Areas served · Nevada
Forensic Engineering in Reno
In and around Reno
What we investigate in Reno
Reno's structural and fire losses trace back to three forces we investigate: the seismically active Sierra front, the Truckee River that overran downtown in 1997, and the wildland fire pressing against the western edge of the valley. We determine what actually failed, and a licensed engineer responds within 24 hours.
The conditions we see in Reno
Reno sits on the active eastern front of the Sierra Nevada, with the Mt. Rose fault bounding the city. The Nevada Seismological Laboratory estimates a 60 to 75 percent chance of a damaging magnitude 6 earthquake within 30 miles over 50 years, and earthquake swarms recur here, including the 2008 Mogul sequence in western Reno. The valley floor holds sands, gravels, and clays left by ancient Lake Lahontan, with pockets of expansive clay in south and southeast Reno that can move foundations.
The Truckee River runs through downtown, and the January 1997 New Year's flood crested at 14.7 feet against a 12-foot flood stage, flooding downtown streets and causing roughly $450 million in regional building damage. The building stock skews comparatively modern, with a median construction year near 1990, but older downtown and near-core neighborhoods predate current seismic and wildfire standards, and much of the housing climbs into the wildland interface at the Sierra front.
How we help in Reno
The evaluations Reno cases usually call for
- Seismic, foundation, and flood-damage evaluation
Cracked walls and moved slabs in Reno can come from seismic shaking, expansive Lake Lahontan clay in the south and southeast, flood saturation, or a construction defect. Our licensed engineers evaluate the structure and the soil and site behavior together and document which one caused the damage.
Our structural engineering services- Flood and water loss investigation
After a Truckee River flood or a water event, we determine what the water did to the foundation, framing, and finishes, and whether the damage is from the flood, a pre-existing condition, or a defect. Every conclusion rests on the physical evidence at the property.
Our forensic engineering in Reno
Fire origin & cause
Fire origin and cause in Reno
Homes at the Sierra front sit in the wildland-urban interface, where most home loss comes from wind-driven embers landing on the structure or nearby fuels rather than the flame front itself. High-wind, low-humidity summers spread fire fast, and a long cold high-desert heating season keeps furnaces, wood stoves, and space heaters in service. An ember ignition that reached the building and a fire that began inside it leave different evidence, and the difference decides the claim.
Our NAFI-certified investigators follow NFPA 921. They examine the scene systematically, trace burn and char patterns back to the area of origin, evaluate the electrical and mechanical systems, and eliminate causes until the evidence supports one conclusion, including whether the fire was accidental or incendiary. We preserve the evidence before it is lost, document the finding, and testify to it at deposition and trial.
Fires we investigate
- Residential and commercial fires
- Wildland-urban interface and ember-driven fires
- Heating-system fires
- Electrical and appliance fires
- Vehicle fires
Common questions
Forensic engineering in Reno, Nevada
A different question about your case? A licensed engineer, not a call center, answers within 24 hours.
Is foundation movement in Reno seismic or soil?
It can be either. The Sierra front is seismically active, and expansive Lake Lahontan clay in south and southeast Reno also moves footings. We evaluate the damage pattern and the site conditions to determine the cause rather than assume it.
Do you investigate wildland-urban interface fire losses?
Yes. Homes at the Sierra front most often ignite from wind-driven embers rather than the flame front, and we work the scene to determine whether the ignition began outside the structure or within it.
Do you charge travel to reach Reno?
No. We work Reno-area cases from our Omaha lab and Los Angeles office with no travel charges, and a licensed engineer responds within 24 hours.
Have a loss that needs answers?
Tell us what happened. A licensed engineer, not a call center, will review your case.