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Re: Fire Cause Classification
Posted by:
dcarpenter (IP Logged)
Date: May 03, 2022 12:58PM
Perfect. So you have used evidence to formulate a valid hypothesis for the origin and fire cause (Ignitable liquid, match, human action to bring them together). Let's assume you have tested your hypothesis. One test would be to determine if the ignition source is competent for the ignitable liquid that was identified (example, gasoline versus diesel at room temperature), but let's assume it is. So you have determined the origin and the fire cause.
Using the latest edition of 921, are you done after determining the Fire Cause? If so, how will an incendiary fire ultimately be determined? With what types of evidence? By whom?
Past editions of 921 use the fire cause classification to incorporate human intent through explicit or implicit/surrogate physical evidence (think Incendiary Fire chapter) to determine an incendiary fire cause.
Now, this has been removed and acknowledging that even though the hypothesis is that a human was involved in bringing the competent ignition source in contact with the first fuel ignited, and that the human action could be either accidental or it could be intentional. How does one discriminate between an accidental fire cause and an incendiary fire cause? What evidence is required to formulate the hypothesis of an incendiary fire cause? Or is that not part of the current 921 process?
If it is the determination that such an incendiary fire determination is now beyond the responsibility of the 921 document and the user, please explain the methodology and the evidence for an "outside of 921" determination of an incendiary fire. What evidence needs to be provided and whom is responsible for such a determination outside of fire investigators?
Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
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