Business Details
Emergency
services
Expert Fire Scene Investigations in Orland Park, IL
Rayburn Fire Scene Investigations is a licensed and fully insured fire investigation service specializing in determining the origin and cause of fire and explosion incidents. Our team comprises seven fully certified investigators with over 75 years of combined experience in fire and explosion investigations, including court-approved experts who frequently contribute to training the next generation of investigators. We employ the scientific method in all investigations, ensuring rigorous analysis through recognizing needs, defining problems, collecting and analyzing data, developing hypotheses, and testing conclusions. Our investigators hold certifications from organizations like IAAI and NAFI, and we maintain strict adherence to confidentiality agreements while providing respectful, ethical service to clients. We collaborate closely with insurance adjusters, subrogation professionals, and legal teams to deliver detailed reporting and rapid response, including an initial verbal report within 24 hours and a comprehensive written report within 48 hours.Our team's extensive background as professional career firefighters enhances our technical expertise, and we are one of only four global organizations accredited by A2LA to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for forensic fire and explosion investigations. We prioritize competitive pricing without compromising quality, ensuring transparency and reliability in every case. Our services extend to residential, commercial, and automotive fire/explosion incidents, with a proven track record of supporting major subrogation cases and arson-for-profit investigations. We maintain active memberships in professional organizations such as the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and provide training seminars nationally and internationally.
Services
Fire Origin Analysis
Explosion Investigation
Subrogation Support
Arson Determination
Expert Witness Testimony
Highlights and features
- We have 75+ years of combined fire/explosion investigation experience.
- Our investigators are court-approved and certified by IAAI and NAFI.
- We provide initial verbal reports within 24 hours of scene arrival.
- We maintain strict confidentiality and ethical standards in all cases.
- We are one of only four global organizations accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for fire forensics.
Associations and certifications
- ISO/IEC 17020:2012
Services
Fire Origin Analysis
Our fire origin analysis combines scientific methodology with decades of field experience to pinpoint ignition sources. Using advanced forensic techniques, we examine burn patterns, electrical systems, and fuel sources to establish accurate origin points. This critical first step enables proper cause determination for insurance claims and legal proceedings.
Explosion Investigation
Specialized explosion investigations examine pressure vessel failures, gas leaks, and chemical reactions using 3D mapping and debris trajectory analysis. Our team identifies ignition sources and contributing factors while maintaining chain-of-custody for potential litigation. We work with OSHA and ATF standards for industrial and residential explosions.
Subrogation Support
We provide detailed documentation and expert testimony to support subrogation efforts, including identifying liable parties and quantifying damages. Our reports include photographic evidence, witness statements, and technical analysis to strengthen recovery cases. We maintain court-approved credentials for legal admissibility.
Arson Determination
Our arson investigations use chemical analysis and pattern recognition to identify intentional fire-setting. We collaborate with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, providing expert witness testimony in criminal cases. Our team has successfully prosecuted multiple arson-for-profit cases with documented evidence chains.
Expert Witness Testimony
Certified investigators provide expert testimony in civil and criminal proceedings, explaining technical findings in accessible terms. We prepare demonstrative evidence, animations, and written reports for courtroom presentation. Our experts have testified in state and federal courts nationwide with established credibility.
People
John Douglas Rayburn
President
President and Senior Fire Consultant with IAAI-CFI, NAFI-CFEI, and HAZWOPER certifications. 30+ years of fire investigation experience, including training future investigators and serving on the Illinois IAAI executive board.
Jason Mardirosian
Vice President
Vice President with multiple fire investigation certifications. Specializes in complex commercial fire cases and has testified in numerous subrogation lawsuits. 20+ years of field experience combined with teaching roles.
Sean Merck
Investigator
Certified fire investigator with expertise in electrical fire analysis. Participated in major industrial fire cases and maintains current HAZWOPER certification for hazardous material incidents.
Carl LoMastro
Investigator
Senior investigator specializing in vehicle fire analysis and explosion reconstruction. Holds dual certifications from IAAI and NAFI with extensive courtroom testimony experience in complex litigation cases.
Tim Morris
Investigator
Drone-certified investigator focusing on large-scale fire scene documentation. Utilizes aerial mapping technology for 3D scene reconstruction and evidence preservation in commercial fire investigations.
Questions
What services does Rayburn Fire Scene Investigations provide?
We specialize in fire origin and cause analysis, explosion investigations, subrogation support, arson determination, and expert witness testimony for legal proceedings.
How quickly can you respond to an incident?
We guarantee on-scene response within 24-48 hours of contact and provide initial verbal reports within 24 hours of arrival.
Are your investigators certified?
All investigators hold multiple certifications including IAAI-CFI, NAFI-CFEI, and HAZWOPER Technician credentials.
Do you serve areas outside Illinois?
While based in Illinois, we conduct investigations nationwide and have branch offices in Wisconsin.
What makes your service different from others?
We are one of only four global organizations accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for fire forensics with 75+ years of combined investigative experience.
