JOHN  MICHAEL AGOSTI

Fire Analyst and Consultant 

As a member of theSkokie, Illinois Fire Department for twenty-eight years, Mr. Agosti  progressed from a Firefighter/Paramedic to the position of Deputy Fire Chief. Mr. Agosti has extensive experience in fire and arson investigation; fire prevention and life safety codes; fire department management, operations and safety; and firefighter fatalities and injuries.  Mr. Agosti has responded to hundreds of major fire and crime scenes and has testified in court on the conclusions of his investigations.  His investigations have led to successful criminal indictments and convictions.

Mr. Agosti’s fire department responsibilities included the review of all construction plans for compliance to fire and building codes.  His expertise in building construction and fire code compliance, coupled with his knowledge of firefighting techniques and fire spread, lends a unique blend to his fire investigation capabilities.

In addition to his fire department exposure to hundreds of fire investigations, Mr. Agosti has extensive experience in the private sector also.  Over the past eighteen years Mr. Agosti has conducted over fifteen hundred fire related investigations as a private fire cause and origin investigator.  He has provided loss reviews, fire investigations, technical expertise, and litigation support for numerous major insurance carriers and attorneys throughout theU.S.  Responsibilities include complete report writing, evidence collection, still and video photography, interviewing of witnesses, and deposition and expert witness appearances.  Mr. Agosti has testified in both state and federal courts for both plaintiff and defense clients.

Practice areas include:

           Fire and Explosions:         

Arson defense/prosecution; electrical fires; gas explosions; vehicular fires; structure fires; fire deaths/injuries.

           Building and Fire Codes:

Fire/Building code violations; Life Safety Code violations; smoke detector issues; fire spread issues; fire prevention analysis.

          Fire Department Practices:

Fire department operations/practices/management; firefighter deaths/injuries/safety; discipline and termination issues.       

 Mr. Agosti has an Associates Degree in Fire Science and Technology.  He is also certified as a fire and explosion investigator.