52nd Annual Origin and Cause Seminar

The seminar will begin on Wednesday morning with our opening ceremonys. We are excited to welcome our instructors, Richard Birt, retired Captain from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and Dr. Elizabeth Buc, owner and operator of the Fire and Materials Research Laboratory (FMRL). Captain Birt will discuss photovoltaic and energy storage systems and the danges they pose to firefighters and fire investigators. Dr. Buc will talk about the Texas Science Advisory Workgroup (SAW) and the concept of mock-peer reviews for fire investigation reports. This is a tested seminar. Seminar is MCOLES approved and fire inspector CEs have been applied for.

About the Class:

Captain Birt will discuss Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems (PV/ESS), EV fires, scooter fires and the dangers of fire investigation after salvage and overhaul operations. With the increase in the number of lithium ion batteries in every home this critical information for all fire fighters and fire investigators.

About Captain Birt:

Captain Richard Birt is a retired firefighter with over 30 years of service at Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. He is the founder of Solar and Fire Education (S.A.F.E.), an organization dedicated to training firefighters worldwide on safely handling incidents involving solar panels and batteries. Captain Birt has been a prominent advocate for renewable energy, contributing to the preservation of Nevada's solar industry. He led disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, installing microgrids to maintain emergency services during power outages. For his work, he received the Medal of Honor from his department and continues to serve as a technical advisor for non-profits focused on disaster relief and renewable energy.

About the Class:

Dr. Buc will discuss the history and implementation of the Texas Science Advisory Workgroup (SAW). The SAW concept will be introduced and presented with a mock peer-review of fire investigation reports. Want to find out how your investigations and reports hold up in the court of Science? Find out directly from the owner and operator of the Fire and Materials Research Laboratory (FMRL).

About Dr. Buc:

Dr. Elizabeth C. Buc is the president of Fire and Materials Research Laboratory, LLC, and a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Metallurgical Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering and is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI). With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in fire investigation, failure analysis, and hazardous materials assessment. She has analyzed fire-damaged artifacts, investigated failures in vehicles and medical devices, and conducted hazard assessments for various industries. She has served as an expert witness in numerous cases and contributed to NFPA 400 fire safety standards. Her research has helped improve fire safety regulations and materials testing methods. An active member of NFPA, ACS, and IAAI, Dr. Buc brings deep expertise in materials science and fire investigation to her instructor role, helping professionals better understand fire-related incidents.

Host or Publisher Oakland County Assn of Arson & Fire Investigators