Are fire movement patterns better indicators of origin than intensity patterns?

Fire movement patterns are indeed better indicators of origin than intensity patterns because they provide crucial information about how and where the fire spread initially. Understanding the movement of flames can help investigators determine the fire's point of origin by analyzing the direction in which the fire traveled and the surfaces it affected.

Movement patterns are directly tied to the fire's fuel sources, ventilation, and the architecture of a structure, which influence how quickly and in what manner the fire spreads. For example, a fire that moves rapidly in one direction may have had a particular fuel source or airflow that contributed to that movement, revealing significant clues about where the fire started.

In contrast, intensity patterns reflect the heat and damage caused by the fire in specific locations, which can sometimes be influenced by factors such as materials involved and environmental conditions. While useful, intensity does not necessarily indicate the origin as clearly as movement does. Intensity patterns can vary based on the amount of fuel, airflow, and other conditions that do not necessarily correlate with the starting point of the fire.

Thus, fire movement patterns are typically regarded as more reliable indicators of origin since they provide a clearer narrative of the fire's progression and behavior, leading back to the likely source of ignition.