When the area of origin of a fire is determined, what should be done with potential ignition sources?

Identifying and locating potential ignition sources is crucial once the area of origin of a fire has been determined. These sources can provide vital evidence regarding the cause of the fire and help investigators understand how the fire started. By carefully documenting the ignition sources, investigators can piece together the sequence of events that led to the ignition, which is essential for accurately reporting the findings and, if necessary, supporting legal actions.

In a fire investigation, potential ignition sources include items like electrical appliances, heating equipment, or flammable materials that might have initiated the fire. Properly locating and identifying these sources can also assist in ruling out or confirming hypotheses about the cause of the fire. Investigators must handle these sources with care to preserve evidence, which is why documenting and analyzing them in their original state is critically important for a successful investigation.