This refers to the application of scientific methods & techniques to determine the origin and cause of
fire once firefighters have extinguished the flame. The practice is akin to the examination of crime
scene in that the scene must be preserved and evidence collected and analysed. The investigation
will include closely surveying the damaged scene to establish the origin of the fire and eventually
establishing the cause.
However in order to effectively examine and evaluate a fire scene, it is imperative that the investigator
has a detailed knowledge of the chemistry and behaviour of fire and its effects.