Often times you hear about the cause of a fire being a cigarette for example. However, isn’t the cigarette already long gone after the house/forrest/etc. has burnt down? How is it still possible find out what started the fire?
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Each fire has their own “signature” depending on the materials, any accelerants (such as gasoline), temperature and weather conditions, etc. Knowing *where* the fire started, from tracing the spread of the fire, gives clues as to what might have ignited the fire.
For example, let’s say there’s a house that burned down. Investigators may notice that certain parts of the house burned much more rapidly than others, indicating that someone might have intentionally poured an accelerant in the basement and set fire to it there as an act of arson.
Another example, specifically referencing the Kings Cross fire, might have a blaze starting under the escalators. Investigators were able to identify the combustible material beneath the escalator, combined with buildup of grease and oil, and recognised the commuters’ habit of disposing their cigarettes between the handrail and the gap in the steps.
While the cigarette is long gone, there are only so many ways a fire can start, and examination of the remaining evidence will narrow it down to something as small as an exposed wire or a burning cigarette.
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