ANDREW DERRICK, B.S., CCAI-Master CFI / IAAI-CFI / PROBOARD Certified
I, Andrew Derrick am a retired Fire Captain with the Merced Fire Department with 31+ years of service as a Public Fire/Explosions Investigator. My last twenty years at MFD were dedicated to Firefighting, Airport Firefighting Operations and Fire Arson & Bomb Investigations and Training. During this time I served as Lead Investigator for the Fire & Explosions Investigation Team. I founded Derrick Fire Investigations (1992) and since have conducted (432) private investigations to date.
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Certifications, Licenses, Education, and Experience
Continuing Training History compliant with NFPA 1033 Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator 2014, Expert Witness Testimony, Publications and other Experience attached upon request. I regularly attend training conferences and other Fire Investigation related training.
IAAI® Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
CCAI-'Master' Certified Fire Investigator (MCFI) -
National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications (PROBOARD)
Certified Fire Investigator
Retired Fire Captain Sworn Peace Officer Fire/Arson/Bombing Investigator
1992-2016 California Licensed Private Investigator # 15809
Office of the California State Fire Marshal Certified: Fire Investigator II, Chief Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, Hazmat First Responder and Apparatus Operator.
Formal Education
1993 Bachelor of Science Degree Applied Studies - California State University Stanislaus
*Additional Units completed at Community Colleges and The University of California Berkley.
1990 National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland - Certificate of Achievement - Fire/Arson Investigation ‘Tested’
1974 Associate of Arts - Degree and Certificate of Completion in Fire Science Merced College
Expert Testimony
I have testified in criminal and civil court matters as an expert witness in fire origin and cause determination related issues on multiple occasions, and prepared and served search warrants. I also served in Merced County Superior Court as Juror and Jury Foreman in a civil matter. [Expert witness testimony on approximately 15 occasions]
Experience
More than 31 1/2 years of service as a Firefighter, Engineer and Fire Captain with the City of Merced Fire Department – Regular duties included approximately 20 years as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator – Retired Oct. 2002.
As a Private Fire and Explosions Investigator - I have participated in the investigation of
approximately 415 (01-12-2016) Commercial / Structure / Mobile Home / Vehicle / Marine,
fire and explosion incidents; including the fire related deaths of 10 persons, for private and corporate entities.I have determined that at least (16) of these fires were intentionally caused (approx. <4.2%).
Fire Service - Fire and Explosions Investigative Experience
20 Years Experience as Fire Captain. During this time I served as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator and Fire Investigation Team Leader (Phoenix Fire & Explosions Investigation Team) – During my fire service career I responded to more than 2000 fire and explosion related incidents, and assisted with and/or had the responsibility for origin and cause determination and investigation of approximately 1011 Fire and Bomb related incidents:
During my tenure as a Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator/Peace Officer, I participated in the
apprehension, arrest and successful prosecution of multiple felony and misdemeanor suspects.
I have participated in and directed Fire/Death Investigations with California Department of Justice (D.O.J.), California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (In addition to working with Merced City and County Fire Police/Sheriff Officials)
Professional Organizations and Awards
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) + Sections Member
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Past Member
International Fire Service Training Assoc. (I.F.S.T.A.) Past Validation Committee Member
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Member
Central Valley Arson Investigators Assoc. (C.V.A.I.A.) Past President / Member
California Conference of Arson Investigators (C.C.A.I.) Member
C.C.A.I. -Gold Coast Round Table #8 Coordinator 2012 - 2016
C.C.A.I. Training, Ethics, Scholarship,Certified Fire Investigator Committees Member
C.C.A.I. -Sierra South Round Table #4 Coordinator 2007 – 2012
Peace Officers Research Association of Calif. (P.O.R.A.C) - Associate Member
California State Sheriff’s Association - Associate Life Member
Awards - CCAI - Round Table Coordinator of the Year 2010
CCAI - Thomas 'Ski' Kuczynski Memorial 'Officer of the Year' Award 2014
Merced Firefighter of the Year 1988 - Company Operations and Fire/Arson Investigations
Training Burns
I have participated in the organized controlled burning of many more than 50 buildings and vehicles for fire investigative and firefighting training. During many of these training burns I have acted as instructor or assistant instructor of fire/arson/explosions investigation. We ignited or caused the ignition of buildings, objects and vehicles in many different ways to observe the effects of: ignition, fire behavior, ventilation, fuel package arrangement and geometry, explosions, fire environments and the various effects of the fire control and overhaul efforts have on the fire behavior and relative evidence.
Publications
I co-wrote (authored) a fire investigation related article which was published in the California Fire/Arson Investigator. For approximately 9 years I participated in the validation of two IFSTA Training Manuals: Fire Origin and Cause and Fire Investigator – both developed for international publication and distribution.
IAAI® Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
CCAI-'Master' Certified Fire Investigator (MCFI) -
National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications (PROBOARD)
Certified Fire Investigator
Retired Fire Captain Sworn Peace Officer Fire/Arson/Bombing Investigator
1992-2016 California Licensed Private Investigator # 15809
Office of the California State Fire Marshal Certified: Fire Investigator II, Chief Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, Hazmat First Responder and Apparatus Operator.
Formal Education
1993 Bachelor of Science Degree Applied Studies - California State University Stanislaus
*Additional Units completed at Community Colleges and The University of California Berkley.
1990 National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland - Certificate of Achievement - Fire/Arson Investigation ‘Tested’
1974 Associate of Arts - Degree and Certificate of Completion in Fire Science Merced College
Expert Testimony
I have testified in criminal and civil court matters as an expert witness in fire origin and cause determination related issues on multiple occasions, and prepared and served search warrants. I also served in Merced County Superior Court as Juror and Jury Foreman in a civil matter. [Expert witness testimony on approximately 15 occasions]
Experience
More than 31 1/2 years of service as a Firefighter, Engineer and Fire Captain with the City of Merced Fire Department – Regular duties included approximately 20 years as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator – Retired Oct. 2002.
As a Private Fire and Explosions Investigator - I have participated in the investigation of
approximately 415 (01-12-2016) Commercial / Structure / Mobile Home / Vehicle / Marine,
fire and explosion incidents; including the fire related deaths of 10 persons, for private and corporate entities.I have determined that at least (16) of these fires were intentionally caused (approx. <4.2%).
Fire Service - Fire and Explosions Investigative Experience
20 Years Experience as Fire Captain. During this time I served as Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator and Fire Investigation Team Leader (Phoenix Fire & Explosions Investigation Team) – During my fire service career I responded to more than 2000 fire and explosion related incidents, and assisted with and/or had the responsibility for origin and cause determination and investigation of approximately 1011 Fire and Bomb related incidents:
- 451 Residential Structure Fires / 14 Explosions And Bombings
- 41 Commercial / Industrial Fires Including:
- 179 Vehicle / Aircraft Fires / 13 Fire Related Deaths
- 12 Mobile Home Fires 314 Grass / Brush Outdoor Fires
During my tenure as a Fire/Arson/Bomb Investigator/Peace Officer, I participated in the
apprehension, arrest and successful prosecution of multiple felony and misdemeanor suspects.
I have participated in and directed Fire/Death Investigations with California Department of Justice (D.O.J.), California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (In addition to working with Merced City and County Fire Police/Sheriff Officials)
Professional Organizations and Awards
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) + Sections Member
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Past Member
International Fire Service Training Assoc. (I.F.S.T.A.) Past Validation Committee Member
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Member
Central Valley Arson Investigators Assoc. (C.V.A.I.A.) Past President / Member
California Conference of Arson Investigators (C.C.A.I.) Member
C.C.A.I. -Gold Coast Round Table #8 Coordinator 2012 - 2016
C.C.A.I. Training, Ethics, Scholarship,Certified Fire Investigator Committees Member
C.C.A.I. -Sierra South Round Table #4 Coordinator 2007 – 2012
Peace Officers Research Association of Calif. (P.O.R.A.C) - Associate Member
California State Sheriff’s Association - Associate Life Member
Awards - CCAI - Round Table Coordinator of the Year 2010
CCAI - Thomas 'Ski' Kuczynski Memorial 'Officer of the Year' Award 2014
Merced Firefighter of the Year 1988 - Company Operations and Fire/Arson Investigations
Training Burns
I have participated in the organized controlled burning of many more than 50 buildings and vehicles for fire investigative and firefighting training. During many of these training burns I have acted as instructor or assistant instructor of fire/arson/explosions investigation. We ignited or caused the ignition of buildings, objects and vehicles in many different ways to observe the effects of: ignition, fire behavior, ventilation, fuel package arrangement and geometry, explosions, fire environments and the various effects of the fire control and overhaul efforts have on the fire behavior and relative evidence.
Publications
I co-wrote (authored) a fire investigation related article which was published in the California Fire/Arson Investigator. For approximately 9 years I participated in the validation of two IFSTA Training Manuals: Fire Origin and Cause and Fire Investigator – both developed for international publication and distribution.