James P. Churchwell

Jim Churchwell is a widely recognized expert in fire investigation with over 30 years of experience in the field.  Jim not only brings his 30 years of service to this business, but also the unprecedented responsiveness, customer service and integrity with which he founded our company back in 1989.  Jim’s primary focus is on the cause and origin analysis of fire and explosion investigations. Likewise, he has played an integral role in the critical areas of subrogation and liability defense in countless cases and has provided expert testimony in municipal, state and federal courts of law.

Jim graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technical Education-Criminal Justice.  Upon graduating, he served seven years with the Stow, Ohio Police Department, beginning as a patrol officer and working his way to a Senior Detective in the Investigative Division, where he spent four years.  The last 18 months as a Senior Detective in the Division were spent specifically assigned to the investigation of crimes against property, including arson. He attended the State Arson School in Columbus, Ohio and was an instructor of Fire Investigation Methods for the University of Akron, Division of Fire Science for 9 years.

Jim is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).

Jim is a past president and founding member of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators and is also a member of the:

• National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
• Ohio Chapter, IAAI
• Former Member-Advisory Committee, Fire Protection Program, University of Akron