Fire Cause & Determination

Investigating the cause of a fire is a routine function of fire departments nationwide. A fire investigation and determination of cause are important for two primary reasons: there are deliberately set fires and persons who should be held responsible for the arson crime, and there may be trends identified in accidental fires that cause awareness or a manufacturer’s recall of a faulty component. These two aspects of fire cause are responsible for many firefighter and civilian injuries and deaths. By accurately determining the cause of a fire, the company officer is fulfilling a task that will translate into a safer society in which to live.