Unlike in many other fields of scientific inquiry, fire debris examination and interpretation (otherwise known as �arson and explosive investigation�) is the victim of its unscientific development. Currently, in the majority of jurisdictions, non-scientists who primarily work as trained fire suppression agents frequently investigate these cases. Undertrained, non-credentialed investigators frequently rely on anecdote and repeated myths learned from other non-credentialed and undertrained investigators as opposed to using the scientific method and empirical and validated evidence to investigate. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 1998 formulated its first guide using the scientific method as a framework, yet a majority of those who investigate fires do not use it and may not even be aware of its existence. As a result of this history and the propagation of error in terms of the training (or non-training) of these investigators, there is a significant chance if you survive a fire that the fire will be labeled an arson and you will find yourself to be a defendant. This oral presentation will explore the history of the problem, the current state of affairs, the myths of fire investigation and the NFPA 921 attempts to correct and bring the science back into this application of forensic science.

Burning the accused at the stake?  Is arson/explosive investigations scientific or modern day witchcraft?

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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