Why should investigators be cautious about witness statements regarding fire growth?

Investigators should be cautious about witness statements regarding fire growth because witnesses typically report on the fire from their perspective during the time of discovery, rather than from the initial start of the fire. This means that they may not have observed the fire during its growth phases, which can lead to an incomplete understanding of how the fire spread and developed. Witnesses may arrive at the scene after the fire has already gained intensity, which can distort perceptions of the fire’s growth trajectory and behavior.

This perspective can have significant implications for an investigation, as it may lead to inaccurate conclusions about the cause and progression of the fire. Understanding the initial fire dynamics is crucial for determining how the fire started and its potential contributing factors. Therefore, relying solely on witness statements without corroborating evidence from fire pattern analysis may result in an oversight of key details necessary for an accurate fire investigation.