PLEASE NOTE: Due to Daylight Savings changes, this session will take place 12pm AEST / 3pm NZDT
When a fire occurs, determining what happened is rarely as simple as identifying the most visibly damaged area or pointing to a failed appliance. Forensic fire investigation is a systematic, science-based process that brings together scene examination, fire dynamics, witness information, physical evidence and hypothesis testing to determine the origin and cause of a fire.
In this session, Vithyaa will take attendees behind the scenes of a forensic fire investigation and explore the investigation process from an insurance perspective. Using practical examples, the session will examine what investigators are looking for at a fire scene, why early evidence preservation matters, how origin and cause conclusions are reached, and some of the assumptions and misconceptions that can influence an investigation.
Speaker
Vithyaa Thavapalan - Forensic Fire Investigator, Forensic Origin & Cause Investigations