Cars, SUVs & Truck Fires: How Fires Are Investigated

Fires are often complex events whose origins and cause are difficult to determine. Because of their destructive nature, fires consume the evidence of their initiation and progress. Important evidence can be compromised and fire scenes are further destroyed by the activities of fire service personnel, whose primary responsibilities are to save lives and protect property against further damage.

But despite the difficulties surrounding an investigation it is often possible to for trained individuals to determine the cause of a devastating fire.

Who is Reponsible for Determining the Cause?

In addition to law enforcement and fire authorities, there are frequently other experts called in to investigate. They include prosecuting attorney investigators, forensic laboratory experts, engineering specialists (fire, chemical, mechanical, or electrical), and potentially private investigators representing insurance companies, owners, tenants, and manufacturers of the flammable chemicals often found in homes and businesses.

While the fire department has the primary responsibility to establish a fire’s cause, if the it is determined to be an accident, the scene is released to the owner or the owner’s insurance company for further examination.

How do Investigators Determine the Origin and Cause of a Fire?

First the firefighters who arrive at the scene make note the color of the flames, the color and amount of smoke, the rate at which the fire spreads, and even the sounds the fire makes. These are alll clues as to what is burning and how it is burning--because different material burn differently.

Fire service personnel protect evidence in many ways, including by:

Once the fire is over, fire investigators will sift through the ashes and document the scene by written description and photographs prior to and throughout the disturbance or removal of any evidence. They search for clues to the origin and cause of the fire.

Investigators are able to determine the original location of a fire through clues such as char patterns, "direction of melt," and heat shadows. These burn patterns often point to the source of the fire in tell-tale patterns. For example, fire burns upward, in a V-shaped pattern away from the starting point.

Investigators also will try to determine exactly how the fire stared. Causes generally fall into one of three categories: natural, electrical, and chemical. These causes are often determinable with different clues.

The preceding information was adapted from the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institue for Justice, "Fire and Arson Scene Evidence: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel Research Report," June 2000.

Vehicle Fire Attorneys | Lawyers

Owners of the Ford vehicles who lost their vehicle due to fire and also suffered other significant property damage (such as the loss of their house) or were personally injured, are welcome to contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser experienced in handling fire recall claims against Ford by clicking here. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.

You may also contact us by telephone toll free at 1-866-313-1973 and request to speak to Ford fire recall attorney Mark Chalos. We will also investigate vehicles made by other manufacturers that caught fire and led to an injury or significant property damage.