ISI Investigations
ISI specializes in reviewing and critiquing fire investigation work done by independent fire investigators to ensure that the correct conclusions were reached and the appropriate methodologies were used per the National Fire Protection Association's Guide 921. As a Fire Investigator, I am always aware that my fire cause determination can, and should, come under some Peer Review prior to being presented in court.
I firmly believe that no one can do a fire origin and cause determination from photographs, however, I do believe that another investigator's report can be reviewed for missing or conflicting information.
Use of the scientific method provided in NFPA 921 dictates that any hypothesis formed from an analysis of the data collected in an investigation must stand the challenges of reasonable examination by the investigator testing his hypothesis or by the examination of others. [Daubert V. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.CT. 2786(1993] In this Federal court case, the court established that Peer Review was part of the scientific method established for an expert Fire Investigator or Fire Expert to testify. Peer Review is simply applying the NFPA 921 framework to a fire origin and cause investigation report.
Some investigators develop their own guidelines that are very close to the NFPA 921 Guidelines and that is acceptable. If an investigator does not follow some type of investigation guide, he or she is apt to overlook an important fire pattern or evidence that would lead to the actual cause of the fire.
A fire can have many different indicators that will lead an investigator in different directions. It is important to eliminate each potential cause before coming to a conclusion. If an investigator cannot eliminate or establish all potential fire causes, he or she must call the fire undetermined until further testing or follow-up can be done. Jumping to conclusions early in an investigation can be very detrimental. Even if the evidence seems overwhelming, all possible fire causes should be established or eliminated before making a final determination.
by Larry Brown, Certified Fire Investigator
800.969.0605
Fire Origin & Cause Peer Review
