In addition Mr. Pierce currently serves on the National Fire Protection Association's Technical Committee for the NFPA 211 Standards for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances. Also, the NFPA 1123-24 Fireworks Display and Transportation, as well as NFPA 1122, 1125, and 1127 for Model Rocketry.
Mr. Pierce serves the fire investigation community as a member of the training committee and as a Past President of the California Conference of Arson Investigators, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Montana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. Mr. Pierce also serves on the recertification committee for the IAAI Certified Fire Investigator program and is a facilitator for the Evidence Collection Technician certification program for the IAAI.
Mr. Pierce has been accepted to the Expert Witness Panel for the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California, and for the State of Montana in the category of fire investigations.
Mr. Pierce is well-versed in commercial pyrotechnics and has just celebrated his 45th year in the industry.
Mr. Pierce serves on the Technical Committee for the American Society of Testing and Materials International (ASTM) for the following committees. E05 (Fire Standards), E30 (Forensic Science), including E30.17 (Evidence Collection).
- Crime Scene Analysis
- Failure Analysis
- Fire
- Fire & Life Safety
- Hazardous Materials
- Photography
- Private Investigators
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: California Private Investigator #26477 Bureau of Security& Investigative Services
Montana Private Investigator # 38184 Board of Private Security
Certified Fire Investigator (California State Fire Marshal) 092782.
Certified Fire Investigator (California Conference of Arson Investigators) 587.
Master Certified Fire Investigator, California Conference of Arson Investigators.
Certified Fire Investigator (International Association of Arson Investigators) 22-032119 (Pro Board Certified).
Fireplace and Chimney Inspector F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Inspection Research and Education Service) (110).
Certified Solid Fuels Inspector (Independent Safety Commission) (1395).
Fireplace Technician F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Inspection Research and Education Service) (009)
Certified Gas Appliance Technician (Cal Gas)
California Pyrotechnic Operator (California State Fire Marshal) 1222-02
Fire Fighter I (California State Board of Fire Services) (1995751)
Certified Evidence Technician (International Association of Arson Investigators)(603)
Graduate, Institute of Fire Engineers. GIFireE, 2018
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: California Conference of Arson Investigators (President 2014-2015) (Life Member)
International Association of Arson Investigators (Member) (Past Foundation Member) (Certifications Committee).
California State Fire Fighters Association (Past Director) (Life Member)
National Fire Prevention Association (Member) (Technical Committee to NFPA (211)
Institution of Fire Engineers (Member) (IFE)
National Association of Fire Investigators. (NAFI) (Member)
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (Committee Member to E05 Fire Standards and E30 Forensic Science)
European Association of Fire Investigators (Member) (E-AFI)
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Investigating Chimney Fires
Investigating Commercial Kitchen Fires
Fire Investigation for the First Responder
Evidence Collection
Introduction to Commercial Pyrotechnics - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No.
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: 2,500. Each time I'm retained to investigate a fire scene, I'm an expert.
Specifically as a subject matter expert, over 100. - Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Fire origin and cause.
Explosives.
Fireplace/chimney
Fireground Safety
Commercial Pyrotechnics - Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 50%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 50%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: 20
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: 2025
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 6
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 6
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 17
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Fire scene (origin and cause)
Case/ file review
Consulting
Evidence collection
Trial preparation
Expert witness testimony - Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: Fee schedule upon request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: Fee schedule upon request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: Fee schedule upon request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: Fee schedule upon request.
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Fee schedule upon request.
Available Upon Request