The strongest chain of custody has one link. What is it?

The strongest chain of custody in the context of fire investigation is represented by the fire investigator who collected the evidence. This individual is directly responsible for gathering and preserving the evidence in a manner that maintains its integrity and ensures that it can be used effectively in any subsequent legal proceedings.

The fire investigator has the training and expertise to properly document the scene, acknowledge the significance of various pieces of evidence, and follow established protocols for collecting and handling materials. By being the primary individual who collects physical evidence, the investigator is pivotal in creating a defensible chain of custody, which is essential for establishing the reliability and authenticity of the evidence in court.

While the other options play important roles in the overall process of fire investigation, they do not have the same direct impact on the evidence collection and its subsequent management as the fire investigator. Other roles involve responses to the scene and oversight but do not focus solely on the critical aspect of evidence integrity.