Publications

• When It Comes to Fire Investigation, Credentials Matter, But Experience Matters More.
• Fire Department Staffing Isn’t Just an Operational Issue; It’s a Liability Issue.
• When Does an EMS Delay Become Negligence?
• Wildfire Evacuations are Measured in Minutes, Not Hours.
• “Lights, Sirens, and Liability: How Burnout Impacts Emergency Response Driving and Decision-Making”
• Fatigue, Overtime, and FLSA: A Growing Risk for Fire Departments
• Not Every Fireground Mistake Is Protected by Immunity
• When Does EMS Pre-Hospital Care Transition into Medical Malpractice?
• Failure to Train: The Hidden Liability Inside Fire and EMS Agencies

Fire & Emergency Medical Services Expert Witness

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

John R. Storm, MPPA, CFO, retired as an Assistant Fire Chief after 30 years of service in the fire department. John has extensive experience in Fire and EMS operations and administration, including training safety, developing employment policies and practices, FLSA, conducting forensic evaluations of fire and EMS operations, conducting fire investigations, fire code implementation and enforcement, pre-hospital EMS, Fireground operations and reviews, consulting on risk and emergency management, and incident command reviews. John possesses extensive chief officer experience in addition to 25 years as a licensed paramedic. John is also Red Card-certified and was responsible for the State of Colorado's Southwest Region Fire Departments' Wildland mobilization and response. John has conducted 1000s of Fire NFIRS and EMS Patient Care Report reviews to assess the reports' QA/QI. Mr. Storm's background spans command, training, compliance, and governance. He has commanded emergency incidents, supervised fireground operations, developed and enforced policies and training programs, conducted internal investigations, evaluated personnel performance, overseen EMS delivery and quality assurance, managed 911 communications, and coordinated multi-agency and large-scale incidents. In addition, his work in executive recruiting and municipal consulting provides valuable insight into hiring practices, FLSA, leadership expectations, and organizational liability. He is currently completing a Master of Legal Studies at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, further enhancing his ability to align technical expertise with legal standards and evidentiary requirements. Document review - written opinions and reports Availability for depositions and/or court proceedings Specific Areas of Expertise Fire Service Operations & Incident Command Fireground command and tactical operations Incident Command System (ICS) compliance Wildland / WUI response Fire Cause and Origin - NFPA 921 Fire Investigations Fire Inspections/Code Enforcement Automatic and mutual aid systems Emergency 911 dispatch and emergency communications Emergency vehicle operations and driver training Apparatus and equipment performance EMS Response & Patient Care Decisions EMS response timelines and dispatch handling Triage decisions and patient prioritization Transport determinations and refusal protocols Scope of practice and responder conduct review Emergency medical scene management Prehospital assessment and treatment Scope of practice analysis (EMT / Paramedic) QA/QI systems Documentation review Resuscitation and cardiac care standards Medical equipment and AED programs Department Standards, Policies & Training Fire department policy compliance evaluation EMS protocol adherence analysis Training adequacy and certification requirements Staffing levels and deployment decisions-FLSA Supervision, command structure, and accountability OSHA compliance Liability & Forensic Case Analysis Standard-of-care determinations for fire and EMS agencies Reconstruction of emergency response actions Analysis of responder decision-making under emergency conditions Evaluation of operational procedures vs. accepted practices Preparation of expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony Attorneys retain John Storm for independent command-level analysis of emergency response actions, department procedures, and responder decision-making. His evaluations focus on whether actions taken at emergency scenes complied with accepted fire service and EMS standards, operational policies, and training requirements. He assists counsel by clarifying complex emergency operations, identifying deviations from standard practice, and presenting findings clearly in written reports, depositions, and trial testimony.