Update - Dave Townsend - IFIC Forensics

With effect from May 1st this year (2012) I became full time employed by International Fire Investigators and Consultants (IFIC Forensics).
I had been working closely with IFIC for the previous 2 years so it was not a tremendous leap to employment. It is a fine team of professionals indeed and I am proud to have made the move. I thoroughly recommend other practitioners to consider the same.
It means however that I must be more guarded in my blog. Although any views expressed here are entirely mine I must be aware of the fact that my views may be interpreted and used by others as a reflection of Company views and attitude. Such is the world.
Not that I have had much to say anyway. It has been and still is very difficult to find the time.

May I take this opportunity to applaud the lifting of all action against the Fire Officers involved in the Atherstone warehouse fire. It was regretful indeed that such formal action had to be instigated at all and I sincerely hope it will not add further to the risk averse attitude of many in the Fire Service. Fire can only be fought from the inside and speed is essential.

The insurance industry is reeling from apparently disproportionate fire losses. Statistics alone will not show the route cause but there are many of us in this industry who can see the cause and have been trying to point it out for many years. In view of my opening paragraph I will say no more here on the subject but if anybody cares to post an opinion that is fine.