How should fire scenes be approached during an investigation?

Approaching a fire scene from the area with the least damage inward is a critical method in fire investigations for several reasons. First, starting from the least damaged areas helps investigators to establish a clear understanding of the scene while minimizing the risk of disturbing potential evidence. Fire can cause significant destruction and alter the physical landscape, making it challenging to identify the fire's origin and progression. By beginning in less affected areas, investigators can track the development of the fire and gather critical information about its initial cause.

Additionally, this approach allows for a more systematic examination of the fire's dynamics. Investigators can document evidence of fire patterns, potential accelerants, and other relevant details without being influenced or misled by the more severely damaged sections of the scene, where evidence may have been consumed or obscured.

Lastly, starting from the least damaged areas allows for a better preservation of evidence, ensuring that materials that survived the fire are not inadvertently compromised as the investigation progresses toward more damaged areas. This method ultimately improves the integrity and accuracy of the investigation findings.