What does the fire point refer to in fire investigation?

The concept of fire point is pivotal in fire investigations as it defines the temperature at which a material not only produces enough vapor to ignite but continues to burn when the ignition source is removed. This means that at the fire point, the combustible material will sustain combustion on its own once ignited, making it an essential factor in understanding the behavior of materials involved in a fire.

In contrast, the ignition temperature refers specifically to the point at which a material will ignite, often requiring an external heat source. The initial phase of fire spread pertains to the early dynamics of flames and heat transfer, while the maximum temperature reached by a flame is not a defining characteristic of the materials but rather a measurement of fire's intensity. Thus, the fire point is instrumental for investigators when analyzing the conditions under which materials ignite and sustain burning, providing critical insights into the causes and dynamics of the fire event.