The Importance of Origin and Cause for Vehicle Fires

Vehicles accounted for 15% of scenes local fire departments responded to in 2021, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). They also caused around $2 billion in direct property damage, a number that highlights the importance of accurate claim settlements. Just as it does with a structural fire, an origin and cause investigation on a vehicle can help adjusters determine whether the damage is covered by the policy. Here’s why an unbiased determination is so important to vehicle fires and what you can do to maintain the evidence’s integrity.

Vehicle fires account for about 15% of scenes fire departments respond to annually, and the damage they cause may be costly.

What Origin and Cause Investigations Bring to a Vehicle Fire Claim

Origin and cause investigations are especially important to a vehicle claim because a settlement based on a deep knowledge of fire behavior, growth, and development is more likely to be fair and accurate.

Fire investigators are able to get relevant information from first responders, public adjusters, witnesses and/or vehicle owners, and other involved parties. These interviews can paint a fuller picture of the vehicle’s condition prior to the fire and the events surrounding it. Moreover, a certified fire investigator can avoid expectation bias by holistically considering:

• Onsite evidence
• Vehicle history
• Witness statements

What Is Expectation Bias?

You may have heard that what you look for is what you find. This is great if you’re looking for silver linings or career growth opportunities, but in scientific applications it’s known as expectation bias, and it’s essential to avoid it for an accurate settlement. This is why a complete origin and cause investigation goes deeper than just secondhand information and must account for onsite evidence.

Maintenance history is important evidence when it comes to a vehicle fire, but like witness statements and product recalls, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Per the scientific method and NFPA guidelines, data collection and analysis should support the conclusion of an origin and cause investigation. For example, you might have a vehicle fire claim in which you know the vehicle’s owner and only driver smokes. With this information, the investigator may have one hypothesis that a lit cigarette was dropped on an ignitable material, causing the fire. However, the owner insists he never smoked in the vehicle, no remnants of smoking material are found in the car, and traces of an accelerant are confirmed via thorough lab analysis to be on the backseat around what burn patterns determine to be the point of origin. Expectation bias occurs if the investigator fails to consider all the evidence that disproves his original hypothesis and explore a new one. The data might lead an investigation to a wholly unexpected conclusion, but that’s precisely why a reputable, certified fire investigator is vital to the process.

These experts know that a recall for the subject vehicle may not be related to the fire at all, and that recent mechanical work doesn’t automatically narrow down the point of origin. By following the scientific method, investigators ensure that all evidence is considered and that facts outweigh any preconceived ideas of origin and cause, meaning that your claim resolution is based on science rather than hearsay or cursory observations. This expert consideration is especially important to vehicle fire claims because the evidence is more likely to have been altered since the fire.

 Preserving the Evidence

As with all fires, an origin and cause determination has a better chance of accuracy if an expert can examine the evidence as close to its condition at the time of loss as possible. Because many vehicle fires occur on roads, it’s not always feasible to investigate the vehicle at the loss location. Don’t be deterred if it’s been moved; in fact, this highlights the need to have an expert examine the vehicle.

If the vehicle has been moved, make sure it’s safely wrapped or otherwise secured to avoid any unauthorized parties entering it to remove items or alter the scene. It’s also important to limit who is permitted access, and after firefighting and relocation efforts (if any) are complete, no one should handle the vehicle without your investigator’s knowledge or, ideally, presence.

Wrapping the subject vehicle before, after, and between inspections can help preserve the integrity of the evidence for a more accurate origin and cause determination.

Origin and Cause: Beyond the Claim

Obtaining an accurate, scientific origin and cause for a vehicle fire means more than just closing out a claim. If the case goes to litigation, you not only have a report that explains the process, evidence, and science behind its conclusions but also a certified professional who can defend their findings. When you’re looking for a fire investigator, make sure your pick is ready to provide expert testimony if needed. A reputable investigator will be aware that their conclusions may be challenged, which is why an origin and cause determination based on just the facts is vital to your vehicle fire claim.

National Fire Experts, a part of Alpine Intel’s suite of services, provides actionable intelligence to a variety of fire scenes with the highest degree of accuracy, consistency, and professionalism. Our experts adhere to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) guidelines and are qualified to review the evidence at any fire scene through our 11-step investigation. Submit an assignment for a comprehensive origin and cause investigation.

Alpine Intel’s content is meant to inform and educate readers using general terms and descriptions. They do not replace expert evaluations that determine facts and details related to each unique claim.