Our Team
Fully trained and experienced Safety Codes Officers ready to assist with your goal of Fire Prevention.
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Joe Towers
CEP, CFI, SCO (FIRE – B2/C2/Group E), President SCO-Fire
Mr. Towers has over thirty-five years’ experience in the fire services industry. He is qualified to the highest level of Fire Investigator/Inspector with the Safety Codes Council of Alberta.
Mr. Towers is a certified Fire Investigator (Proboard), Certified Evidence Photographer, and a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, Fire Investigation Association of Alberta, National Association of Fire Investigators, National Fire Protection Association, and the Evidence Photographers International Council.
Mr. Towers has had the privilege of being accepted as an expert witness in the Provincial Court of Alberta and Court of Queen’s Bench in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. A recent expert report was accepted without challenge in a homicide trial in the Court of Kings Bench.
Certifications
- Fire Safety Codes Officer
- Fire Investigator – Group C Level 2
- Fire Inspector – Group B Level 2
- Petroleum Tanks – Group E
- Certified Fire Investigator – Proboard
- Certified Evidence Photographer – Professional Photographic Certification Commission
- Qualified Hazardous Materials Technician (OSHA/SAIT/EPA)
- Certified Clandestine Lab Safety Supervisor (CLIA)
- Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (NAFI)
- Certified Fire Investigator Instructor (NAFI)
Professional Memberships
- International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- Canadian Identification Society (CIS)
- Fire Investigation Association of Alberta (FIAA)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
- Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA)
Wes Van Bavel
SCO (FIRE – B2/C2/Group E)
Mr. Van Bavel has over thirty-nine years’ experience in the fire services industry. He is qualified to the highest level of Fire Investigator/Inspector with the Safety Codes Council of Alberta.
Mr. Van Bavel started as a 911 Communications Emergency Dispatcher with Red Deer Emergency Services in 1985. His career continued with Red Deer Emergency Services, as a Fire Safety Codes Officer from 1995 to December 2019 (including roles as Assistant Fire Marshal and Fire Marshal during this time). His training and experience have gained him certification as a Level 2 Fire Safety Codes Officer (Inspections and Investigations), as well as certification in Group E Storage Tank Systems.
Mr. Van Bavel has extensive practical experience with Fire Inspections, Building & Safety Plan Reviews, Code Analysis, and Fire Investigations as a Safety Codes Officer. He was instrumental in developing the Petroleum Tank Program for Red Deer Emergency Services during the Group E Petroleum Storage Tank certification roll-out.
Certifications
Fire Safety Codes Officer
- Fire Investigator – Group C Level 2
- Fire Inspector – Group B Level 2
- Petroleum Tanks – Group E
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Certified
- 1031 Standard – Fire Inspector
- 1033 Standard – Fire Investigator
- 1035 Standard – Fire & Life Safety Educator
- 1041 Standard – Fire Service Instructor
Pro Board Accreditation
- Fire Inspector Level I & II
- Fire Investigator
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator II
Jim Kimmel
SCO (BUILDING – A1/A2/A3)
Mr. Kimmel is a Building Safety Codes Officer with certification for all buildings with SCO-Fire.
Mr. Kimmel, a Certified Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter, began his career in Safety Services with the City of Calgary in 2000. There he received his Certificate of Competency as a Group A, Level 3 Safety Codes Officer which allows him to review plans, analyze codes, issue permits and conduct inspections for all building uses and occupancies.
After moving to Lacombe in 2007, he worked extensively in rural Central Alberta with various municipalities and counties. Jim recently completed a five-year tenure with the City of Red Deer, where he was promoted to the Team Lead position within the Inspections and Licensing department. Jim continues to pursue his passion for public safety as a top level Building Safety Codes Officer with SCO-Fire.
Certifications
Building Safety Codes Officer
- Group A Level 1 (Housing and Small Buildings)
- Group A Level 2 (Buildings)
- Group A Level 3 (Buildings – All Uses & Occupancies)
Dave Laurin
SCO (FIRE – B2/C2)
Mr. Laurin is a Fire Safety Codes Officer with certification as a Fire Inspector and Fire and Explosion Investigator with SCO-Fire.
Mr. Laurin has thirty years of emergency services experience raging from response, training officer, investigator and fire chief with numerous courses that includes:
- FIAA Fire Dynamics and Arc Mapping training
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Post Blast Investigations
- FIAA International Post Blast Investigation
- Alberta Wildland Urban Interface Training Program S-215
- Bachelor of Applied Business in Emergency Services
Certifications
Fire Safety Codes Officer
- Fire Inspector – Group B Level 2
- Fire Investigator – Group C Level 2
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Certified
- 1031 Standard – Fire Inspector
- 1033 Standard – Fire Investigator
- 1035 Standard – Fire & Life Safety Educator
- 1041 Standard – Fire Service Instructor
- 1051 Standard – Wildland Fire Fighter Level I – ProBoard & IFSAC
- 1521 Standard – Fire Department Safety Officer – ProBoard
- 472 Standard – Hazardous Materials Incident Command – ProBoard
Pro Board Accreditation & IFSAC
- Fire Inspector Level I & II
- Fire Investigator
- Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I
- Fire Instructor Level II
- Wildland Fire Fighter Level 1
- Fire Department Safety Officer
- Hazardous Materials – Incident Command
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