John Gow

I served for almost thirty one years with Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) the last 12 years of which was as a full time fire investigator.

I began my career as an investigator in 1998 when SFRS established the first full time FI unit in Scotland. I had the opportunity to be involved in the development of the unit from the ground up being fully involved in the development of the section and it’s Modus Operandi.

During my term with the Incident Research and Investigation Unit I was deployed as lead investigator or as part of team on a wide range of accidental or deliberate fire and explosion incidents affecting vehicles, residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Over the 12 year period I attended approximately 300 fatal fire incidents, involving single and multiple fatalities, many as lead investigator. This breadth of experience gave me the opportunity to engage with partners such as the police, crime scene investigators, the Health and Safety Executive and the private sector giving me an in depth understanding of the challenges faced during multi agency and complex investigations.

I also had the opportunity to represent Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service on national forums relating to the improvement of fire investigation practice and procedures cumulating in an invitation from the then Scottish Chief Inspectorate of Fire to participate in discussions on fire investigation in Scotland.

Since leaving public service, I have worked in the private sector with IFIC Forensics, now Jensen Hughes as a Senior Investigator.  Before acquisition of IFIC by Jensen Hughes, over a 7 year period, I acted as Operations manager overseeing the day to day operations of the organisation in both UK and Internationally.

I currently hold the role of Technical Director for Marine.

I have been instructed on Major and complex losses, liability cases, criminal cases and Marine Casualties involving fire and explosion.

I have given evidence in criminal and civil proceedings and I have been accepted as an expert witness in the United States.