Mr. Engler is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), Certified Evidence Collection Technician (ECT) and Certified Instructor (CI) with the International Association of Arson Investigators as well as a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) with the California Conference of Arson Investigators. Mr. Engler has completed Youth Fire-setting Prevention & Intervention: Level I & II through the National Fire Academy,  is certified as a CFEI with the National Association of Fire Investigators, holds a specialty certification in “Arson and Explosions” through CA POST and is certified as a Fire Investigator II with CA State Fire Training. 

 He successfully worked in the public fire service with the San Francisco Fire Department and retired with over 32 years of service with over 11 years assigned as a Fire Investigator and Field Supervisor. This time was dedicated to investigating and resolving complex fire investigations. He led comprehensive inquiries, analyzed vehicle and property damages, evaluated damage causation, conducted fire origin and cause investigations, fatal fire investigations as well as both civil and criminal investigations. Mr. Engler interacted and collaborated with fire victims, insurance representatives, Federal, State and Local government representatives and attorneys interpreting policies and determining proper course of action. He conducted detailed and comprehensive fire investigations as an origin and cause expert, performed evidence collections, documented incident scenes through use of 3D scanning, photography and diagrams, and has conducted thousands of detailed interviews. Mr Engler also served as the lead training supervisor for Fire Investigators assigned to the SFFD Bureau of Fire Investigations.

Steve’s areas of expertise include: Recognizing and interpreting Fire Dynamics and Artifacts of Fire and Explosions, Fire Investigations, Evidence Handling, Interviews, Report Writing, Training and Evaluation, Detailed Documentation, and Legal Testimony. He has been deposed on multiple occasions for Civil matters and provided testimony in Superior court as an Expert Witness in the area of Fire Origin and Cause. He has been deemed a Subject Matter Expert by multiple jurisdictions and has developed a comprehensive training program for new Fire Investigators.