Crime Scene: Fire Scene Photography Checklist

When a fire occurs, the firemen, law enforcement and crime scene investigators may need to call in a forensic photographer in the event arson is suspected. In cases of arson, a fire becomes a crime scene fire. Photographs may be taken to preserve evidence, to aid in the arson investigation, to evaluate burn patterns that may indicate accelerants or ignitable liquids, and more. Flammable liquids typically burn off during a fire, but the heat makes an arson investigator able to quickly identify the likely presence of such substances. Photographs can be important evidence in the criminal justice process and an integral part of the crime scene investigation.