Jim is the owner of WFCi and Senior Fire Scientist. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from the University of Arkansas in 1968.

Litigation-specific experience
Numerous fires have been successfully modeled or reconstructed using fire testing techniques. Calculations and modeling have covered a wide range of topics including: very large warehouses with variable ignition sources and contents, airplanes, cars, public transit vehicles, electric arcs and burn time of molten droplets from high voltage lines, fires in exhaust ducts over cooking grills, attics, rooms, hotels, apartments and mobile homes.

Some of the better known fires for which calculations, modeling and/or fire reconstruction testing was done include the MGM Grand, San Juan DuPont Plaza, First Interstate, One Meridian Plaza, Logan Valley Mall, Lockheed L1011, Valuejet and the Quicy, IL United Express collision.

Professional Associations
-Chosen to serve on the National Research Council's Board on Assessment of NIST Programs on the panel for Building and Fire Research for a period of three years, 1997, 1998, and 1999.

-International Standards Organization (ISO).

-Chairman of US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to Technical Committee (TC) 92, Subcommittee 4 on Fire Safety Engineering.

-American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

-Committee E-5 on Fire Standards: various officer positions, including 1st and 2nd Vice Chairman, and Chairman of several Subcommittees and task groups.

-National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

-Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).

Awards
2003 Named Fellow of ASTM
2003 ASTM Award of Merit
2000 ASTM Award of Recognition
1990 ASTM Award of Appreciation
1988 Forest Products,R&E Global Competitiveness Award
1984 ASTM Award of Recognition
1984 Weyerhaeuser Company 1984 Performance Award

Jim also has a long list of experience, technical accomplishments, and publications available.

Mike is in charge of the laboratory and coordinates all tests done and oversees day to day operations.

Mike has been with WFCi since Day One of operation and has helped or overseen every aspect of the lab equipment being built, from the ground up. He has designed, engineered, and built nearly all of WFCi's large testing equipment, including the ICAL, the E-119 furnaces, and more.

Mike is the person to contact for laboratory facility and test equipment questions and concerns. Email him at info@westernfire.com or call him at WFCi's toll-free number, 1-877-423-1401.

Howard is a graduate of Washington State University and subsequently worked for the Weyerhaeuser Fire Technology Laboratory (1975-1983), Southwest Research Institute Department of Fire Technology (1983-1995), and Intertek Testing Services / Warnock Hersey (1995-2003).

At Weyerhaeuser, and later at SWRI, Howard was involved with project management, incorporating a broad range of small to large-scale flammability and fire resistance test programs serving the needs of the transportation, aerospace, telecommunication, and building industries, and was Manager of the Standard Fire Testing section at SWRI from 1989-1995. At ITS, he was General Manager of Building Materials Testing Services (USA) and was responsible for the management of the Warnock Hersey Testing and Certification Program in the Western United States, covering Fire Doors and Frames, Fire Windows and Fire-Resistant Walls and Glazing Assemblies, and Roof Coverings and Assemblies.

Howard is Vice President responsible for Standard Fire Testing Services at WFCi, and also serves as the Quality Manager.