Hawkins was pleased to attend the FUEDI conference in Rotterdam, where Forensic Engineer Jari Capassi delivered an engaging presentation. During the session, Jari highlighted Hawkins’ extensive capabilities in fire investigation, showcasing our multidisciplinary approach in determining the root causes of complex fire incidents, whilst addressing the environmental impact they can also bring.

Every fire releases significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂), toxic gases, soot, and particulate matter into the atmosphere, directly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, environmental contamination, and global warming.

Traditionally, fire investigations have focused on determining the origin and cause of an incident for legal, insurance, or operational purposes. Today, however, forensic engineering is evolving into something broader: a strategic tool capable of driving loss prevention and reducing the environmental impact of fires.

Every fire investigation provides important technical data. Through the reconstruction of the ignition sequence, the analysis of fire development and spread, and the identification of the mechanisms that allowed escalation, investigators can identify systemic weaknesses within facilities and organisations. These may include:

Hawkins is pleased to welcome Dave Stevenson to our Leeds office.  Dave brings with him more than two decades of frontline investigative and operational experience across both policing and fire investigation.

Dave began his career as a Police Constable with Humberside Police, later serving within the Roads Policing Unit. In this role, he was routinely deployed to complex, high‑risk incidents, managing large multi‑agency scenes and supporting successful investigative outcomes across a wide range of operational scenarios.

After relocating to Northumberland, Dave joined the fire service as a retained firefighter before progressing into Fire Investigation. Combining his strong investigative background with specialist fire knowledge, he attended complex fire scenes across domestic, agricultural, industrial, vehicle, and wildland settings, including incidents involving fatalities.

Most recently, Dave held a senior role within Cleveland Fire Brigade, where he led the fire investigation function. His responsibilities included team leadership, professional development, policy creation in line with national guidance, and close collaboration with police on complex and high-profile investigations.

Throughout his career, Dave has been involved in over 150 fire investigations and has provided expert testimony in Magistrates’, Crown, and Coroners’ Courts.  His depth of experience and investigative expertise make him a valuable addition to Hawkins, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.

Fire and explosions specialist Lucy Pinkard was invited to present at the Airmic Island of Ireland Lunch & Learn, where she explored the growing risks posed by lithium‑ion batteries. Her session generated strong interest from attendees keen to understand the science behind these increasingly common devices. Following the event, Lucy expanded on her insights in a published article in Airmic News, offering a clear and accessible explanation of why lithium-ion‑ batteries present such complex challenges for risk professionals.

In her article, Lucy explains that lithium-ion batteries are now embedded in everyday life, powering everything from mobile phones and laptops to electric vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Their high energy density makes them efficient but also potentially hazardous. She describes the phenomenon of thermal runaway, the self-heating process that can cause batteries to vent flammable gases, ignite, explode or release toxic byproducts such as hydrogen fluoride. These incidents, she notes, can result not only from manufacturing defects or design flaws, but also from environmental stress, incompatible chargers, DIY modifications and poor-quality components.

Lucy highlights the dramatic rise in fires linked to personal light electric vehicles (such as e-bikes and e-scooters), referencing data from the Office for Product Safety Standards and the significant increase in callouts recorded by the London Fire Brigade. She also underscores the challenges investigators face when examining fires involving lithium‑ion cells, as battery components can be projected across rooms and secondary fires may obscure the original source of ignition.

Her article stresses that the risk landscape is evolving quickly. She encourages risk professionals to take a proactive approach: identifying hazards early, ensuring that claims and investigations draw on specialist forensic expertise, promoting safe storage and charging practices, monitoring regulatory developments and incorporating battery risks into wider crisis planning. She also notes the potential for deliberate misuse, adding another layer of concern for organisations.

Lucy is an Associate Forensic Investigator and a specialist in fire and explosion investigation, with a background spanning forensic science, policing and academia. She began her career as an Analytical Scientist, before joining Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a Crime Scene Investigator, DNA Laboratory Analyst and Crime Scene Manager, working on major incidents, high-profile cases and arson investigations, and earning a Police commendation. She later completed a Masters in the Forensic Investigation of Explosives and Explosions at Cranfield University, focusing on lithium-ion battery thermal runaway. Lucy now lectures and trains investigators in fire and crime scene disciplines while supporting the development of future forensic scientists. She has investigated a wide range of domestic and commercial fires and is based in Hawkins’ Bristol office.

You can read Lucy’s article on page’s 27-28 in Airmic News Vol.06

From April to June 2026, join experts from across Hawkins as they host our International Webinar Series, featuring specialists from our global office locations.

This series covers a wide range of topics, including material and mechanical failures, lithium‑ion batteries, bridge forensics, bolted connection failures, and risk in indoor climbing.

For webinar details and to register, please see below.

If you would like further information on each webinar before registering, simply click on the titles. Our events page provides details of other Hawkins events that you may find of interest.