What is the purpose of fire pattern analysis?

The purpose of fire pattern analysis is to identify and interpret fire patterns that develop during a fire incident. This analysis involves examining the characteristics and behaviors of the fire patterns left on the surfaces of the scene, such as burn patterns, charring, and smoke damage. These patterns can provide crucial information about the fire's origin, the materials involved, and how the fire spread. Understanding the fire patterns allows investigators to reconstruct the fire’s timeline, deducing factors such as whether the fire was an accident, intentional, or the result of another influence. This type of analytical work is essential for establishing the cause of the fire and could also contribute to fire prevention strategies in the future.

In contrast, predicting future fire hazards focuses on assessing risks and creating safety measures, which is a different area of fire safety. Extinguishing residual flames pertains to fire suppression techniques rather than analysis. Calculating the temperature of the fire, while important for understanding the fire dynamics, does not directly relate to analyzing the fire patterns that provide insight into the overall behavior and cause of the fire. Thus, identifying and interpreting fire patterns is fundamental for effective fire investigation and understanding the circumstances surrounding a fire incident.