It depends. Generally the answer is no. Dr. Robert Anderson tried at San Jose State, using Auger analysis.

As an example, a wire / arc bed are found after a fire. It was analyzed and found to have Ca in the arc bead. Clearly the arc occurred during the fire. After all, what puts Ca in the air but gypsum ? Sheetroock? Good try, but. Calcium Oxide is also used in the insulation of PVC as a dessicant. No bueno.

Auger MIGHT be used in the same manner in a steel building with lots of Zn being liberated as the steel attacks the galvanize. This is the only time I can imagine Auger having a chance to work.

SEA has a patent on such a process, known as the Thamac process It looks at levels of oxygen. To my knowledge it was never proven.


IMHO One cannot look at a given arc bead and (by that bead alone) make such a determination.

It is possible, using external evidence. One time it was theorized that a branch circuit to a flood lamp located outside the building caused a fire; the evidence was the arc. Sounded good, except... there were pictures of the fire with the lamp still lit up. No cigar here.


Assume a house that is on the ground. Twenty five branch circuits. Assume all breakers are tripped from shorts / overloads. Assume that the fire WAS caused by arcing of a branch circuit. Based on arc analysis, and arc analysis alone (which does not exist), you have 1 chance in 25 of getting it right.