Jim Hunter

Jim began his career as a volunteer fire cadet in 1968 with the Loveland Community Fire Department. Jim worked his way through the ranks to the position of Fire Chief in 1980. Jim held the position of Fire Chief until he retired from the fire department in 2003. Jim has been conducting fire and explosion investigations for more than 30 years and still coducts fire and explosion investigations for the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department and the Highland County North Joint Fire District.

Jim has attended in excess of 100 fire investigation courses from around the United States, including Federal Agencies in the field of firefighting, fraud fire investigations, origin and cause investigations, evidence collection and preservation, post blast investigations, vehicle fire investigations, and courtroom testimony.

Jim is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). In 1988 Jim became a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). Jim is also a Certified Firefighter and a Certified Fire Safety Inspector through the State of Ohio.

Jim holds several professional memberships in the field of fire and explosion investigation. He is active and sits on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and is an active member of the West Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).

Jim has testified as an expert witness on origin and cause investigations in Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, Grand Jury, Preliminary Hearings, Juvenile Court, and Depositions in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. These proceedings involve both criminal and civil trials.

Jim's experience and training in fire, arson, and explosion investigations far exceed the minimum standards set fourth by the National Fire Protection Association standards (NFPA1033).

FIS is a licensed private investigation firm in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.  FIS is First In Service.