Assistant Fire Marshal/Fire Investigator

Keith O. Sherard, CFI

*** ************ **** • Road Rural Hall, NC 27045 • 336-***-**** • 336-***-**** • *******@***.***

SUMMARY

Diligent, team-spirited, and initiative-taking fire safety professional dedicated to enhancing the life for citizens and fellow firefighters through safe, productive, and cost-effective services. Firsthand experience in health and safety compliance with extensive knowledge of safety procedures, applicable codes, and emergency response.

EXPERIENCE:

Winston-Salem Fire Department – Winston-Salem, NC

Fire Investigator, February 2005 - March 2022

Over 16 years of experience in fire investigation.

•Conduct fire investigations to determine origin and cause, continuing with follow-up investigation as needed.

•Inspect commercial, institutional, industrial, and other buildings and dwellings for fire hazards and general compliance with North Carolina State Fire Prevention code.

•Answer and investigate complaints and reports of hazardous conditions and order corrections.

•Prepare and monitor inspection reports, issuing permits as defined by state code and city ordinances.

•Develop evacuation programs and conduct pre-incident planning, as well as evaluate fire drills for safety and effectiveness.

•Obtain warrants for fire-setters, citations, and summons for fire code violations, compiling detailed reports and sketches, and providing expert courtroom testimony.

•Provide consultation to builders, architects, engineers, designers, and developers on construction projects.

•Train firefighting personnel in fire inspections and fire investigation techniques.

•Provide various public education programs to community.

Winston-Salem Fire Department

Fire Engineer, December 1999-February 2005

•Promoted to Fire Investigator in 2005.

•Assumed command of company in absence of Fire Platoon Supervisor.

•Responded to alarms, driving assigned vehicle to required locations, operating pumps, and other related apparatus at fire scenes.

•Regulated water pressure and monitored motors and apparatus conditions during incident response to ensure effective fire control.

•Serviced apparatus daily to maintain its condition of readiness.

•Performed firefighting duties including rescue, entry, ventilation, and salvage work as required.

•Inspected businesses and tested hydrants routinely. Performed maintenance inside and outside of assigned fire station building on apparatus and related equipment.

•Self-initiated professional development through study and attendance of relative fire classes and drills

RJR Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem, NC

Emergency Services Coordinator - August 1998-December 1999

•Self-directed position managing fire, medical, hazardous materials, confine space entry and security related incidents within an assigned area.

•Assumed command of emergency situations, collaborating effectively with company management, peers, and subordinates, as well as collaborating with local law enforcement and government agencies.

•Maintained above-average knowledge of company facilities and oversaw facility’s fire protection systems daily.

•Provided training and instruction for company personnel.

•Prepared and retained both written documentation and computer-generated reports for all incidents.

Winston-Salem Fire Department - Winston-Salem, NC

Firefighter – May 1992-December 1999

•Promoted to Fire Engineer in 1999.

•Controlled, contained, and extinguished fires.

•Answered emergency situations quickly, assessed conditions, and acted appropriately to contain fires, assist victims, and prevent escalation.

•Administered first aid and artificial life support services during medical emergencies.

•Conducted rescue operations involving (but not limited to) vehicles, high/low angles, confined space, water, structural collapses, and trenches.

•Performed daily, weekly, monthly station, equipment, and apparatus maintenance.

EDUCATION:

Columbia Southern University – Orange Beach, AL

AAS Fire Science Degree, 2011

Columbia Southern University – Orange Beach, AL

Bachelor of Science, Fire Science, July 7, 2022

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

North Carolina Firemen’s Association • International Association of Arson Investigators

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Fire Investigator

Firefighter Two

Fire Life Safety Educator Two

General Fire Instructor Two

Hazardous Materials Technician

Fire Officer One

Emergency Medical Technician

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

OS-17 NC Fire Prevention School - 04/25/2005 - 36hrs (Tested) Kure Beach, NC - OSNCFPS

OS-18 Arson School 11/07/2005 - 32hrs (Tested) - Concord, NC - OSAS – Instructor: Jerry Webster

IS-27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 11/15/2005 - 4hrs (Practical and Classroom) WSFD

OS-31 Juvenile Fire Setter’s School 02/18/2006 - 16hrs - (Tested) Kure Beach, NC - OSNCFPS – Instructor: Mandy Reed

OS-27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 05/20/2006 - 3hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS- 27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 08/15/2006 - 6hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS-48 Sprinklers & Standpipes 11/06/2006 - 24hrs (Classroom) - Greensboro, NC

IS 27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 3/15/2007 - 8hrs - (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS-65 Radiological Training 04/02/2007 - 16hrs (Classroom) - Forsyth County Fire Department - WSRT

OS-40 Advanced Investigative Approaches - 05/07/2007 - 32hrs - (Tested) Burlington, NC - NCIAAI

IS-117 Fire Origin and Cause Training - 05/30/2008 - 6hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS- 117 Fire Origin and Cause Training - 04/27/2009 - 4hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS-117 Fire Origin and Cause Training - 06/22/2009 - 8hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS-117 Fire Origin and Cause Training - 11/06/2009 - 8hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

IS-122 Courtroom Training - 12/16/2009 - 4hrs (Practical) - Forsyth County Hall of Justice Winston-Salem, NC – Instructor: Elizabeth Dresel

IS-122 Courtroom Training 12/17/2009 - 4hrs - (Classroom) - Forsyth County Hall of Justice Winston-Salem, NC – Instructor: Fire Investigator, Matthew Guffey

IS-114 Advanced Fire/Arson Investigations - 03/13/2009 - 32hrs (Tested) - Greensboro North Carolina - WSAFI

IS-27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 4/22/2010 - 8hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

OS-40 Advanced Investigative Approaches - 05/03/2010 - 32hrs (Tested) Burlington, NC - NCIAAI

IS-27 Cause and Origin (Arson) Training - 10/12/2011 - 2hrs (Practical and Classroom) - WSFD

OS-135 Fire & Arson Fatality Fire Investigation - 01/09/2012 - 16hrs (Tested) - NCJFAFFS - Instructor: Vickie Schafer

OS-40 Advanced Investigative Approaches 05/06/2013 32hrs (Tested) Burlington, NC - NCIAAI

OS-20 Hands on Vehicle Fire Investigations 03/24/2014 20hrs (Tested) Statesville, NC - OSAIA – Instructor: Steve Riggs

IS-Cause Origin/Arson Training 9/29/2014 4hrs (Practical and Classroom) WSFD

IS-17 Flammable Liquid and Gas 04/30/2015 4hrs (WSFD)

IS-64 Electrical Safety 05/05/2015 1hr (Practical and Classroom) WSFD

OS-188 Pipeline Awareness for First Responders 2hrs 06/02/2015 (Classroom) Kernersville, NC – Instructor: Courtney Mack

OS-190 Hazmat Q-Above the Line-Below the Line - 06/29/2015 - 8hrs (Classroom) - Winston-Salem North Carolina (FDRES) – Instructor: Jim Barrett

IS-192 OSHA Mandated Electrical Safety Class - 08/28/2015 - 2hrs (Classroom) - Instructor: WSFD Captain S.D. Fulp

OS-200 NFPA 1033 - 12/10/2015 - 4hrs (Tested) - Forsyth County Fire Department – Instructor: Jerry Webster

OS-92 NFPA 921 Update 12/10/2015 - 4hrs (Tested) - Forsyth County Fire Department – Instructor: Jerry Webster

IS-197 The Art of Reading Smoke 06-3-2016– 8hrs (Classroom) Forsyth Community College –Instructor David Dobson

OS-232 Subro and Spoliation 02-22-2017 – 3.5hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina – Instructor Bobby Henderson

OS-233 Sovereigns and Extremism 02-23-17 – 3hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina Instructor Doug Robinson

OS-234 Digital Photography Fraud 02-23-17 – 3hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina Instructor Arthur Grady

OS-235 Trademark Counterfeiting 02-23-17 – 3hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina Instructor Curt Moore

NCICE Annual Training Lighting and CSST Investigation 02-23-2017 - 3hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina

Interview and Interrogation 01-25 thru 01-27 -24hrs (Classroom) Guilford Community College Instructor Mike Prodan

National Fire Academy Community Risk Reduction 11-17 thru 11-19-2017 -16hrs (Classroom and Practical)

IS-38 Hazmat Training 02-23-17 -3hrs (Classroom) Winston-Salem North Carolina –Instructor Christopher Belcher

OS-75 Pyrotechnical Training 10-09-2018 8hrs (Classroom and Practical) McLeansville Fire Department

Fire Investigation Approaches 10-15 thru 10-19-2018 (Classroom) IAAI Myrtle Beach South Carolina

IS-117 Fire Origin and Training 01-04-2019 2hrs (Practical) Winston-Salem North Carolina Instructor Jason Councilman

IS-117 Fire Origin and Training 02-14-2019 3hrs (Classroom) Winston Salem North Carolina Beaty Center Instructor Phillip B Seats Forensics Supervisor

Documenting the Event 09/11/2020 4hrs (Classroom) CFI Trainer.net International Association of Arson Investigators

Effective Investigation and Testimony 09/22/2020 3hrs (Classroom) CFI Trainer.net International Association of Arson Investigators

Fire Flow Analysis 10/16/2020 3hrs (Classroom) CFI Trainer.net International Association of Arson Investigators

Additional Classroom Training from Columbia Southern University, Davidson Community College, and Forsyth Community College.

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