Fire Cause Analysis New York Is Multifactorial

By Tammie Caldwell


Once a fire has been brought under control and all of the occupants are safe, attention turns to finding out why it happened. Fire cause analysis New York is important for many reasons. One is to find ways of preventing other fires from starting the same way. Another is to identify whether it was an accident or arson. If it was set deliberately, then the culprit must be stopped to keep him (or her) from starting other fires and to bring them to justice. This becomes even more important if there was loss of human life involved.

This is a complicated procedure and requires input from a huge variety of different professionals: investigators, scientists, and engineers, all with backgrounds in forensics. Forensic scientists operate both in the field and in laboratories. Forensic financial experts and forensic analysts all have a role to play in determining what ignited a structure and kept it burning.

Civil cases are even more complicated because they involve how fires spread, how well alarms and protective equipment like sprinklers performed and identifying who is ultimately liable for the incident. When law enforcement agencies arrive on the scene, their job is to find out if a crime was committed. If human involvement is identified, the question is whether it was intentional and premeditated or if it was just an accident.

On the flip side, some fires are started intentionally without criminal intentions. Kitchen fires, barbecues, and garage fires are all examples of situations where humans are involved but not criminals. They may simply have been negligent. If there is loss of life, then there may well be legal implications.

There is a lot of good that can come out of these investigations. If enough evidence is accumulated through different incidents, patterns can emerge that lead to changes in how buildings are constructed. It can also lead to the design of newer and better safety equipment, for reasons like prevention, containment and notification.

Good investigation can help make sure an innocent person is not sent down for arson. Arson investigators look for motive, means and opportunity. One person may look guilty on superficial investigation but detailed examination of the evidence can rule them out. This involves the work of field scientists and engineers as well as people back at the lab who examine the evidence.

One of the first things the investigating teams looks for is the point of origin of the fire. It can sometimes be obvious if the cause was electrical, or a combination of flammable material piling up in a place where it could easily be ignited. In a bakery, for example, an accumulation of particles of flour can explode with ferocity if lit by a small spark.

The use of an accelerant can indicate that a fire was set deliberately. Careful chemical analysis can help reveal the arsonist, because they often leave very precise signatures. For people who love solving puzzles, have inquiring minds, strong stomachs and who won't stop until they get to the bottom of a problem, investigating the causes of fires can be a stimulating and rewarding career.




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