Benjamin B. Benfield
MS, BSci, IAAI-CFI (V), ECT, CFEI, CFII, MIFireE
Senior Fire/Explosion Expert
Loss/Claims Investigation Consultant
With over 25 years of experience in the fire and emergency services profession, Benjamin B. Benfield currently serves as President and Principal Fire Investigator of Forensic Fire Services, LLC, a multi-state forensic consulting firm specializing in fire and explosion origin and cause investigations, vehicle fire investigations, subrogation support, litigation consulting, and expert witness services.
Mr. Benfield holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science Administration and a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Psychology. He is currently pursuing advanced Doctoral studies in Psychology through Liberty University, with a focus on human behavior, trauma, and investigative applications.
An active member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Mr. Benfield holds the international designations of Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CFI(V)), Evidence Collection Technician (ECT), and Fire Investigation Technician (FIT). He is also a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and holds the designation of Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE).
Through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), Mr. Benfield holds the professional designations of Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII). He is additionally accredited through both Pro Board and IFSAC as a Fire Investigator at the state level.
Mr. Benfield is certified in Tennessee as a Fire Instructor, Fire Officer II, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Hazardous Materials Technician. Throughout his career, he has served in multiple leadership and investigative capacities, including Fire Investigator assigned to a municipal Fire Marshal’s Office and Captain within the Fire Operations Division of a municipal fire department.
In addition to his public service, Mr. Benfield has conducted and supervised more than 800 fire and explosion investigations involving residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, and heavy equipment losses. His investigative experience includes assignments for major insurance carriers, engineering firms, attorneys, governmental agencies, and private clients throughout the southeastern United States. His work routinely involves the application of NFPA 921, NFPA 1033, and accepted scientific methodologies to determine fire origin, cause, responsibility, and subrogation potential.
Mr. Benfield is also trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), serves as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and has extensive experience assisting first responders and disaster survivors impacted by trauma. His unique combination of fire investigation expertise, emergency services leadership, and forensic psychology education provides a multidisciplinary perspective to complex investigations and human factors analysis.
His professional focus remains the delivery of thorough, unbiased, scientifically based investigations that assist clients in understanding fire causation, mitigating future losses, and supporting successful litigation and subrogation outcomes.
Investigator Benfield served both in the Fire Marshal's office as a Fire Investigator and as a Captain in the Fire Operations Division for his municipal department. While serving as a Fire Department Captain, he also worked many years for an Engineering Firm. While at this Firm he served as the lead Investigator on over 400 fire investigations. This was on the behalf of many large insurance corporations and law firms to determine Cause and Origin and Subrogation Recovery.
