Thomas D. Kane, IAAI-CFI (V)
Fire Consultant
Get to know the expert
Expert QuestionS & AnswerS
After more than 2,000 investigations, what scene condition tells you to slow down and test more than one fire-origin hypothesis?
You need to test your hypothesis on all investigations no matter the condition of the scene. When the evidence supports more than one reasonable origin area or fire spread path, slow down and test multiple hypotheses rather than relying on the first apparent origin. This is especially important in heavily damaged, ventilation-influenced, or post-flashover scenes.
Vehicle and equipment fires can be misleading after the scene is damaged — what evidence helps you determine where and how the fire began?
Look beyond the damage and focus on evidence that survives the fire. Key indicators include fire patterns, arc mapping, component examination, witness statements, event data recorders, video evidence, and identification of competent ignition sources. The origin and cause should be based on the totality of the evidence and tested against alternative hypotheses, not solely on the area with the greatest damage.
Having testified as an expert witness, what is the most challenging aspect of presenting fire and explosion investigation findings in a way that resonates with judges and juries?
Explaining technical data in a manner that is easy to comprehend by the untrained/inexperienced person.
Background
Mr. Thomas Kane is a retired police officer with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, a licensed private investigator, a former licensed construction contractor, and a Certified Fire Investigator specializing in fire origin and cause investigation and consultation.
Of his 35 years of experience in law enforcement, he has spent half of that career as an arson detective, determining the cause and origin of over 2,000 fires in commercial and residential structures, commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, hotels, restaurants, recreational vehicles, tractor trailers, farm equipment, automobiles, marine vessels, heavy equipment, and wildlands.
Mr. Kane has been recognized as an expert witness in both criminal and civil court in the fields of fire cause and origin, building construction, criminal investigations, firearms, transient criminal groups, and issues relating to building safety and security.
Mr. Kane is a licensed private investigator in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Education and Certifications
- Criminal Justice, B.S.: State University of New York, Buffalo (1987)
- New York City Police Officer Certification: NYPD Police Academy (1988)
- New York State Police Officer Certification: Suffolk County Police Academy (1989)
- Arizona Police Officer Certification: Phoenix Regional Police Academy (1993)
- Certified Fire Investigator: International Association of Arson Investigators, #28-036 (2004)
- Certified Fire Investigator, Vehicle Endorsement: International Association of Arson Investigators (2018)
- Maricopa County Fire Investigation Task Force: Maricopa County, Arizona
- FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on Arson: Federal Bureau of Investigation (formed to apprehend the Phoenix Mountain Preserve Arsonist)
- Licensed Construction Contractor (former): Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Licensed Private Investigator: Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada