Only highly experienced professionals can perform the complex tasks of uncovering the origin and cause of a fire or explosion. By evaluating the circumstances surrounding what happened and why, VERTEX is able to provide our clients with the technical expertise needed for them to determine coverage in a timely manner, reduce claim costs, combat fraud, and ultimately achieve closure with a solid, court defensible understanding of events and outcomes.
Using a full service approach and in a manner consistent with the Scientific Method and guidelines of NFPA 921, our NFPA 1033 qualified experts apply the highest level of professional competence in their investigative skills and techniques. VERTEX provides evidence collection, chain of custody as well as incident reporting, providing our customers with solid and reliable determination of origin and cause that will withstand the challenges of litigation.
Through scientific analysis, VERTEX can quickly and accurately determine whether the root cause of the fire or explosion was due to an electrical or mechanical component, human error, natural events, or arson.
VERTEX experts assist the insurance client and litigator by having highly trained and qualified professionals conduct site investigations that can determine the potential existence of third party culpability. VERTEX experts are experienced in reporting, depositions, and court testimony regarding fire and explosion incidents.
Our experts are available to not only investigate the origin and cause of structure fires, but also fires that have taken place in motor vehicles, trucks, industrial equipment and marine vessels.
Origin & Cause Investigation of Fire at Auto Repair Shop
Henry Stormer, IAAI-CFI (V), CFPS
National Division Manager, Fire Investigation
Henry Stormer is the National Division Manager for VERTEX’s Fire Investigation Division. His primary responsibilities include management of origin and cause investigations nationwide for the insurance industry as well as conducting Cause and Origin investigations of fire and explosions. Mr. Stormer is a fire expert with over 30 years of experience investigating fires and explosions both in the public and private sectors. His fields of expertise include: fire and explosion investigations, origin and cause, subrogation, failure analysis, evidence collection and preservation, fire code analysis and research, crime scene investigations, and arson investigations.
March 27, 2020
VERTEX’s Jeff Katz and Bill McConnell presented “The Components of a Comprehensive Project Continuity Plan” as part of the Associated General Contractors of America’s eight-part webinar series on the factors that construction companies need to consider as they strive for business continuity during the COVID-19 outbreak. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many feared…
March 17, 2020
CEO UPDATE VERTEX has implemented prudent social separation protocols due to COVID-19, but we are up and running at full capacity and we are here to service our clients through these turbulent times. With 500+ employees in 30 regions, VERTEX can help clients with travel bans to cover in-person meetings or site inspections anywhere in…
February 29, 2020
This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance. Contact VERTEX
February 28, 2020
It was February 1995 when VERTEX’s founders, Jim O’Brien, Bill McConnell, and Jeff Picard, started VERTEX. We started with only a few but now we are many, not only in numbers but also in disciplines. The company has grown to a global AEC firm with solutions in engineering design, construction, environmental, forensics, and IT. We…
January 21, 2020
The Vertex Companies, Inc. (VERTEX) is pleased to announce that Lawrence D. Daniels, P.G., has joined our organization as a Senior Technical Advisor for our Environmental Insurance Division. Mr. Daniels most recently served as Assistant Vice President for the Global Risk Advisors/ESIS division of Chubb. In addition to more than 10 years of environmental consulting…
October 31, 2019
By planning ahead and following these Halloween Safety Tips from the National Fire Protection Association you can help make this Halloween a fire-safe one. When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see…
October 10, 2019
Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has sponsored Fire Prevention Week which is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire. This year’s campaign is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” which is aimed at educating people about the small…
March 5, 2019
With the continued growth in litigation over the past several years, VERTEX has seen a steady increase in expert consulting work to support our clients. VERTEX has been retained to act on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants in regard to liability and damages. The main goal of expert consulting is to add value to the…
December 19, 2018
Here in New England, the winter weather is in full swing. With the cold weather comes the threat of home fires from heating sources. According to the US Fire Administration (USFA): 890 people die in winter home fires each year. $2 billion in property loss occurs each year from winter home fires. Winter home fires…
October 10, 2018
Each year, at the beginning of October, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sponsors Fire Prevention Week; a campaign to raise awareness around fire safety and prevention. This year’s focus is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” which is aimed at educating people about three basic but essential steps to take to reduce the likelihood…
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