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Welcome Russell Armstrong!

Please help us welcome Russell Armstrong as a new Fire Investigator Trainee with Fire Cause
Analysis!
Russell Armstrong, IFSAC-CFI is based in Pierce County Washington (Tacoma area), which will be a great asset for our Pacific Northwest fire investigations. Mr. Armstrong is the Deputy Fire Marshal with the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau with over three decades of comprehensive experience, notably 12 years specializing in advanced fire investigation. Mr. Armstrong is a certified fire investigator through the International Fire Services Accreditation Congress and conducts fire and explosion origin and cause investigations, meticulously examining scenes. Expertise includes fire origin and cause determination, evidence collection, fire science, fire behavior dynamics, and chemistry, along with proficiency in interviews and courtroom testimony.

Welcome Steve Davis!

Please help us welcome Steve Davis as a new fire investigator trainee with Fire Cause Analysis.

Steve Davis is based in Clovis, California, which will be a great asset for lower Central Valley fire investigations. Steve is an insurance special investigator, private investigator, and forensic lock smith with experience investigating more than 100 fires, including: incendiary, vehicle, structure and heavy equipment fires. Steve is a Director with the Central Valley Arson Investigators Association in California and has significant teaching and testimony experience. Steve comes to us with many years of experience working for insurance companies, as well as a prior law enforcement background. He holds a B.S. in Criminology from Fresno State University and an A.S. degree in Criminal Justice from the College of the Sequoias Steve’s passion is as a Custom Car and Street Rod Builder. He is also Certified as a Street Rod and Classic Car Appraiser.

Water Damage Claims… Unravel The Mystery! | 2025 CCNC | August 27, 2025

❗Mark Your Calendar❗
Don’t miss this Educational Session at the 2025 CCNC in Sacramento 🔽

“Water Damage Claims … Unravel The Mystery!”
📍 August 27, 2025 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (PDT)
📍Sacramento Hyatt – Classroom 3

Speakers:
Ulises Castellon, CPCU, Chief Executive Officer, Fire Cause Analysis
Josh Bastian, Engineer & Fire Investigator, P.E., NAFI-CFEI, Fire Cause Analysis

Session Description:
Water damage claims are the new severity peril for insurers. Fire Cause Analysis forensic experts will illustrate the variety of powerful technical tools available to the adjuster and their experts in the aftermath of a claim.
This workshop is designed to help develop the skills necessary to ensure a thorough and effective water damage claim investigation. Claims professionals will receive the tools and perspectives needed to: understand residential and commercial water systems, how to process a water damage claim scene, and how to safely collect evidence.
This engaging program will discuss water system failures using visually compelling case examples to demonstrate the current state of investigations, helping the claim’s professional to ensure complete and proper investigation of water-related claims.
The presentation includes extensive illustrations of water systems and component failures and step-by-step information on how to perform an investigation that will withstand rigorous challenges. Photographs, microscopy, and video reinforce how a claims professional can work with investigators//scientists/engineers to find the root cause of the water system failure. Cost savings and increased claims success are the results of understanding failure analysis.