Categories: Legal

Accident or Arson? How to Tell

Although most untrained citizens can’t tell definitively if a fire is the result of arson, it helps to know the warning signs in case a fire is ever set to your home or place of business. Unfortunately, arson can lead to far more serious crimes – such as burglary and even murder – and the police take it very seriously. So how do you know if a fire was an accident or arson? Following are a few of the most basic ways to tell.

Check for Exterior Evidence

Often, you can tell if a fire is an accident or arson by looking for exterior evidence that might indicate a prowler or a burglary. In some cases, arson is used to disguise other crimes, so keep your eyes open for mysterious clues, and make sure to talk to neighbors and other witnesses who might have seen something that can tell you what happened.

For example, footprints leading to a window or the back of the building could indicate arson, as can signs of a broken window or door lock. You should also be suspicious if you see a pack of matches, a lighter, a gasoline can, a rag or lots of broken glass bottles lying around the scene. An experienced fire investigator can find these clues rather quickly.

Eliminate Other Causes

In many cases, it is determined that a fire was arson rather than an accident simply by step-by-step deduction. If nobody left the coffee pot burning and if the electrical wires were functioning properly, you might begin to suspect foul play. After all, buildings don’t spontaneously combust. But don’t limit yourself to just a few causes of the fire at first; consult building plans and blueprints before you resolve to arson.

Find Out What Accelerant was Used

Very few people engage in arson without an accelerant, such as gasoline, because accelerants turn tiny sparks into raging fires. To determine if it is an accident or arson, the fire investigators can use dogs to determine the type of accelerant used, if any, or they can use chemical testing of the air in the building. Whatever the case, this is a job for professionals, so don’t attempt it yourself.

Determine Point of Origin

Point of origin is the area of the building in which the fire began. This is usually where the highest concentration of accelerant was used, and is generally the area where the heat was most concentrated. The rest of the fire was spawned from the point of origin, and if accelerants were used, arson is probably a safe bet. It helps if the owner of the building remembers what was in the point of origin, such as a rug or drapes or tapestries or furniture.

It can be extremely difficult to determine if a fire was an accident or arson, and many cases require consultation from ATF, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. If you suspect that your home or building was set fire intentionally, alert the police to your suspicions and request an investigation.