Sample Solution

The investigation of fires and their causes has evolved significantly since the early 1800s. In the past, firefighters were often left to “eyeball” a fire scene in order to make a determination as to its cause. During this period, many arson cases were mishandled as there was little established protocol for conducting investigations (Fahy & Burek, 2004).

Today’s modern fire investigators have access to far more advanced tools and training than ever before. Fire investigators now use specialized equipment such as thermal imaging cameras, gas chromatographs, infrared spectrometers and medical testing kits in order to analyze evidence from the scene (Jelovic et al., 2013). This added level of precision makes it much easier for fire investigators to accurately determine whether or not a particular blaze was deliberately set or accidentally sparked by another source.

Along with updated technology comes a heightened level of knowledge regarding how certain types of fires behave in different scenarios. A good example is flashover: when an entire room ignites within seconds due to extreme heat buildup caused by combustible materials present at the time (Cox et al., 2012). Fire behavior analysis allows fire investigators to recognize the distinct signs associated with flashover that can help them pinpoint the exact origin point of a blaze (Uchime & Olubukola, 2018).

These advancements have helped lead to an increased percentage of convictions in arson-related cases compared with previous decades—from around 8% during World War II up over 30% today (Gibson & Rehder, 2009). The evolution of fire investigation techniques has become increasingly important in determining criminal accountability while also helping improve public safety overall.