A Global Endeavor to Communicate Fire Knowledge

Fire Pathologists work on analysis of unwanted fires that have already occurred. Scene Documenters collect the evidence and artifacts for later analysis.

The Scene Documenter's job is to catalog the effects of the fire, identify materials that burned, take measurements, record what markings are necessary and photograph the scene and whatever is curious. S/he often puts the parts that remain (they didn't burn) back in place. The Documenter is saving the features of a fire that can disappear for later analysis.

After the facts from the scene, and other information have been gathered the Fire Pathologist reconstructs the scene and analyzes the fire development itself using his/her knowledge of fire phenomena, fire behavior, people behavior, medical effects, building construction, fire service operations and other required information.

All fires as they develop produce a fire signature. Candidate fire signatures are matched against the residue and the Fire Tracks left on material (Spectators) and Witness' statements. The real fires signature must match the laws of physics, the arrangement just before the ignition, all Spectator information, and all the Witness facts (not necessarily their opinions).

On fires that are stopped within the room of origin it is often possible to combine the two activities of Documentation and Analysis. The word Investigator is often used where such a combination is possible. Sometimes the "Investigator" is actually working as a Scene Documenter.

A knowledge of engineering, building construction, human behavior, fire behavior, medical effects on people, materials behavior, fire service operations and factors affecting fire losses is required to become a Master Fire Pathologist.

Several persons in this part of the Fire Community have offered to assist those with questions, or those who are exploring our professions to see if a career is this area might be appealing. The people available can be found on the Advisors page.

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