A fatality at a fire scene impacts many aspects of the investigation. Without proper body documentation, extensive scene photography observations, interpretation, and recovery efforts at the fire scene, the investigation will not reach a successful conclusion. Beginning with the investigative framework, this module maps out the key aspects of investigating a fire where a fatality has occurred. The module includes demonstrations of key processes and expert-led examples of how to interpret fire effects on the body within the context of the fire scene with examples from several common fire fatality scenes. To get the most out of this module, the learner should have a solid foundation in basic fire investigation methodology and an understanding of how heat alters the human body during the fire and produces unique fire patterns that are as valuable as the fire patterns on other objects at the scene, especially those near and around the victim’s body.

CFITrainer.Net recommends taking the “Fatal Fires: An Introduction” and “Fatal Fires: Fire Effects on the Body” modules before the “Fatal Fires: Investigation” module.