Michael J. KeelyIAAI-CFI

Mr. Keely, IAAI-CFI, is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has over 32 years of experience investigating fire and explosions, beginning in November 1991 as a patrol Deputy Sheriff with the York County Sheriff’s Department, York County, Maine. While employed with the York County Sheriff’s Department, he specialized in Fire and Explosion investigation and was promoted to Detective/Deputy Sheriff in 1995. Duties as a major crimes investigator included the investigation of fires and explosions to determine origin and cause in cooperation with municipal, state and federal law enforcement authorities within Maine and other states.

In August 1998, Mr. Keely accepted a position with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office as a Fire Investigator and was promoted to Senior Investigator in 2003. He was assigned as primary investigator to the County of York, Maine. His duties involved the investigation of fires, explosions, explosives, Hazardous Materials incidents, and amusement device accidents to determine origin and cause, on-scene investigation (including witness interviewing, crime scene photography/diagraming, post scene follow-up investigation), and the presentation of facts to public attorney’s office(s) for screening and presentation to a grand jury.

In April of 2001, Senior Investigator Keely was task assigned to the United States, Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Portland, Maine Field Office as a sworn United States Deputy Marshal/Task Force Officer. His duties included the investigation of fires and explosions to determine origin and cause and the presentation of facts to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Senior Investigator Keely completed two 3-year terms task assigned to ATF with many investigations attached as a part to the ATF National Response Team. Senior Investigator Keely served the State of Maine until November 2011 when he left to become a Senior Fire Investigator for the insurance industry. He joined VERTEX as a Senor Fire Investigator in March 2015.

Senior Fire Investigator Keely is a Qualified Expert Witness in State of Maine, for both Criminal and Civil case(s), and New Hampshire for Criminal case(s). He is a Qualified Expert Witness in the United States District Court Portland, Maine. He has also presented expert opinion(s) with written testimony in the United Kingdom.

Senior Fire Investigator Keely is a former; Board Director, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, and President of the Maine Chapter IAAI.

Education & Certification

Full-Time Law Enforcement Officer, MCBPS # 77, Maine Criminal Justice Academy
A.S., Law Enforcement Technology, S. Maine Technical College

Private Investigator License, State of NH
Certified Fire Investigator
Professional Investigator, State of ME

SPECIAL TRAINING
United States, Department of Justice, ATF, Portland, ME, Graduate, Financial Investigations
United States, Department of Justice, ATF, Fort AP Hill, VA, Graduate, Advanced Post Blast Investigative Training II
United States, Department of Justice, ATF, FLETC, Brunswick, GA, Graduate, Advanced Cause & Origin/Courtroom Techniques
OSHA 10 Hour Outreach Training Program-Construction
National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD, Graduate, Interviewing/Interrogation Techniques and Courtroom Testimony
National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD, Graduate, Fire/Arson Investigation
National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD Graduate, Management for Arson Prevention and Control
Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Waterville, ME, Basic Fire Investigation
Compliance Solutions, Denver, CO, HAZWOPER 40-Hour
Asbestos Awareness

Associations

International Association of Arson Investigators
International Association of Arson Investigators, Maine Chapter – 1st Vice President (Current)
National Association of Fire Investigators
Maine Police Emerald Society