About Robert B. Whitemore
 Robert B. “Bob” Whitemore is a Certified Fire investigator (CFI) and a Senior Fire Consultant with Whitemore Fire Consultants which is based in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Whitemore Fire Consultants, Inc. was founded in 1994, focusing on the origin and cause of fires and explosions throughout the United States and Canada.
Bob started his career in the fire service when he joined the York, Nebraska Fire Department in 1974 where he moved up the ranks to lead all training programs in the areas of fire suppression, investigation and command techniques. This training experience then led him to the Department of Education for the Nebraska Fire Service where he instructed area fire departments in fire suppression, fire ground command, fire investigation and fire equipment operation. He traveled around the state of Nebraska to instruct “live burn” training activities and exterior fire ground tactics for fire department personnel.
In 1980, Whitemore was hired by the law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he investigated losses due to fire, explosion, collapse, personal injury, product liability and fraud throughout the United States and Canada. He began as an investigator but quickly moved up to become Assistant Chief Investigator then, in 1988, he became Chief Investigator of the law firm’s investigative team that Time magazine once referred to as the “Kings of Catastrophe”. While at Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, and Whitemore Fire Consultants, Mr. Whitemore investigated some of this country’s largest fire and explosion disasters, including:
- MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada – November 21, 1980
- Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada – February 11, 1981
- Northwestern National Bank, Minneapolis, Minnesota – November 25, 1982
- First Interstate Bank, Los Angeles, California – May 4, 1988
- PEPCON, Henderson, Nevada – May 4, 1988
- Illinois Bell Telephone, Hinsdale, Illinois – May 8, 1988
- One Meridian Plaza, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – February 23, 1991
- Americold Storage Facility, Kansas City, Kansas – December 28, 1991
- World Trade Center, New York, New York – February 26, 1993
While at the firm, Whitemore also became active in many professional organizations, including the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), serving on the Board of Directors and later being elected its President in 1993-1994. During his term as president, Whitemore was instrumental in the passage of the Arson Prevention Act of 1994 where he testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee in support of this important legislation that remains in force to this day. He has distinguished himself throughout the United States as a knowledgeable spokesman on a number of issues pertaining to the fire investigation community.
In 1994, Whitemore left Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi and brought his experience, knowledge and expertise to Whitemore Fire Consultants which he owns and operates to this day. His staff of certified fire investigators and experienced administrative personnel continue to be retained for some of the largest fire losses in the United States, most notably:
- Milliken & Company Textile Mill, La Grange, Georgia- January 31, 1995
- McFrugal’s Distribution Center, New Orleans, Louisiana- March 21, 1996
- St. Cloud Explosion, St. Cloud, Minnesota – December 11, 1998
- Falk Corporation Explosion, Milwaukee, Wisconsin – December 6, 2006
- Bay Valley Foods, New Hampton, Iowa – February 29, 2008
- Orange City Plaza, Orange City, Iowa – August 26, 2008
- Burncliff Apartment Complex, Burnsville, Minnesota – December 22, 2008
- Austin Main Street, Austin, Minnesota – January 15, 2009
- Carbide Industries, Louisville, Kentucky - February 26, 2011
- Verso Paper Mill, Sartell, Minnesota - May 28, 2012
Whitemore also has extensive experience in the courtroom, having testified as an expert witness on countless occasions throughout his career both in state and federal courts. He has also been retained as a consultant in litigation involving fires and explosion incidents.
Whitemore Fire Consultants, Inc. is available to investigate all types and sizes of fire and explosion losses. We are a leader in the industry providing our clients a full-time administrative staff that is available 24-hours a day to take your calls and assign your losses. Our investigators are available to promptly respond to our clients’ losses and will provide a preliminary status report with recommendations and opinions within 24-hours (unless otherwise directed). A final report with color photographs and scene diagrams is provided within 20 days, either on paper or in electronic format.
To learn more about our investigators and administrative staff, click here.
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