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Fire Forensics: Claims, Evidence and Reasoning

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Overview

There’s been a fire! Your job is to figure out where the fire started, and how. You will use evidence left behind and scientific reasoning to make a valid and reliable claim.

Fire investigation is a complex job that involves science, technology, engineering, and math to understand the story of how a fire originated.  How do fire investigators find evidence among this debris that helps them formulate a claim about the way the fire started or where it started? Knowledge of fire science!

The Fire Safety Research Institute, part of UL Research Institutes, conducts research on fire dynamics and offers training to help fire investigators solve their cases. This real-world application of science, technology, engineering, and math is how you’ll solve your own case!

Are you ready to take the role of a fire investigator and learn the knowledge and skills necessary to solve the case?

We’ve updated our Fire Forensics pathway based on feedback from teachers like you. Learn more about the new, improved site.

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1
There's Been a Fire
2
Investigators Academy
3
Guided Investigation
4
Solve the Case

There's Been a Fire

Fire protection engineers and scientists conducted a burn in a large-scale fire lab. Your job will be to investigate the origin of this blaze, and build a claim supported with evidence and reasoning. Just like a real investigator!

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Investigators Academy

Welcome to the Investigators Academy! While fire may seem unpredictable, it develops and behaves in ways that we can understand scientifically. Here you’ll learn the basics of fire.

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Guided Investigation

Fire investigators are trained to work backwards to fill in the story. On this page, you’ll obtain information to understand how investigators look for evidence and communicate their claims.

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Solve the Case

It’s time to put your knowledge and skills to the test! On this page, you will obtain evidence from a kitchen fire conducted in a large-scale fire lab by the Fire Safety Research Institute. Then, communicate your claim about the origin of the fire supported by evidence and reasoning.

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