Determining the **origin and cause of a fire** is one of the most important responsibilities of the fire service following the suppression of a fire.

Understanding *where* and *how* a fire started allows firefighters, investigators, and the community to learn from the incident and prevent similar events in the future.

Importance of Determining the Fire Origin

The **point of origin** is the exact location where the fire began. Identifying it provides the foundation for every subsequent part of the investigation.

Establishing the origin is vital because it:

* Reveals the direction and pattern of fire spread.
* Helps confirm or rule out accidental, natural, or intentional causes.
* Protects the rights of property owners, occupants, and possible suspects.
* Aids in identifying faulty equipment, electrical issues, or human actions that led to ignition.
* Supports accurate data collection for public safety records, insurance, and legal proceedings.
* Improves future fire prevention, building design, and training by learning from each incident.

Without knowing the origin, investigators risk misinterpreting burn patterns or drawing incorrect conclusions about what truly caused the fire.

Fire Cause Determination

Once the area and point of origin are established, investigators analyze the **cause**—the sequence of events that allowed the fire to start.

A fire’s cause generally falls into one of four categories:

1. **Accidental:** Unintentional events such as electrical malfunctions, cooking, heating equipment, or careless smoking.

2. **Natural:** Fires caused by lightning, spontaneous combustion, or other natural phenomena.

3. **Incendiary (Intentional):** Fires that are deliberately set by a person.

4. **Undetermined:** When evidence is insufficient or conflicting to identify a clear cause.

Investigators use a systematic approach following recognized standards such as **NFPA 921 – Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations**, which emphasizes scientific method, observation, documentation, and elimination of hypotheses through testing and evidence.

Public Safety Value

Every origin-and-cause investigation contributes directly to **community safety**.
Accurate findings lead to improved fire codes, product recalls, enforcement of safety regulations, and educational programs that reduce future fire risk. For fire departments, it strengthens professional credibility, legal defensibility, and operational knowledge.