How do fire investigations work? That’s a question we get from attorneys, homeowners and random people at parties. Fire investigations can be straightforward or highly complex depending factors like:
- the size of the fire
- any injuries or fatalities
- home or commercial setting
- code violations
- the cause of the fire
- the number of parties involved.
Who does fire investigations?
The Public Sector
If you called the fire department to put out the fire, they will likely be first to investigate. The initial fire investigation is done by the Public Sector: the fire department, and then perhaps the state fire marshal’s office or the police department. The fire department assess whether the fire is accidental, natural, intentional, or undetermined. They will look at the damage and talk to witnesses to determine what happened and why. A finding of an accidental or natural fire, without injuries, usually ends the public sector investigation. No matter the cause, they report the initial findings in a standardize report, called the NIFRS report. Most public sector fire investigations end here.
In cases where there are serious injuries, a death, or suspicious circumstances the first responders call in law enforcement (local, state or federal) and/or the state fire marshal’s office. These government investigators will conduct a more thorough investigation, take photographs, collect evidence, interview witnesses and conduct background investigations. They will prepare more detailed investigative report.
The Private Sector
Once the public sector releases the fire scene, the private fire investigators start their investigations. Specially trained and licensed as PI’s or engineers, private fire investigators are hired mostly by insurance companies and attorneys. Regardless of who has hired them, the have an ethical responsibility to find the facts. Conducting a fire investigation without a license is a felony in most states.
How Fire Investigations Work: Finding Answers
Fire investigators look for find three key answers: Origin, Cause & Responsibility.
Let’s start with some very simple definitions of terms. Origin is the physical location where the fire started. Cause is combination of physical factors that came together, at the origin, to spark the fire.
Responsibility is a little more complex. It looks at who or what lead to that coming together, like an arsonist . Responsibility can also be more abstract – describing who or what lead to the dangerous conditions. For example, a business owner who illegally locked a fire door, trapping customers in a burning building. The responsibility for the customers’ injuries lies with the business owner – even if the cause of the fire was accidental.
Origin, cause and responsibility must always be found in that order.
More Reading
“Fire Investigations, who & when explained” from Hurtbyfire.com
“Avoid These 10 Mistakes When Filing Insurance Claims” from thebalancesmb.com
