The ultimate goal of a fire investigator is to determine the fire’s origin and cause. The “point of origin” is the precise location where a fire was ignited, and the “cause” refers to the exact source(s) of the flame. Causation forensics, or the science behind determining the where, how and why a fire occurred, is important for many reasons. Discover more here:
Upon arrival to a fire scene, a fire investigator must immediately assess the situation and begin a systematic and deliberate investigation – particularly if there is a possibility that the fire was intentional. If an arson case is to have any chance of being successfully prosecuted down the road, every “i” must be dotted and every “t” crossed during the investigation. When arson is suspected, the investigator is ultimately responsible for identifying and collecting evidence to support proof of incendiarism, proof of opportunity, proof of motive and connecting the evidence.
In this blog series, OSCR Edu-Techie, Carmella sits down with her father, Lou Giancursio, a former Rochester City Firefighter with over 20 years of experience. Giancursio answers some key questions around pre-planning and emergency management, outlining what do arson investigators look for during a fire investigation.