52nd Annual OCAAFII Origin & Cause Seminar
April 30- May 1, 2025
RICHARD BIRT, RETIRED - LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
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. Topics:
TOPICS: 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 is critical information for all fire fighters and fire investigators.
DR. ELIZABETH BUC, FIRE AND MATERIALS RESEARCH LAB
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.
TOPICS: Dr. Buc will discuss the history and implementation of the Texas Science Advisory Workgroup (SAW). The SAW concept will be introduced and presented along with 2-3 investigation reports to be reviewed by a mock SAW panel of well recognized fire investigation industry professionals. 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) through these case study discussions.
The seminar will be held Wednesday April 30th and Thursday May 1st from 8:30am - 4:30pm at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, MI. Space is limited so purchase your ticket today!
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For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact OCAAFII Secretary: Mitch Hart.