What do fire investigators look for?

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.
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What are 3 things that fire investigators look for?

The investigator should: Identify a distinct origin (location where the fire started) and an obvious fire cause (ignition source, first fuel ignited, and circumstances of the event that brought the two together). Conduct a scene examination in accordance with NFPA 921 and other guidelines.
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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. 4.2 Systematic Approach.
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What do Arson investigators look for first?

Arson investigators must first find the origin of a fire. Arson is a fire which was caused deliberately, with malicious intent, to cover up another crime, or to collect insurance money on the property.
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How long does it take for a fire investigation?

Once the investigator's report is submitted, things will move faster. Most fire claims that are correctly filed and handled are usually settled anywhere between 90 to 120 days. Those claimants who have no prior knowledge of filing a fire claim are likely to make mistakes.
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Fire Investigation



What type of evidence do fire investigators collect?

During the scene examination, investigators may find evidence such as accelerants, tampered utilities, and specific burn patterns, which may indicate criminal activity.
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What happens in a fire investigation?

Fire investigation involves the examination of all fire-related incidents once firefighters have extinguished the fire. The practice is similar to the examination of crime scenes in that the scene must be preserved and evidence collected and analysed, but with numerous additional difficulties and dangers.
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Is it hard 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.
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How can you prove that the burning is an arson case?

The main elements necessary to prove arson are evidence of a burning and evidence that a criminal act caused the fire. The accused must intend to burn a building or other structure. Absent a statutory description of the conduct required for arson, the conduct must be malicious, and not accidental.
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What are the 3 kinds of arson?

Types of Arson
  • First-Degree Arson - considered a violent crime and occurs when the fire is set to an occupied home or building.
  • Second-Degree Arson - when the fire is set to an unoccupied building.
  • Third-Degree Arson - when the fire is set to a vacant area of space like a forest or field.
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How does an investigator trace the origin of fire?

The determination of the origin of a fire is made based on observations of smoke, heat, and burn patterns at the fire scene.
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How do arson investigators know where the fire started?

In some cases, on-site evidence gives a clear indication of how the fire began. For example, pinpointing the location of electrical arcing may help reveal the fire's point of origin. In other cases, fire investigators need to be creative in hunting for clues.
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Why are fires investigated?

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.
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What evidence can be collected?

A wide variety of physical evidence can be collected at a scene that is deemed valuable (“probative”) for collection and investigation: biological evidence (e.g., blood, body fluids, hair and other tissues) latent print evidence (e.g., fingerprints, palm prints, foot prints) footwear and tire track evidence.
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What are the six signs of arson?

Common Signs of Arson
  • The damage is significant.
  • Burn pattern discrepancy. ...
  • Lack of accidental causes.
  • Evidence of forced entry.
  • Valuable items moved.
  • The same person shows up at unconnected fires.
  • A unidentifiable point of origin for the fire.
  • Multiple points of origin.
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What are the 6 cardinal points of investigation?

In the performance of his duties, the investigator must seek to establish the six (6) cardinal points of investigation, namely: what specific offense has been committed; how the offense was committed; who committed it; where the offense was committed; when it was committed; and why it was committed.
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What are the arson evidence that investigator should seek in fire scene?

The arson investigator will look for things like burn patterns or anything that might indicate an accelerant of some kind was used. Additionally, it will be determined what equipment is necessary to collect evidence while preserving the scene.
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Who typically commits arson?

Findings revealed that most serial arsonists were young white males; 58.7 percent of fires were set by offenders before 18 years of age, and 79.7 percent were set before 29 years of age.
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How is evidence collected from a fire scene?

When fire scene evidence is collected, the fire investigator should collect two evidence samples: primary evidence samples and comparison samples. Primary evidence should be obtained in an area or areas suspected to have been exposed to some type of liquid accelerant and should be analyzed to identify the accelerant.
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How often do arsonist get caught?

A second persistent myth about arson is that it's hard to solve because it destroys all the evidence. Arson is hard to solve. Indeed, the fraction of all arsons solved by arrest ranges from 15 to 20 percent.
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How long does it take to determine arson?

A small, simple fire will usually only take one to two weeks to finish the fire investigation. As Kenny Poole, the Fire Marshal of Fredrick County told the Carroll County Times, “Not everything is like it works on TV. You have the ones (fire investigations) that go for days, months, years.”
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Who is involved in a fire investigation?

The investigation of fires involves professionals from a variety of disciplines – Fire and Rescue Service investigators, police and crime scene investigators, forensic scientists and insurers are all involved.
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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.
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What tools do fire investigators use?

A fire investigator's tools must never be coated with any type of rust preventative.
...
Excavation
  • Broom.
  • Bucket.
  • Chisels. Cold chisels. ...
  • Communications equipment. ...
  • Crowbar/prybar.
  • Cutter(s), cutting tools. ...
  • Drill with wood and metal bits.
  • Electrician's tools.
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What is the #1 reason for arson crimes?

Types of arson motives identified are (1) pyromania, 10.1 percent; (2) revenge, 52.9 percent; (3) vandalism, 12.3 percent; (4) insurance fraud, 6.55 percent; (5) welfare fraud, 6.55 percent; (6) the psycho firesetter, 8.7 percent; and (7) crime concealment, 2.9 percent.
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