Practical Application

In practical application, the steps of scientific methods may, and often must be, performed simultaneously. To collect data effectively during an inspection, the investigator must consider hypotheses as to origin, ignition, fuel and propagation path so that the appropriate systems can be documented. Depending on the nature of the damage (observation), the investigator may formulate a hypothesis as to an ignition source, for example, then consider any physical evidence consistent and inconsistent with the hypothesis (deductive testing), and either form a conclusion or revert back to data collection. This process is repeated numerous times in an investigation as different questions and hypotheses are evaluated. In time-limited investigations, as most are, this is frequently possible only to a small degree. Some necessary information may not be available during the first inspection, or protocols may need to be developed and agreed upon for disassembly or disturbance to evidence. Additional inspections may then be required to continue data collection.

In court environments, additional requirements are imposed upon the systematic process of investigation. Courts require:

• Evidence to be relevant to the questions and issues
• Techniques to be reliable as demonstrated by their being
  • Tested
  • Peer reviewed
  • With known error rates
  • Generally accepted

The goals of this vehicle fire investigation course are to provide:

• Fundamental understanding of fire investigation for hypothesis generation
  • Consideration of all alternatives
• Peer-reviewed and accepted approaches to vehicle fire investigation
• Bases for hypothesis testing
• Exposure to data and literature