Our final day was to crack the code on what started the house fire with the mom and son. Mobile Fire Rescue Department with Community Risk Reduction visited our class as we started to talked fire investigations and arson units. What is a duty investigation? The investigations of fires use the simple scientific method with an hypothesis for answers on how it started or if it is undetermined. They use cameras and clipboards to walk around and soak in all the scene to its fullest. They also must interview the parties and collect any debris samples for any indications (ex. look at utilities to see if they are turned off). Determining area of origin helps on what it can or cannot be or what ignites. Follow up investigations are necessary if scene is deemed suspicious. Fire modeling puts the scene back together and can be used for closure for the family (or atleast what to do next). The cause classification varies on every single scene..... whether that be lightning, earthquakes, wind, accidental causes, incendiary, or undetermined. Incendiary means ignited on purpose as some accidental causes are space heaters, stoves, or anything electrical. Experts also specialize in technological/digital evidence which include public records (taken by police or warrants) or phones. Forensics are the biggest factors in these careers as they determine the types of fires to relieve the minds of the families or victims effected. In the end, my biomed class determined that the cause of the fire with our 4yo son and 45yo mother was due to a some space heater kept upstairs.
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