nicole@fdafire.com

Nicole Brewer is a 22-year veteran of the fire service and a full-time, police-certified, fire and arson investigator with Portland Fire & Rescue. In that capacity, her duties include the investigation of residential, commercial, vehicle and outdoor fires, including those complicated by explosions, injuries, arson, fatalities, or greater alarms. She also conducts fire-related criminal investigations. At this time, Nicole has conducted over 1,800 fire and explosion investigations in the City of Portland.

In addition to serving in the public sector, Nicole has become certified as a Private Investigator in the states of Oregon and Washington. She has been conducting private fire investigations since 2014.

Nicole has earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation (summa cum laude) from Eastern Kentucky University and an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Portland Community College. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Forensic Sciences with specialization in Arson and Explosive Investigation from Oklahoma State University.

She has earned certifications as an IAAI – Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), Certified Instructor (CI), Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI), Evidence Collection Technician (ECT) Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII), and ICC Fire Inspector II.
Nicole participated in validating three International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) textbooks including Fire Investigator 2nd and 3rd Editions and Introduction to Fire Origin and Cause 2nd Edition. She served as a Director for the Oregon Chapter of the IAAI for four years and she served her community as a volunteer firefighter, fire officer and fire investigator for over 17 years.

Nicole has been honored with the Oregon EMS Medal of Valor; the Vic Atiyeh Distinguished Achievement Award, the Lee M. Bown Scholastic Achievement Award, the Portland Fire & Rescue Ribbon of Merit and the Portland Fire Chief’s Certificate.