Nikolaos Diamantis

Investigation of Arson and Explosive Crimes – Lieutenant General (Ret.) – Deputy Chief of the Fire Service – Legal Judicial Expert in Arson Crime Investigation

Registered on the expert lists of the Prosecutor’s Offices of Athens, Piraeus, and other Prosecutor’s Offices across the country, specializing in:

• Investigation of Forest Fires and Identification of the Origin and Cause of Fires (Trained by the United States Forest Service, Law Enforcement & Investigations).
• Investigation of Urban and Forest Fires & Arsons (Identification of Origin, Cause, Fire Direction & Damage Assessment).
• Investigation of Explosions and Arsons.
• Evaluation of Proper Functioning and Installation of Fire Safety and Protection Systems.
• Risk and Vulnerability Assessment from Fires, Floods, Natural Disasters, and Accidents, as well as Damage Assessment.
• Certified Adult Trainer by EOPPEP and OAED 37630.

Education:

• 1982: Diploma from the Fire Brigade Officers School.
• 1985: Diploma from the Fire Officers School of the Fire Academy (Equivalent to a University Degree).
• 1991: Law Degree from the Democritus University of Thrace.

Further Training:

• Arson Investigation of Forest Fires from the FBI’s Forest Service (Wild Fire Origin and Cause Determination Course, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations).
• Air Force War School, Junior Staff Officers Department.
• Crisis Management at the National Center for Public Administration and Local Government (EKDDA).
• Investigation of Arson Crimes (Fire Crime in Europe), Newcastle, 2008.

Service Activities:

• Among other service activities, served for four consecutive years in the Fire Safety – Investigation Office of the Athens City Administration.
• As a specialist investigative officer, investigated hundreds of arson cases and made dozens of arrests. Among them, the arrest of a dangerous arsonist operating in central Athens, setting fire to old cars and trucks; the arrest of the notorious criminal Matei Sorin and his accomplice for setting fire to mopeds; the arrest of the arsonist of old neoclassical buildings and basements in central Athens; the arrest of a forest arsonist in Koropi, and many others. For this action, I was awarded the moral reward of Commendation by the Service. Additionally, I participated as an operational officer in dozens of ship and boat fires.

Professional Activities:

• After my honorable retirement from the Fire Service, I became active in the field of safety, fire protection, and civil protection with the company ALEXIPYRO MEPE, in which I am the sole partner and manager. The main activity is the conduct of Expert Reports and Technical Reports for the investigation of Arson Crimes, collaborating with most insurance companies in Greece, such as AXA, AIG, GROUPAMA, GENERALI, NATIONAL INSURANCE, AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE, etc.
• We have investigated hundreds of arson cases, including cases such as SPRIDER, SOFTEX, DELTA AEBE, ALPHA BETA ROTO, VIOKEF, NOTOS, ORFEAS VEINOGLU TRANSPORT, FIRE ON A PORSCHE CAR on ATTIKI ODOS (MAURIKOS CASE), EXPLOSION AT EVEREST VICTORIA SQUARE, etc.
• Additionally, we have specifically investigated fires at DRAGO BOATS SHIPYARDS, the recreational boats FELICITY, PARITZO & OLMA (moored at Alimos Marina), the M/V Thomson Spirit (during operations on a lifeboat), the vessel FORCE I (during operations), and the vessel OCEAN FIVE (in transit during engine trials after operations).

Books Authored:

• Fire Service Uniform Regulations. Published in 1992.
• Firefighting Training. Published in 1996.
• Instructor Training Manual. Published in 2005.
• Firefighter and Modern Fire Service. Published in 2007.
• Applications of Fiscal Law in the Fire Service. Published in 2007.
• Crisis Management from Mass Disasters. Psychosocial Interventions. Published in 2013.
• The Asymmetric Fires of 2007 in Greece. Published in 2016.
• Security Management. The new environment of vulnerability and asymmetric threats. Published in 2017.
• 1984 The events of the Fire Academy (e-book). Published in 2015.
• Security in Defense (e-book). Published in 2016.
• Forest Fires 1998 – 2021 The Firefighter’s Voice of Anguish. Published in 2021.
• Fire Service Medals. Commemorations and Orders of Excellence. Published in 2022.

Studies – Works – Articles:

• The Crime of Arson from a Criminal Perspective. Paper submitted to the Air Force War School.
• Criminological and Investigative Approach to Arson. Notes for the Investigative and Criminology course of the Fire Officers School of the Fire Academy. A related manual is under publication.
• Turkey’s Potential Entry into the European Union. Paper submitted to the Air Force War School.
• Safety signs and security in workplaces, Firefighting Review Magazine.
• Personal protective equipment for Greek Firefighters, Firefighting Review Magazine.
• Psychosocial interventions during crisis management by the Fire Service. Presentation at an EKAB Training Seminar at the National Center for Public Administration and Local Government.
• “Forest Fires and Local Government: The need for integrated solutions” Magazine of Regions and Local Government, July 2008.
• Publisher of the magazine “FIRE SERVICE NEWS”. The official publication of the Association of Fire Officers for 11 consecutive years with dozens of legal, scientific, and trade union articles and papers.

Teaching Experience: Professor for 15 consecutive years:

• At the Fire Brigade Officers School in Criminal Procedure.
• At the Fire Officers School in Criminal Procedure, Criminology, and Investigative Studies.
• At the Officers’ Training School of the Fire Service as a professor in Public Finance Law.
• At the National School of Public Administration in Crisis Management – Psychosocial Interventions.
• At the Firefighters’ Schools in the Education Regulations course.

Conferences – Seminars:

• 07/04/2017: Presentation at the 7th Panhellenic Biomedical Technology Conference of ELEBIT on “Technical Safety in the Hospital Environment for Patients and Staff. The Importance of Emergency Plans (EP).”
• 16/03/2017: Presentation at the TEI ATHENS Conference “Health and Safety in TEI Laboratories” on “Crisis Management in Laboratory Spaces.”
• 31/03/2016: Presentation at a TEI Athens Workshop on Workplace Safety on “Crisis Management and Emergency Plans.”
• 08/04/2016: Presentation in the Framework of the 70 STEPS program “Europe for Citizens” at the Municipality of Makrakomi on “The Holocaust of Makrakomi.”
• 10/04/2016: Presentation at a workshop of professional bodies in Santorini on “Crisis Management and Emergency Plans in Fire Safety and Civil Protection incidents.”
• 30/11/2015: Presentation at the workshop “Prevention of Workplace Hazards” by the Municipality of Elliniko – Argyroupoli on “Municipal Operational Planning for Managing Emergencies and Needs.”
• 15/12/2014: Organization of a conference in the Municipality of Makrakomi on “Makrakomi Bypass: Problem or Development Opportunity.”
• Organized dozens of Fire Safety and Civil Protection Training Seminars for Businesses, Banking Organizations, and Healthcare Institutions.