Investigating Large Fire Losses

Flame Front Radio with John McDermott

Ricardo Torres joins John from Mexico to talk a little bit about investigating large fire losses. Lots of great information jam-packed into this one!
Ricardo D. Torres is the Chief Fire Investigator for Forensic Investigations Group Global (FIG Global), a forensic investigation company based in Monterrey Mexico. FIG Global is a multi-national firm established in Mexico as a result of the growing demands for forensic fire investigation services in Mexico and Latin America. Our goal is to provide the local and international insurance and reinsurance market with reliable, trusted and accredited fire investigation services. FIG Global is an expansion of the US based Forensic Investigations Group L.L.C. which is the first commercial fire investigation firm to obtain the ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation for Fire and Explosion Origin and Cause Investigations.
Mr. Torres has over 23 years of experience in the field of investigations for both the public and the private sectors. He started his career as a volunteer firefighter in Pharr, Texas eventually joining the Pharr Fire Department as a full-time firefighter. He later was appointed as a Deputy State Fire Marshal for the State of Texas. During his tenure as a Deputy State Fire Marshal, he investigated several hundred fire and explosion incidents. He was the arresting officer on over 100 criminal cases related to arson, insurance fraud and homicide. He was a founding member of the South Texas Fire Investigators Association and the South Texas Arson Response Team. He also organized and coordinated several fire investigation certification courses for the South Texas Fire Investigators Association. Mr. Torres has completed numerous courses related to fire and explosion investigations including the highly regarded Advanced Origin and Cause/Expert Testimony course sponsored by the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco Georgia.
He earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from South Texas College and is an experienced lecturer on fire and explosion investigations and has provided instruction for fire investigators from the US and Latin American countries. Mr. Torres has been recognized as an expert witness and has provided testimony in state, federal and international courts.
He has been actively involved in the Hispano Americano Chapter of the IAAI, currently serving as the Liaison Officer for the countries represented in this Chapter. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for the IAAI actively promoting the advancement of the IAAI objectives in Latin America. He currently continues to serve the IAAI on the CFI committee and the Training Committee.
Hosted by John McDermott
Produced by John McDermott
Edited by Shawn "LSS" Smith