Such decisions need to be made on the reliable application of the Scientific Method and the methodology in NFPA 921 in including chapters on Methodology, Origin Determination, Fire Cause Determination, Cause Classification, and Incendiary Fires.

Do not see how NFPA 921 provides a "road map" for such decisions. The first step is to determine if a crime was committed based on the evidence. If the fire was the result of incendiary cause, then determination of responsibility for the fire. The bottom line is that the reliable application of the SM require evidence (i.e. data that is both relevant and reliable in the specific context). In addition, the chapter on Incendiary fires provides an additional "road map" for what evidence is appropriate for which stage of the investigation. If the circumstantial evidence does not allow for a reliable determination of an incendiary fire, then any data associated with responsibility is not evidence since it would not be relevant nor reliable in the context of an accidental cause classification.

Reading and understanding NFPA 921 is the starting point for such decisions. Having a person who can apply the SM in a scientifically reliable manner can augment the information in NFPA 921. He needs to be educated and there are few substitutes for taking the time to drill down into such references as NFPA 921.

Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com