MONTANA IAAI
Montana Chapter's Team
Our Mission
Provide a local community to network and exchange new technical information and developments, to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and associations to further fire investigation and the suppression of crime. To encourage high professional standards of conduct among members, and promote the advancement of the fire and explosion investigation profession.
Code of Ethics
OFFICERS
President
Jamie Porter
Jamie Porter is an IAAI-CFI(V), IAAI-ECT, and currently works as a Fire Inspector with the Missoula Fire Department in Missoula, MT, where she has investigated fires for over five years and has testified in court as an expert witness. She was hired by the City of Missoula in 2008 as a firefighter, paramedic, and hazmat technician. Jamie is also a Finance Section Chief for Complex Incidents and supports the Western Montana All-Hazard Incident Management Team.
Missoula Fire Department
625 E. Pine St.
Missoula, MT 59802
Vice President
Jaime Fender
Jaime Fender is the Assistant Fire Marshal with the Billings Fire Department. He has worked in the Billings Fire Marshal’s Office for over 10 years. Throughout his career as a fire marshal, I he has obtained numerous certifications including Certified Fire Marshal (ICC), CFI (IAAI), Certified Fire Protection Specialist (NFPA), and a Fire Marshal Designation through CPSE. He has two master’s degrees, one in Emergency Services Management and the other Executive Fire Leadership from Columbia Southern University. He has investigated over 200 fires during his time with the Billings Fire Department. Jaime has also been vice president of the IAAI Montana Chapter since 2019. Jaime and his wife Hannah have three children, two boys and girl, Laine, Colt, and Elliot.
Billings Fire Department
2305 8th Ave. N
Billings, MT 5101
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Administrative Officer
Becky Biggins
Becky Biggins is a Deputy Fire Marshal with the Billings Fire Department. She has been with the department since 2018, and began working in the Prevention Bureau in January, 2022. Becky has a bachelors degree in photography. She has her IAAI-FIT certification and has been a lead fire investigator with her agency since 2022. In addition to fire investigation, Becky is a Building Inspector, holding multiple certifications in that discipline as well as functioning as a Community Risk Reduction Program Developer for the department. Becky and her husband Sean have five children, Ian, Ella, Lily, Bret, and Annabelle.
Billings Fire Department
2305 8th Ave. N
Billings, MT 59101
DIRECTORS
Deputy State Fire Marshal
Mike Spini
Granite Peak Investigations, Inc. He holds numerous certifications including Certified Fire Investigator-IAAI, Certified Fire Marshal-ICC, and Certified Fire Protection Specialist-NFPA. Mike has a B.S. degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University. His background includes over 30 years of fire service experience including 23 years of fire investigation experience. He has investigated over 280 fires and supervised over 800 investigations while serving as the Billings Fire Marshal. Mike lives in Laurel, MT with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys many of the outdoor recreational activities that Montana offers and attends his children’s sporting and school events.
PO Box 31094
1516 4Th Avenue North, Ste. 2
Billings, MT 59107
Principal Fire Investigator
CFI, ECT MFCI, CFCI, GIFireE
Tom Pierce
Tom Pierce began his fire career in 1973 as a member of a Helitack crew with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He also served on a Hotshot crew for the U.S. Forest Service and was Engine Captain before beginning a 25-year career with the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department in Bishop California in 1980. Tom performed fire investigation duties for his department beginning in 1980 until he retired in 2004. Not really retiring, Tom began his new journey the same year into the field of forensic fire investigations in the private sector. This entailed performing origin and cause investigations for insurance companies, collecting evidence, and testifying in Superior court.
Tom is still involved in the business with offices in California and Montana. Tom has conducted over 2,500 investigations in his carrier and is a certified fire investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, the California Conference of Arson Investigators, and the California State Fire Marshall.
Tom is currently a part-time member of the Miles City Fire Rescue as a Fire Safety officer and Fire Investigator.
Pierce Fire Investigations Inc.
www.piercefireinvestigations.com​
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17 S Center Ave,
Miles City, MT 59301