‹ Areas of Practice

Fire Investigation

Fire Investigator

Licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer

Investigated Fires Large and Small Throughout The United States and its Territories

Fire Investigation

Michael Slifka is an experienced Fire Investigator who has kept current with the emerging field of forensic science and fires! He has often been called upon to rebut inaccurate fire investigation findings by "old school" investigators relying on old fire spread and development theories that have been proven wrong through current research and testing.

The following are “first in” fire investigations on site by Michael Slifka (including residential fires) over the last 2 years:

  • Mille Lac Foods, Middleton, WI
  • Cosmopolitan Hoitel Fire, Las Vegas, NV
  • Organic Valley HQ Fire, La Farge WI
  • Madison Potters’ Guild Kiln & Structure Fire, Middleton, WI
  • Elsner Residence, Oconto Falls, WI
  • Russell Residence Fire, Oakdale, CA
  • Houlihan Restaurant Fire, Springfield, MO
  • Wedgewood Senior Residence High Rise Fire, San Antonio, TX
  • Millennium Coach RV Fire, Circleville, OH
  • Bukowski Residence Fire, Oconto Falls, WI
  • Joseph Thick Residence Fire, National City, MI
  • Burger King Restaurant Fire, Madison, WI
  • Lakeland Street Residence Fire, Madison, WI
  • Twin Lakes Motel Fire, Twin Lakes, WI
  • Rich’s Restaurant & Strip Mall Fire, Cedarburg, WI
  • Marea McKeague Residence Fire, Galena, IL
  • Liberty Plaza Strip Mall Fire, St. Roberts, MO

An expert who was involved in and consulted on prominent and legally sensitive, large death fires:

  • Las Vegas Hilton & MGM Grand fires in Las Vegas, NV
  • Happy Land Social Club in New York City
  • DuPont Plaza Hotel & Casino in San Juan Puerto Rico
  • The Station Fire in Rhode Island

Michael J. Slifka, P.E.

Professional Qualifications
Illinois Institute of Technology – B.S. in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering
Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer (FP 479) – California
Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE)
Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Examiners (ABFE)
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
Professional Affiliations
Member for Life, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Member, (Current or Past) Various NFPA Committees on: Safety to Life, Health Care Occupancies, Building Construction, Manufactured Housing and Recreational Vehicles, and National 1-2 Family Electrical Code
Member, Manufactured Housing Institute – Previous Member of: MHI Consensus Committee for the Manufactured Housing Standard, MHI-IPIA Technical Advisory Committee, MHI-DAPIA Technical Advisory committee, MHI/HUD Technical Exchange Group, MHI-Technical Activities Committee.
Member, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and various ASTM committees
Member, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and various ANSI committees
Member, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and various NIBS committees
Member, International Fire Code Institute
Illinois Institute of Technology – B.S. in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering
Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer (FP 479) – California
Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE)
Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Examiners (ABFE)
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)

Professional Affiliations content

Publications
Slifka, Michael J. et al, “A Study of the Fire Problem in Residential High‐Rise Buildings”, Chicago: Rolf Jensen and Associates/Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (1972).
Slifka, Michael J. (author and assistant technical editor, First Edition; author, selected chapters, Second and Third Editions), Life Safety Code Handbook, National Fire Protection Association (1977, 1980, 1983).
Slifka, Michael J. “For Architects and Builders” column, Fire Journal (magazine of the NFPA) (1974‐1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Building Inspectors Handbook, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (author or coauthor of six technical chapters) (1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Life Safety Code Handbook – 1st Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of six technical chapters) (1977).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 14th Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of four technical chapters) (1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 15th Edition , NFPA (author or co‐author of four technical chapters) (1978).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 16th Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of two technical chapters) (1981).
Slifka, Michael J., “Building/Fire Code for Health Care Design” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1985).
Slifka, Michael J., “Fire Protection Engineering Considerations for Engineered Wood Products,” PFS Research Foundation (1999).