Fire and Arson Scene Evidence: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel, June 2000

Actions taken at the outset of an investigation at a fire and
arson scene can play a pivotal role in the resolution of a case.
Careful, thorough investigation is key to ensuring that potential
physical evidence is not tainted or destroyed or potential witnesses
overlooked.

While many agencies have programs in fire and arson scene
processing, the level of training and resources available varies from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as does the opportunity to practice actual
investigation. To assist these agencies, the National Institute of Justice
convened a group of law enforcement and legal practitioners, as well
as expert fire investigators, to develop improved procedures for the
investigation and collection of evidence from fire and arson scenes.

This Guide is one method of promoting quality fire and arson scene
investigation. The type and scope of an investigation will vary from
case to case. Every jurisdiction should give careful consideration to the
recommendations in this Guide and to its own unique local conditions
and logistical circumstances. Although factors that vary among investigations
may call for different approaches or even preclude the use of
certain procedures described in the Guide, consideration of the Guide’s
recommendations may be invaluable to a jurisdiction shaping its own
protocols.