Introduction

In the previous lesson, you saw that arson investigation is part science and part detective work. In this lesson, we will focus on how arson investigators act as detectives, seeking to identify the origin and cause of a fire.

A fire inspector surveying a burned-out building.
A fire inspector surveys a burned-out apartment complex.

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Identify the types of evidence gathered at a potential arson scene.
  • Analyze burn patterns to determine the direction from which the fire originated.

Essential Questions

  • How can burn patterns lead us to where a fire began?

Enduring Understandings

  • Crime scene evidence can be compared to previously established models or recreations to enhance to one's understanding of the crime scene (i.e., trajectories, decay processes, bone length/height)
  • Forensics requires a team of practitioners representing all areas of science.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation standards: 36.