Origin and cause investigation is a forensic branch that determines the origin and cause of a fire, whether it is arson or not, and who may be responsible. Investigators must be licensed and trained to gather evidence accurately and safely. The investigation involves analyzing samples in a laboratory and sometimes using incendiary and cadaver dogs. Inconclusive results may require further investigation by law enforcement or insurance companies.
An origin and cause investigation is an investigation into the circumstances of a fire. The objective of the investigation is to determine where and how the fire originated, figure out whether it is arson or not, and provide clues as to who may be responsible for the fire. You may also hear the origin and cause of the investigation simply referred to as arson or fire.
In most regions of the world, to practice this branch of forensic medicine, an individual or a company must be licensed. To receive the license, individuals must demonstrate the ability to investigate fires accurately and safely. Training in arson investigation typically involves learning how fires work, what causes fires, how emergency services personnel handle the fire scene, and how to gather evidence. Because evidence from the arson can be used in court in an arson case, it is important to maintain the integrity of the evidence.
Origin and cause investigation is an interesting branch of forensics, because one of the goals is to determine whether or not a crime has been committed. In most cases, forensics involve studying a specific crime, such as a murder or kidnapping, in order to gather clues to solve it. Fire investigators must start by finding out what happened before they can move on to the “who” of the fire.
In a typical origin and cause investigation, investigators arrive at the scene of a fire as quickly as possible to gather evidence, sometimes showing up while the fire is still burning to see if any patterns can be detected. Some firefighters are authorized to carry out such investigations, and in other cases a private company or government agency will be used. As soon as the fire department clears the site, indicating it is safe to work there, the detectives move on. They survey the site meticulously, taking many photographs to document their work and taking samples of interest.
Samples are analyzed in a laboratory setting for evidence such as traces of an accelerant, an agent that may have increased the intensity of the fire. Origin and cause investigators try to figure out where the fire started and what caused it: a loose electrical connection, for example, or a gas can and a match. The crew can use incendiary dogs to look for traces of accelerants, along with cadaver dogs to look for signs of casualties.
Sometimes, the results of a root cause investigation are inconclusive. Investigators may not be able to determine whether or not the fire was accidental, ruling the fire “suspicious” but not arson. The investigation may also reveal that the fire was arson, but provides no clues as to who is responsible; further investigation can become a job for law enforcement or insurance companies.
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