Meet Our Team
Our dedicated team of fire investigators comes from a wide variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise. Our investigators utilize their extensive training and education as they approach each new fire scene they examine.
Brian J. Churchwell
Brian is a certified fire investigator (CFI and CFEI) and electrical engineer (PE) with over 20 years of experience in forensic investigation. Qualified in an expert capacity in local and federal court in multiple states. Brian’s area of expertise includes fire investigation as well as electrical failure analysis. He personally has investigated over 4,000 fires and explosions to residential, commercial, and industrial structures as well as investigated incidents involving electrical malfunctions, faults, failures, and electrocutions. Brian is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc., National Fire Protection Association, National Association of Fire Investigators, National Society of Professional Engineers, Ohio Society of Professional Engineers and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators.
Nick Leone
Nick is a certified fire investigator (CFI and CFEI) and mechanical engineer (PE) with over 9 years of experience in forensic investigation. He personally has investigated over 2,000 fires and explosions to residential, commercial, and industrial structures as well as passenger vehicles, motorcycles, marine vessels, heavy trucks, and agricultural and earth moving equipment. His areas of expertise include fuel gas explosion analysis including testing, mechanical failure analysis, vehicle failure analysis, fuel gas appliance failure analysis, water losses, freeze losses, and fireplace and chimney analysis. Nick is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of Fire Investigators, National Fire Protection Association, National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators.
Tripp Wagner III
Tripp is a certified fire investigator and mechanical director who joined Churchwell Fire Consultants, Inc. in 2021. Tripp brings 17 years of experience in fire and explosion forensic investigations involving structures, vehicles, marine vessels, appliances, electrical and gas systems, fire protection systems explosive and incendiary devices, product instructions, labels and warnings, domestic water systems, appliances and HVAC systems. He has provided extension expert witness services and technically substantiated analysis in accordance with NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, including detailed reports, depositions, hearings, grand juries, and criminal trials. Tripp is a member of the Society for Fire Protection Engineers, International Association of Arson Investigators, National Fire Protection Association, National Fire Academy Alumni Association and has served as a member on the Technical Committee on Fire Investigations, NFPA 921.
Tim P. Mier
Tim is a certified fire investigator who joined Churchwell Fire Consultants, Inc. in 2019. Tim joined us after 34 years with the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department where he served as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Company officer, Deputy Fire Marshal and Fire Marshal. During Tim’s tenure he investigated over 600 structural and non-structural fires. Tim’s wealth of fire knowledge and attention to detail in determining the cause and origin of fires make him a valuable member of our investigative team. Tim is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Jason A. Osika
Jason is a certified fire investigator (CFI) who joined Churchwell Fire Consultants, Inc. in 2022 with 29 years of experience in the fire service industry. His career began in 1993 as a firefighter with the Dover Fire Department where Jason held many positions including Fire Chief. Jason is experienced in determining the origin and cause of residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, vehicle fires, fire scene excavation, evidence collection and chain of custody, fire damage diagramming, witness interviews, photographic documentation and report writing. He also has extensive experience in large event coordination and management as well as pyrotechnics. Jason is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and National Fire Protection Association.
Amy Henderson