Fire Origin & Cause Determination Analyzer
Analyze fire scenes systematically to determine origin and cause using NFPA 921 standards
What You Can Do
You can conduct rigorous post-incident fire investigations by systematically documenting burn patterns, analyzing fire dynamics, and evaluating ignition sources against physical evidence. This skill helps you reconstruct fire spread, eliminate alternative hypotheses, and structure defensible conclusions for expert testimony and litigation. You'll apply forensic methodology that meets industry standards and produces findings suitable for legal proceedings.
Features
interpret charring depth, damage progression, and directional indicators to establish fire spread pathways
apply thermal effects principles to model ignition sequences and heat propagation
systematically assess potential heat sources and fuel sequences for plausibility against evidence
logically discard unlikely scenarios using evidence-based reasoning
ensure investigative methodology meets forensic investigation standards
organize physical findings and chain-of-custody data for defensible reporting
evaluate complex fires with competing evidence or potential incendiary indicators
organize findings for testimony-ready documentation
Example Output
Example 1: Residential Structure Fire
- Origin identified: Master bedroom east wall corner
- Primary evidence: Deepest char depth, V-pattern convergence, metal alloy residue on nearby outlet box
- Fire dynamics: Ignition at electrical receptacle with drapes as initial fuel, fire spread northward along wall framing
- Cause determination: Electrical equipment failure with standard ignition scenario
- Eliminated hypotheses: Arson (no accelerant evidence, ignition source implausible), incendiary device (device residue absent)
Example 2: Commercial Kitchen Fire
- Origin: Hood exhaust system above cooking station 3
- Key evidence: Grease accumulation patterns, thermal damage to ductwork, thermocouple readings indicating 800°F+ exhaust temperatures
- Fire dynamics: Accumulated grease ignited by normal cooking heat; lateral spread through interconnected ductwork
- Cause: Inadequate hood cleaning and maintenance creating combustible grease layer
- Documentation: Chain-of-custody for collected samples, photographic documentation of burn progression
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file: systematic methodology for fire origin/cause investigations
- Scene Analysis Template: structured checklist for documenting physical evidence and burn patterns
- Fire Dynamics Reconstruction Worksheet: framework for modeling ignition sequences and thermal effects
- Hypothesis Testing Matrix: systematic approach for evaluating and eliminating alternative scenarios
- Expert Report Outline: NFPA 921–compliant documentation structure for litigation-ready findings
Who It's For
- Fire protection engineers conducting post-incident investigations
- Insurance claim adjusters evaluating fire loss causation
- Fire marshals and arson investigators determining origin and cause
- Forensic consultants preparing expert testimony for litigation
- Building safety officers analyzing fire incident patterns
Best For
- Residential and commercial structure fire investigations
- Determining electrical equipment failures as ignition sources
- Analyzing incendiary fire indicators and accelerant evidence
- Reconstructing fire spread through complex building layouts
- Preparing defensible expert reports for legal proceedings
- Evaluating competing hypotheses in ambiguous fire scenarios
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