Nicole Brewer has been in the fire service for over 24 years. In 1996, Nicole joined the Clackamas County Fire Investigation Team as a student volunteer and she has been part of the fire investigation community since that time. In addition to fire investigator, Nicole has served as both a paid and volunteer firefighter, fire lieutenant, fire inspector, and training specialist.
In 2007, Nicole was selected to participate, as a technical expert and regional representative, in the validation of two textbooks – Fire Investigator and Introduction to Fire Origin and Cause. Since 2014, she has served as a Director for the International Association of Fire Investigators – Oregon Chapter 31.
Nicole has been honored with the Oregon EMS Medal of Valor; the Vic Atiyeh Distinguished Achievement Award (the highest honor given at the Oregon Basic Police Academy), and the Lee M. Bown Scholastic Achievement Award.
In addition to having an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology, she has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation, and an MS degree in Fire and Explosives Investigation. Nicole is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Fire and Explosives Investigation. She is certified as a fire investigator, a fire and explosion investigator, a fire investigation instructor, an evidence collection technician, and a private investigator registered in Oregon and Washington.
For the past 14 years, Nicole has served the city of Portland, OR as a full-time, police-certified, fire and arson investigator. In that capacity, her duties include the investigation of residential, commercial, vehicle, and outdoor fires, including those complicated by explosions, injuries, arson, fatalities, or greater alarms. She also conducts fire-related criminal investigations. At this time, Nicole has conducted over 1500 fire investigations.
