What is your process for determining who caused a fire?
The interviewer asks this question to see how you conduct fire investigations so they can determine if you have the skills they are looking for in an Arson Investigator. They want to hear that you have the education needed to conduct fire investigations and to understand your process when conducting an investigation.
Describe how you use scientific methods and evidence to investigate a fire and determine who caused the fire. Explain your process of gathering evidence, starting with questioning the firefighters who first arrived on the scene. Then you can mention how you narrow down your search by looking for the common signs of arson.
If you are a new Arson Investigator, avoid saying you do not have a process for determining who caused the fire. Even if you have not investigated any fires, you can describe the process you have been taught and how you will proceed in your fire investigations if hired.
"I always follow the same process to determine who caused a fire. It was how I was taught, and it works every time. I apply the scientific method to determine the fire's origin. Based on the data analysis, I form a hypothesis, test it, and form a conclusion about the cause and origin of the fire or explosion. I then look for the common signs of arson and collect evidence. I start by interviewing the firefighters who were first on the scene and ask about unusual fire behavior, damaged sprinkler systems, the doors and windows, and anything else that was out of the ordinary. I then look into the property owner and see if familiar people were present at different fire locations, if there was a large amount of insurance on the structure, and if there were missing valuables at the fire scene. After collecting all of my data, I analyze the information and come to a conclusion."
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