MEA Safety Consultants | Fire & Explosion Investigation

cCulley Eastham & Associates, Inc. offers fire and explosion investigation services to industrial, municipal and insurance organizations. We understand that a quick response is necessary for adequate investigation and collection of evidence. In most instances MEA can have a certified fire and explosion investigator on scene of an incident in 24 to 48 hours of its occurrence. This is dependant upon the location of the incident from our corporate headquarters.

Cold Scene Forensic Science

Our investigators are also skilled in the fire forensic sciences needed to investigate a cold scene as well. If your organization has an incident scene that has been setting abandoned for days, weeks or months you will need a professional organization that has the ability to examine the scene and posses the ability to rule out damage that occurred due to exposure to the elements and/or manipulation of the scene by outside forces. MEA’s fire and explosion investigators are skilled at reviewing pictures of scenes that no longer exist to produce professional opinions in relation to origin and cause.

Fire Litigation Support

MEA’s fire and explosion investigators are experience fire service professionals and available for fire litigation support. Depending on a client's needs, fire litigation support activities may include:

Case Reviews, Consultations, and Reconstruction of Fire and Explosion Incidents Analysis of Opposing Reports and Testimony Building and Fire Code Review and Equipment Examinations Fire Alarm System Performance Analysis Fire Suppression System Performance Analysis Forensic Laboratory Coordination Expert Testimony Trial Exhibits: Models; Time Lines; and Graphics

Reports MEA’s fire and explosion investigators follow the National Fire Protection Association’s 921 – Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations standard and can document needed investigations in custom reports that utilize 3-D Fire Zone Version 8 CAD Program. 3-D Fire Zone is an advance program that allows MEA’s investigators to develop incident investigations in three dimensions and present investigation reports to your organization in a professional manner. MEA’s investigators are also skilled in using insurance organizations pre-designed investigation forms and provide those to the insurance carrier in a neat, professional and timely manner.

Pricing For Fire And Explosion Investigation Services Fire and explosion scene investigations are conducted by two different grades of investigators at McCulley Eastham & Associates, Inc. The grades are established by level of experience, knowledge and education. A Senior Fire and Explosion Investigator having 100 or more investigations and being a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator. A Fire and Explosion Investigator has less than 100 investigations and is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator. A Senior Fire and Explosion Investigator is $125.00 per hour with an eight (8) hour minimum. All travel expenses are cost plus 15%. A Fire and Explosion Investigator is $55.00 per hour with an eight (8) hour minimum. All travel expenses are cost plus 15%. All lab fees are cost plus 15% and include media necessary to collect samples and shipping and handling. All scene investigation kit items that are used during the investigation process and cannot be decontaminated and reused will be billed at cost plus 15%. Report writing time varies depending on the nature and extent of the investigation. Fees for report writing will be based on the hourly charge of the investigator grade with a minimum of two (2) hours. All materials necessary to develop reports will be billed at cost plus 15%. Consulting time with an attorney, including but not limited to, research, analysis, testing, physical inspection, review of materials, interviews, consultations, telephone conferences, report preparation, reading and correction of deposition transcript, review and signing of affidavits and similar documents will be billed at a rate of $250.00 per hour with a one hour minimum and every 15 minute increment thereafter. The hourly rate is portal to portal. Proposals for estimates of time may be produced upon request with applicable charges applied for proposal development. Documents reviewed by our firm will be reviewed at a rate of $250.00 per hour. Faxing and or printing of documents is assessed a fee of $5.00 per page. Consulting at depositions, court appearances, or other legal testimony will be billed at $300.00 per hour portal to portal with an eight (8) hour minimum. All expenses incurred by the consultant will be billed at cost plus 15%. A cancellation fee of $2,400.00 will be assessed unless at least five (5) days advanced written notice is given to McCulley Eastham & Associates, Inc. canceling or rescheduling date for the consultant to provide legal testimony. It is acknowledged that the consultant will not be deposed or provide expert testimony if any invoices and/or retainer fees have not been paid prior to said depositions, court appearances, or other legal testimony. Hourly rate to provide testimony at trial is $300.00 per hour portal to portal with an eight (8) hour minimum. A minimum retainer in the amount of $3000, of which $2000 is non-refundable will be required prior to beginning work on new case assignments for un-established accounts, and will be held and applied to the last invoice.