A fire investigation can take anywhere from
a few days up to a few months
, depending on; the size of the fire, number of witnesses, loss of life or property, or suspicious activity.
How do investigators determine the cause of a fire?
Fire investigators try to determine how fires begin
by applying the scientific method
. Through observation and measurement, they can formulate a hypothesis, test it and form a conclusion about the fire’s origin and cause.
What do investigators do when arson is suspected?
After establishing the behavior of the fire, investigators will
look for point of origin and any other physical evidence that can be documented
. This allows them to reconstruct the event and use the scientific method to prove or disprove arson.
What does a fire investigator look for?
Investigators use a combination of crime scene investigation, interview, and interrogation techniques and knowledge of fire science to inspect scenes. They look for
evidence of the use of accelerants, such as gasoline and other flammable materials
, and work to identify the source, starting point and spread of fires.
What does it mean if a fire is under investigation?
Fire investigation, sometimes referred to as origin and cause investigation, is
the analysis of fire-related incidents
. After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the fire or explosion.
What are the 4 key elements of fire investigation?
With few exceptions, the proper methodology for a fire or explosion investigation is to first determine and establish the origin(s), then investigate the cause:
circumstances, conditions, or agencies that brought the ignition source, fuel, and oxidant together
.
How hard is it to prove arson?
A fire is only considered arson after all accidental causes have been ruled out, which means investigators have to prove an individual caused a fire deliberately and with harmful intent. This is why arson is
both difficult to prove
and prosecute in court.
What is considered an accidental fire?
Accidental fires involve
all those for which the proven cause does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite or spread fire into an area where the fire should not be
. … For example, in a legal setting, a trash fire might be spread by a sudden gust of wind.
What is the first step in a fire investigation?
The first step in a fire investigation is
the preliminary scene examination/size-up
. For best results, a trained fire investigator should be notified about and respond to serious fires or possible arson fires immediately after fire apparatus is dispatched.
What are the basics of fire investigation?
Fire and arson investigators
examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene
. This evidence is then analyzed to help determine if the cause of the fire was accidental or deliberate.
Why is fire investigation one of the hardest?
A fire is only considered arson after all accidental causes have been ruled out, which means investigators have to prove an individual caused a fire deliberately and with harmful intent. This is why
arson is both difficult to prove and prosecute in court
.
What are the steps to an investigation?
- STEP 1 – IMMEDIATE ACTION. …
- STEP 2 – PLAN THE INVESTIGATION. …
- STEP 3 – DATA COLLECTION. …
- STEP 4 – DATA ANALYSIS. …
- STEP 5 – CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. …
- STEP 6 – REPORTING.
Who investigates a fire?
Fire and arson investigators are
sworn law enforcement officers
and work for state law enforcement agencies, police departments or fire departments. They are specially trained to identify and collect evidence relating to fires and make determinations as to their causes.
Why is fire investigation needed?
The purpose of a fire investigation is
to determine how the fire started and why the fire behaved the way it did
. Data collected through fire investigations is a key element in addressing a community’s fire problem. … Fire investigation is one of the most important ways of identifying our targets.
What are the roles of firemen in fire investigation?
Recognition:
Firefighters must recognize physical evidence
, which helps the investigator determine the area of fire origin. Preservation: Firefighters must protect fire materials at the fire scene and keep them intact until they can be analyzed, documented, and collected.
