Michael Curley

CFI, CFEI

Senior Fire Consultant

YA Group

Biography

Michael Curley is a Fire Investigator with over twenty years of experience in both public‑ and private‑sector fire investigation. He is a valued member of the YA Group team, bringing extensive field expertise, instructional experience, and a multifaceted background across mechanical work, firefighting, and investigative operations.

Before joining YA Group, Michael spent 13 years as an ASE‑Certified Mechanic, a skill he began developing at a young age and continued to refine early in his career. He then spent 28 years working as a firefighter for a large municipality in Washington State. During this time, he served as a Firefighter, Engineer/Driver, Lieutenant, and Captain. After promoting, he honed his investigative skill set as a Fire Investigator and Code Enforcement Official within a municipal Fire Prevention Agency, where he discovered his passion for origin‑and‑cause work.

Michael has worked over two decades as a Fire Investigator and has been utilized as an expert in criminal cases involving fire. He was recognized by his peers for his expertise and was asked to serve as a board member for the Northwest Fire Investigators Association. This recognition led to several years of work for the State of Washington as a practical exam evaluator for the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Fire Investigator certification.

In addition, Michael has served as an instructor for the Washington Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Northwest Fire Investigators Association. In these roles, he has taught and evaluated to IFSAC Fire Investigator standards at their annual conference in Leavenworth, Washington.

Credentials

  • CFI | (CFI) International Association of Arson Investigators, Certification Number 21-051115 (2029)
  • CFEI | (CFEI) National Association of Fire Investigators, International: Certification Number 21608-16321 (2029)

Professional Experience

  • 2026 - Current | Senior Fire Consultant | YA Group
  • 2023 - 2026 | Remote Fire Investigator/Project Manager | Jensen Hughes
  • 1993 - 2021 | Fire Fighter | City of Tacoma WA.
  • 2015 - 2021 | Fire Captain, Fire Investigator, and Code Official | City of Tacoma WA.
  • 2004 - 2015 | Fire Lieutenant, Fire Investigator and Code Official | City of Tacoma WA.
  • 1993 - 2004 | Fire Fighter-Driver | City of Tacoma WA.
  • 2014 - 2015 | Private Investigator (Fire) | Unified Investigations and Sciences Inc.
  • 1980 - 1993 | ASE Certified Automotive and Heavy Equipment Mechanic |

Publications and Presentations

  • 2005 - TFD Fire Prevention Bureau Field Training: Operation Level Inspection and Commercial Sprinkler Systems for Recruits
  • 2007 - TFD Fire Prevention Bureau Field Training: Fire Scenes and the First Responder
  • 2007- 2009 - TFD Fire Preventions Bureau Field Training: Report Writing and Commercial Sprinkler Systems for Recruits
  • 2011 TFD FF. Recruit Academy: Fire Investigations for the First Responder and Commercial Sprinkler Systems
  • 2012 - WA. State IAAI Region 4 Fire Investigators: Fire Investigations for Prosecutors
  • 2014 thru 2017 - IAAI-WA. State Chapter and NW Fire Investigators Assoc.: IFSAC Basic Fire Origin and Cause Determination
  • 2015- 2017 - Pierce County Skills Center: Instructor- Fire Investigations as a Career (High School)

Training Courses

  • 2025 Safety Unlimited Inc OSHA Asbestos Awareness Training #25061462577193
  • 2025 Anti-Harassment Course as well as 4 quarters of additional Security and EEO related topics
  • 2014 Tacoma Power, Basic Electricity and Electrical Power Systems 20 week tested
  • 2014 U.S. Dept of Homeland Security FEMA Incident Safety Officers Certification
  • 2013 WSP Office of the State Fire Marshal: Chemistry for Emergency Response- 40 hour tested
  • 2011 FEMA/USAR: FEMA WMD Structural Collapse Technician and Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist, Tested 36 hours
  • 2009 WA. State Criminal Justice Training Commission: Reserve Law Enforcement Officer Training- Tested 320 hours
  • 2007 National Fire Academy: Fire/Arson Investigation- Tested 80 hours
  • 2006 Department of Justice, ATF: Post Blast Investigation- approximately 20 hours
  • 2006 Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation Advanced Course 32 hours
  • 2005 National Fire Academy: Fire Inspections Principles- Tested 80 hours
  • 1993 City of Tacoma: Fire Fighter 1 and 2- Tested 256 hours
  • Fire related hours through the IAAI • General Fire Investigations class hours 223 hours • Additional Interview and Interrogation 16 hours • Arson Case Management 66 hours • Crime Scene Photography 82 hours • Additional Residential Electricity 20 hours • Fire Dynamics 40 hours • ATF Post Blast and Terrorism 56 hours • Courtroom Process 24 hours • Evidence and DNA collection 8 hours • Commercial Fire Code 28 hours • Fire Officer Development 32 hours • Code Enforcement Classes
  • Automotive related • Basic Gasoline Engine 5 credits • Power Transmission and Manual Transmissions 3 Credits • Engine Performance 3.5 Credits • Steering and Suspension 4.5 Credits • Braking Systems 5 Credits • Advanced Engine performance and Drivability 5 Credits • Fuel Systems and Emissions Controls 4.5 Credits • Automatic Transmissions 4.5 Credits • Heating and Air conditioning 3 Credits

Affiliations

  • National Association of Fire Investigators, International (#21608-16321)

Licenses

  • Private Investigators License 4212 - Washington - State of Washington, Unarmed Private Investigator (2026)
  • Private Investigators License #119317 - Oregon - State of Oregon Private Investigator (2026)