Business Details
49 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Expert Fire Investigation Services in Berkeley, CA
Since 1977, Fire Cause Analysis (FCA) has established itself as a leader in fire investigation, forensic engineering, and scientific evaluations for insurance and legal clients. Our team combines certified fire investigators, scientists, and engineers specializing in electrical, mechanical, and fire protection disciplines. Adhering to NFPA 921 Guidelines and NFPA 1033 standards, we employ the scientific method to deliver fact-based conclusions across residential, commercial, vehicle, marine, industrial, agricultural, and wildland incidents. With decades of collective experience, our experts maintain rigorous training and certifications through organizations like the International Association of Arson Investigators and National Association of Fire Investigators.Our commitment to excellence is demonstrated through advanced tools like LiDAR scanning, drone footage, and 3D modeling, ensuring precise origin and cause determinations. FCAs evidence collection and storage facilities in California follow strict NFPA protocols, maintaining chain-of-custody integrity for items ranging from wiring remnants to vehicles. Our multidisciplinary collaboration enables comprehensive failure analysis, expert testimony, and technical support, serving clients across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. We prioritize reliability, transparency, and client-focused solutions, ensuring accurate investigations that withstand legal scrutiny.
Services
Fire Investigation
Forensic Engineering
Evidence Collection
Vehicle Analysis
Technical Services
Water Loss Analysis
Litigation Support
Lab Rentals
Training Programs
Expert Testimony
Details
- Year established: 1977
Highlights and features
- Certified fire investigators with 40+ years of combined experience
- Adherence to NFPA 921 Guidelines and NFPA 1033 standards
- Advanced technology including LiDAR scanning and 3D modeling
- Nationwide service across 12 U.S. states
- Secure evidence storage facilities with climate-controlled options
Associations and certifications
- International Association of Arson Investigators
- National Association of Fire Investigators
- NFPA 921
- NFPA 1033
Services
Fire Investigation
FCAs certified fire investigators systematically determine fire origins and causes using NFPA standards. Our team examines residential, commercial, and industrial incidents, employing scientific methods and advanced tools like LiDAR scanning. Clients receive detailed reports with defensible conclusions for legal and insurance purposes.
Forensic Engineering
Our engineers analyze mechanical, electrical, and fire protection system failures using non-destructive and destructive testing. Services include incident reconstruction and computational modeling to identify root causes. Findings support litigation and insurance claims with precise, evidence-based opinions.
Evidence Collection
FCA provides secure evidence handling following NFPA 921 protocols. We collect, document, and store items ranging from debris to vehicles in climate-controlled facilities. Our process ensures evidence integrity for legal proceedings and long-term investigations.
Technical Services
Our technical team offers LiDAR scans, X-ray imaging, and microscopy for fire and water loss analysis. On-site labs in California support destructive and non-destructive exams, while research services include product recalls and weather analysis for origin determinations.
Vehicle Analysis
FCA investigates vehicle fires and mechanical failures using electrical and metallurgical engineering. Services include airbag analysis, brake testing, and 3D modeling. Our experts determine causes for insurance claims and litigation, adhering to Daubert standards for court admissibility.
People
Ulises Castellon
Senior Consultant
With 50+ years in property claims, Ulises specializes in arson/fraud investigations. Former State Farm SIU leader, he handles complex cases and provides expert testimony for insurance and legal clients.
Dennis Field
President
A Principal Member of the NFPA 1033 Technical Committee, Dennis leads FCAs fire investigation team. His expertise includes origin analysis and NFPA-compliant reporting for high-profile cases.
Questions
What services does Fire Cause Analysis offer?
We provide fire investigation, forensic engineering, evidence collection, vehicle analysis, and expert testimony for insurance and legal clients.
Do you operate outside California?
Yes, we serve clients in 12 states including Arizona, Hawaii, Texas, and Washington with nationwide capabilities.
Are your investigators certified?
Our team holds certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators and National Association of Fire Investigators.
Can you handle emergency cases?
Yes, we offer 24/7 emergency services for fire and water loss investigations with rapid response teams available.
Do you provide expert testimony?
Our experts regularly provide deposition and trial testimony supported by scientific analysis and court-proven reliability.
Reviews (2)
Jet Meitzner
May 22, 2020
Report
Their driver is going to have to analyze themselves soon, going so slow in the fast lane in rush hour that they're going to cause an accident.
C. S.
Jul 30, 2017
Report
Most helpful of any of the multitudes of agencies, people and insurance we dealt with after an apartment fire. Kind, caring, compassionate and completely professional. I hope to never have a fire again but these guys are the best and I'm grateful we were referred to them.
