Bios

Integrity, Wisdom, Diligence

Lonnie L. Larson

Founder and chief investigator, Lonnie Larson, took a child’s fascination with fire stations and fire trucks and turned it into a vocation.

In 1978 he began his service with the Billings Fire Department.  The first ten years he gained front line experience in the science of fire dynamics and behavior as a fire fighter and, as he gained experience,  was increasingly drawn to the “why” and “how” of the fire scenes.

Transferring to the fire marshal’s office  he found the perfect fit for the perfect job. Through intensive training with the National Fire Academy in Emmitsberg, Va., ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) National Academy in Glynco, Ga and in house training as well as countless seminars and workshops he began to find his answers and build his knowledge.  He dove into fire investigation work with a fervor marked by an insatiable appetite for answers – not just answers – but correct answers.

He is known, not only for his congenial, laid back personality, but most importantly for his tenacious attitude toward finding the truth of a fire scene and his scrupulous adherence to evidentiary procedure. This has won him the respect and admiration of his colleagues,  not only  among his profession’s peers  but with the legal/judicial community and police departments as well.

His reputation is for dotting the “ i’s” and crossing all the “t’s”.  A sought after and valued expert witness, he brings a tenacious attitude for finding the truth of a fire scene and a scrupulous adherence to evidentiary procedure.  He is a recognized expert witness.

His testimony is based on science and his science is pure, without regard for personalities or desired outcomes.   Opponents see no chinks in his armor of evidence and science usually seeing the wisdom of settling in favor of our clients rather than face the strength of his testimony in a court room.

Investigator

David D. Larson

David started from the ground up.  First logging evidence for storage and setting up lab exams to conducting his own investigations, and running the lab examinations.  He is in the last year of attaining his BA in Fire Sciences and a year from completing his apprentisship under the exacting, critical eye of Lonnie Larson.  He doesn’t leave his learning at the classroom door either.  He is an active volunteer firefighter with the Worden Fire Department where he is gaining invaluable experience in fire dynamics and behavior.