What's Next

By Michael F. Hill, Sr., IAAI-CFI

Once the fire is extinguished and the smoke clears, what’s next? At Donan Engineering Co., Inc. the next step often involves a request from one of our clients for an origin and cause study of the fire scene. The origin and cause (O & C) investigation routinely involves at least one visit to the fire scene. The O & C study usually involves procurement of background information from homeowners, eyewitnesses, the person who discovered the fire, and/or the first-arriving fire department personnel.

During the initial site visit and any subsequent study, a systematic review of burn patterns, depth of char, fuel packages, flame impingement damage, etc. takes place in an effort to identify the location where the fire originated. During this process, the fire scene is documented with digital photographs, systematically working from the areas of least fire damage to the area of greatest fire damage. This procedure yields information allowing the fire investigator to determine the area or room of origin for the fire. Once the area or room of origin is known, additional study is undertaken to discover the point of origin (the origin) where the first fuel and a competent ignition source were united in the presence of sufficient oxygen to produce a sustained chemical reaction, or fire.

After the fire origin is determined, all items in and around it are studied to identify and evaluate potential ignition sources. Energy systems, such as electrical wiring or appliances, are studied at this time. Mechanical and/or humanly induced ignition sources are also considered and evaluated. When items are studied to determine their viability as the ignition source that caused the fire, they may also be studied and documented to establish their lack of involvement, if such evidence exists. In this way, not only are potential ignition sources identified, but those uninvolved are eliminated through this systematic process.

In many instances, additional study of a fire scene is required in order to secure evidence or to allow other interested parties to document the scene and conduct their own independent O & C studies. These studies are often the result of potential subrogation parties being placed on notice. While fire investigation professionals from Donan may assist our clients in their efforts to identify parties that might have an interest in the investigation, it is the responsibility of Donan’s clients to place those parties on notice regarding planned joint studies. Donan does not “notify” parties who may have an interest in an ongoing investigation.

Following the official notification of potential parties for a joint study, the Donan fire professional may correspond with those parties to arrange for the specific date and time when the study will be conducted. Donan may also be involved by providing supportive professionals, such as electrical, mechanical, or structural engineers to assist our clients during a joint study. The Donan fire professional often assists with the preparation and dissemination of protocols for the planned study.

Based on the fire professional’s systematic study of the fire scene, as well as the consideration of all pertinent information available, a hypothesis regarding the O & C of the fire is established. The experience, training, and expertise of the Donan fire professional are then focused on testing the hypothesis to determine whether it is the only viable explanation for the cause of the fire. While testing the hypothesis, it is possible that additional study of the fire scene and/or procurement of information about the fire may be necessary. However, within a timely manner, the Donan fire investigator will reach a final hypothesis and be able to report the classification for the cause of the fire to our client. That fire cause will be one of only four classifications, defined in a National Fire Protection Association publication, NFPA 921 Guide For Fire & Explosion Investigations:

ACCIDENTAL: “Accidental fires involve all those for which the proven cause does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite or spread fire into an area where the fire should not be.”

NATURAL: “Natural fire causes involve fires caused without direct human intervention, such as lightning, earthquake, wind and the like.”

INCENDIARY: “The incendiary fire is one deliberately ignited under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should not be ignited.”

UNDETERMINED: “Whenever the cause cannot be proven, the proper classification is undetermined.”

What’s next? If your next claim involves a fire, remember Donan Engineering Co., Inc. has the well-trained, equipped and experienced fire investigation professional to provide the origin and cause determination.