What is the primary purpose of fire patterns analysis?

The primary purpose of fire patterns analysis is to trace the path of fire spread. Understanding how a fire spreads is crucial for fire investigators because it provides insights into the fire's behavior, helping them determine where the fire started and how it progressed throughout the structure.

By analyzing patterns such as burn severity, smoke staining, and damage to materials, investigators can reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fire. This analysis is critical for identifying potential points of origin, which can ultimately be linked with determining the cause of the fire.

In contrast, estimating the cost of damages, identifying the fire's cause, and assessing fire extinguisher effectiveness do not directly relate to the primary function of fire patterns analysis, which focuses specifically on the behavior and movement of the fire itself.