TRUE or FALSE: Fingerprints usually disappear from surfaces after a fire.

Fingerprints generally do not disappear from surfaces after a fire, making the statement false. While high heat and fire can cause degradation of certain materials, fingerprints can remain intact on various surfaces unless they are extensively damaged or charred. Surfaces like glass and metal can retain fingerprints even after exposure to heat, although the quality might be compromised.

Furthermore, the notion that fingerprints only disappear from porous surfaces, or only after high heat exposure, does not hold up under scrutiny. While porous materials might absorb some of the substances that make up fingerprints, it does not necessarily mean that they will vanish entirely. In many cases, forensic investigators can recover fingerprints from surfaces that have been subjected to fire if the fire has not been severe enough to completely destroy the surface or the prints themselves.

Understanding the persistence of fingerprints on different materials despite extreme conditions is crucial for fire investigations, as it allows for the recovery of important evidence that may link individuals to the scene of the incident.