To the uninitiated a fire scene looks like char and ash with no discernible evidence as to where or why a fire started. Short of finding a melted lighter or remnant of a match, most laypeople are…
It takes years of training, education, and dedicated experience to become an expert fire investigator. The Fire and Explosion practice at Robson Forensic is built upon veteran fire investigators who worked their way through the ranks as firefighters and eventually as fire department fire investigators.
Our professional investigators can reliably identify the origin and cause of a fire in accordance with established NFPA standards. They can similarly identify when someone else has done it wrong or cut corners. We are selective in accepting arson defense assignments, but we have found evidence in many of our assignments to contradict findings of an incendiary cause. In this line of work, the consequences are simply too severe to be peremptory or to cut corners.
To reach an incendiary fire cause, nationally recognized standards such as NFPA 921 require that all other potential fire causes must be ruled out. In our professional experience, a fire cause of incendiary is sometimes arrived at without complete processing of a fire scene, or without proper interpretation of the evidence; both of these scenarios make it impossible to rule out all other causes.
When brought into an arson case we start fresh and conduct a complete fire investigation. Many times we find potential fire causes that have not been ruled out, errors in evidence handling, or that that there simply is not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire cause was incendiary.
Robson Forensic offers a fully appointed mechanical testing laboratory to assist our clients with the inspection and storage of evidence in arson cases. Our lab facilities can accommodate large evidence items and are equipped to perform testing on a variety of electrical and mechanical devices. Visit our Mechanical Testing Laboratory page for more information.
Call or submit an inquiry to tell us about your case. Once we determine which expert is best qualified to assist, we will put you in direct contact.
To the uninitiated a fire scene looks like char and ash with no discernible evidence as to where or why a fire started. Short of finding a melted lighter or remnant of a match, most laypeople are…
This article, by forensic fire investigator, Timothy M. Wilhelm, C.F.E.I., C.V.F.I., discusses three longstanding myths of fire investigation and the truth behind each topic. Fire Investigation Myths…
When fire sprinkler systems activate and/or release water we are frequently retained to determine if the systems worked as intended. In the course of these investigations there are common questions…