What are 'soft times' based on in fire investigations?

In fire investigations, 'soft times' refer to approximate times reported by witnesses. This terminology captures the inherent uncertainty and variability in human memory and perception. Witnesses may not provide precise timestamps; instead, they often indicate a rough time frame based on their recollections of events leading up to and during the fire. These approximations can help investigators piece together a timeline or sequence of events, even if they lack the accuracy of hard data like exact timestamps.

Using witness statements as a source of 'soft times' acknowledges that while they may not be strictly reliable, they can still provide valuable contextual information that contributes to the overall understanding of the incident. This contrasts with more precise measurements, such as those obtained from digital timestamps or physical evidence, which would fall into different categories of time documentation.