What does blistering on a victim typically indicate regarding their state at the time of the fire?

Blistering on a victim typically indicates that the individual was alive at the time of the fire. This physiological response occurs when the skin is subjected to extreme heat, leading to the formation of blisters due to the expansion of fluids within the skin layers. Such thermal injuries are associated with a living organism and reflect the body's response to intense heat exposure.

In the context of a fire investigation, the presence of blistering is an important sign that the victim experienced the heat generated by the fire while still alive. Therefore, it suggests that they were likely conscious and possibly aware of their surroundings during the exposure, as the body reacts to extreme conditions in a way that can only happen if the heart is still beating and the organs are functioning.