Henry Ott
Co-owner, Fire and Investigative Consultants
Co-owner, Fire and Investigative Consultants
Henry began his career in fire investigation with the Louisville Division of Fire in 1980 and retired in 2015 at the rank of Major after 35 years of service.
As the Chief of Investigations, he managed the Louisville Metro Arson Bureau responding to over 600 investigations a year involving both small and large incidents. The Bureau achieved exceptional case clearance (35%), case conviction (95%), and an undetermined rate below 10% when compared to cities of the same size.
Henry always considered his clients to be the citizens and businesses of Louisville and believed that it was his duty to represent and protect them.
Some of these incidents involved the 18 acre General Electric fire, the 2011 fatal calcium carbide explosion at Carbide Industries, the 2012 P&L train derailment and explosion, a SWAT team incident involving a tactical weapon failure, and the recent Louisville Whiskey Row fire. He believes in the old adage that no stone should be left unturned.
At the same time Henry has consulted on cases outside his government service including a large commercial loss in Washington DC, a tragic fireworks incident in South Dakota, as well as uncovering and proving a multi-state commercial business incendiary/fraud case.
In 2015 Henry partnered with Rod Jordan (retired government and private fire investigator) forming Fire and Investigative Consultants, LLC (FIC) to provide fire investigation and consulting services in Kentucky and surrounding areas.
Henry is a certified fire investigator (CFI) with International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). Henry’s expertise and interests includes fire investigations, firework incidents, tactical fire suppression reviews, failure and fault investigations, safety performance reviews, and challenging technical investigations of all types. He has been complimented by many for his extraordinary attention to uncovering data in a cost effective manner for the customer.
Henry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Police Administration from the University of Louisville, and frequently pursues continuing education opportunities related to fire investigation. He has taught on many topics concerning fire investigations across the United States including at the annual IAAI conference.
For many years Henry has volunteered time to many nonprofit organizations including Safe Place Services and the Bingham Child Guidance Center.
As he transitions from government service to a private client base, he still believes in a 24 hour day and that a clean arson investigator is not a very good investigator.
Henry always considered his clients to be the citizens and businesses of Louisville and believed that it was his duty to represent and protect them.
Some of these incidents involved the 18 acre General Electric fire, the 2011 fatal calcium carbide explosion at Carbide Industries, the 2012 P&L train derailment and explosion, a SWAT team incident involving a tactical weapon failure, and the recent Louisville Whiskey Row fire. He believes in the old adage that no stone should be left unturned.
At the same time Henry has consulted on cases outside his government service including a large commercial loss in Washington DC, a tragic fireworks incident in South Dakota, as well as uncovering and proving a multi-state commercial business incendiary/fraud case.
In 2015 Henry partnered with Rod Jordan (retired government and private fire investigator) forming Fire and Investigative Consultants, LLC (FIC) to provide fire investigation and consulting services in Kentucky and surrounding areas.
Henry is a certified fire investigator (CFI) with International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). Henry’s expertise and interests includes fire investigations, firework incidents, tactical fire suppression reviews, failure and fault investigations, safety performance reviews, and challenging technical investigations of all types. He has been complimented by many for his extraordinary attention to uncovering data in a cost effective manner for the customer.
Henry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Police Administration from the University of Louisville, and frequently pursues continuing education opportunities related to fire investigation. He has taught on many topics concerning fire investigations across the United States including at the annual IAAI conference.
For many years Henry has volunteered time to many nonprofit organizations including Safe Place Services and the Bingham Child Guidance Center.
As he transitions from government service to a private client base, he still believes in a 24 hour day and that a clean arson investigator is not a very good investigator.