When a conductor has been severed by an arcing event, what can be concluded?

When a conductor has been severed by an arcing event, it suggests that the severing occurred after the initial arcing. This is because arcing requires a power source to create the electrical discharge that causes the heat and subsequent melting of the conductor. Therefore, any arcing that occurs "downstream" from the severed wires indicates that these events happened prior to the severing—because once the conductor is severed, it cannot sustain an electrical circuit to allow for further arcing events.

Understanding this sequence of events is crucial in fire investigations as it helps in determining the cause and origin of the fire. It helps to establish that the lights or devices drawing power from that circuit would have contributed to any previous arcing before the severing occurred. Therefore, the conclusion drawn from the scenario aligns with the principles of electrical systems and arcing behaviors.