Conclusions regarding the cause of a fire, explosion, subrogation issue, or even a construction defect are often made in the absence of physical evidence or proof. The term Negative Corpus is not a legal term, but refers to a loose Latin translation meaning “without the body of the crime.”Many forensic investigators utilize the process of elimination in their examination. Simply stated, they use statements such as “I eliminated all other causes, thus it has to be…….” Or, “via the process of elimination, it is my conclusion that the cause is…..” These statements were acceptable for a long time in the fire investigation industry, but they are now being challenged. There are organizations that are now pursuing the freedom of alleged arsonists who were convicted without positive proof of arson.

The wildfire problems of the United States continue to plague homeowners, firefighters,and insurers. In fact, the drought of the western U.S. is going into its 10th year, and its effects are showing increasingly. Georgia experienced its largest wildfire in history in April of 2007. A large, stubborn wildfire tied up federal resources in the Lake Superior region for several weeks in 2006. The state of California in particular continues to be plagued with high-loss fires. During the large Oakland fire several decades ago, one home was being consumed every 45 seconds.

Todays vehicles have a higher amount of ignitable fuels than the vehicles 30 years ago.  The vehicles are designed for more power, less weight, and better fuel economy. 
 
It is a fact that the required smog device systems have decreased the fuel mileage.  To compensate for this, the automobile manufacturers came up with ways to increase the efficiency of the engine, design, and weight of the vehicle.  This is good for the end user but bad if you have a fire or accident.

Fire investigations have been going on for centuries and we all recall historical references from Nero's burning of Rome to Mrs. O'Leary's cow.  Over those years the art and craft of the fire investigator developed many techniques and applications.

The wildfire season started early in 2002. Colorado experienced significant wildfires in early April at altitudes up to 10,000 feet. Snow is usually still falling at this time in the mountains and foothills, but low snow pack
and warm temperatures led to an early wildfire season. As portions of the U.S. experience extreme drought with an uncertain future for the next few seasons we can expect to see an increase in the amount of wildfires. According to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, in 2002 there were 73,457 reported wildfires in the U.S. with over 71,847 acres burned.With wildfires destroying hundreds of homes in the western United States last year, determining the cause of the wildfire has become an important issue for many insurance companies who wish to explore possible subrogation potentials. In some cases the wildfire started in a structure and then spread to the adjacent forest. A standard structural investigation can usually reveal the cause if the fire started in a home; however an added component is then to determine how and where the fire was communicated to the forest or adjacent structures.

In this month's issue of The Investigative Engineer, we review the long anticipated adoption of The International Fire & Building Codes. Building and fire codes have been developed and evolved to ensure public safety. In the area of fire investigations and forensic engineering, the applicable codes become vital when establishing not only the origin and cause of fires but in determining the extent of the fire, or establishing if it may have been prevented or minimized.

Last month's newsletter introduced 3 of the elements of the scientific method. This month we will finalize this 3 part series as we explore the final 3 steps to "Fire Investigations and The Scientific Method."

Last month we discussed how fire investigation has evolved and how today's experts rely more on science and less on myth than their predecessors. Advances in technology and education have increased the standards in conducting a thorough fire scene investigation.

This month we will start taking a look at the specific steps to "Fire Investigations and The Scientific Method."

For years, tenured fire investigators would impart their varied skills and wisdom upon fire scenes as they kicked through the ashes looking for the mysterious cause of a fire. Their uncanny ability to determine the cause of a fire in a matter of hours; sometimes minutes; and on occasion in moments, was awe-inspiring and fodder for the making of legends.