What does the term "fire pattern" refer to in fire investigations?

The term "fire pattern" refers to the shape and debris arrangement caused by fire. This concept is crucial in fire investigations as it provides valuable evidence about how a fire started, spread, and affected the structure involved. Fire patterns can indicate points of origin and can help investigators determine the potential causes of the fire by examining the way the flames interacted with materials in the environment.

Understanding fire patterns is essential for forensic analysis, as they can reflect the intensity and direction of the fire. Investigators look for burn marks, char patterns, and the arrangement of combustible materials that were affected by heat to deduce the behavior of the fire. These patterns can provide insights into whether the fire was accidental or deliberately set, making them a key element in the case.