What is essential to assess when examining fire patterns?

When examining fire patterns, assessing the physical effects of the fire is crucial because these effects can provide significant insights into the fire's behavior and the factors that influenced its spread. The physical evidence left by the fire, such as the char patterns on various surfaces, the intensity of burning on different materials, and the presence of fire byproducts, can help investigators reconstruct the fire's development and identify the point of origin.

Understanding fire patterns allows investigators to determine whether the fire was accidental or intentional, as various characteristics can indicate different causes. For example, if an area shows uneven burning or unusual patterns, it may point toward the use of an accelerant or other external influences. Therefore, analyzing the physical effects of the fire is fundamental to effective fire investigation.

While other factors like the building layout, time of day, and witness accounts are also important in the overall investigation, they serve more as supporting information rather than being the primary focus when examining the specific fire patterns themselves.