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
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 59101
Vice President
Stephen M. Williams
Stephen Williams is a Special Agent/ Certified Fire Investigator with the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Based in Billings, MT. Stephen is a part-time member with ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) as well. Stephen is an IAAI CFI.
Stephen has been employed in Federal law enforcement for over 23 years. In prior agencies, Stephen participated as a wildland fire fighter and a wildland fire investigator. Stephen joined the ATF in 2015. In 2000, Stephen entered the ATF’s CFI program while in the Billings, MT Field Office. Stephen works frequently with local fire investigators and responds to assist in processing fire scenes but also concentrated on the State and Federal investigation/prosecution of arson and explosives related crimes. Stephen has taught at the ATF National Academy (Arson) in Glynco, GA as well as the ATF National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) in Huntsville, AL.
Bureau of ATF
2929 Third Ave North
Suite 200
Billings, MT 59101
Cell: 406-200-2392
Email: Stephen.Williams@ATF.gov
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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
Mike is a fire analyst with NEFCO Fire Investigations. Mike was employed by the Billings Fire Department for 23 years, serving as Fire Marshal for 13 years, and before that as Assistant and Deputy Fire Marshal. He also served as a Deputy State Fire Marshal for the State of Montana for one year. Mike has been a licensed Montana private investigator since August of 2021. He is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) with the IAAI, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) with the NFPA, and a Certified Fire Marshal with the ICC. Mike has a BS degree in Engineering Technology - Fire Protection and Safety from Oklahoma State University. He enjoys spending time with his family and outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.
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
State Fire Marshal
Dirk Johnson
Johnson is responsible for the DOJ's Fire Prevention & Investigation Section, which oversees fire prevention and investigation work across many agencies in Montana. He spent 21 years climbing the ranks at Great Falls Fire Rescue, retiring as Fire Marshal. Begain working at the State Fire Marshal's office in 2020, promoting to State Fire Marshal in 2022. Retired from MT Air National Guard after 23 years of service, both active and as a guardsman.
Division of Criminal Investigation - Department of Justice
PO Box 991
Great Falls, MT 59403
Phone: (406) 771-1510
Email: dirk.johnson@mt.gov