Fire can be catastrophic as anyone who has ever lost a house can tell you.  It is bad enough to loose every thing you own, but what if you suspect arson as the cause?  In most cases the fire department, police and insurance companies will investigate and do a thorough job of it.  But are there options if you think that it was arson and the official investigation claims it was not? 



 

The short answer is yes, you have choices.  In the US and other western countries there is an active network consultants you can turn to.  Most consultants are retired fire fighters, insurance investigator or military specialist and all offer private fire investigation, for a fee.  Most of the fire and explosion investigators work with larger firms and, unless you live in a big city, there is little chance that the investigator is local.  You should be prepared to fly them in to your ‘crime scene’ and put them up while they conduct the investigation. 

 

There is some bad news to consider also.  First, independent fire investigation is not cheap.  This is not something you want to get started on whim.  Unless you have a very strong belief that the findings will confirm your suspicions this is not for you.

 

Second, there are only a few major fire investigation firms and, while they are all qualified, you have make sure you are not working with the same firm that the insurance company used. 

 

Finally, you should be prepared to accept the findings.  If an independent investigator confirms what the fire department or insurance company found it will be almost impossible to question.  That will have a major impact on legal proceedings.  Do not ask questions you are not prepared to hear the answers to. 

 

That brings up another excellent point.  Why hire a fire investigator at all?  If you loose your home in a fire and your insurance company refuses to pay for the damage claiming it was your fault, you might need to conduct your own investigation.  If you buy a product that explodes, hurting you or causing property damage and the manufacturer of that product will not conduct the investigation, you can hire an investigator. 

 

So where do you start your search for fire and explosion experts?  Like anything else you can start with the web.  Internet Search Engines list all of the major firms and you just need to use the simple search term “fire investigator” or the more professional “fire cause analysis”.  Another good source of information is your attorney, especially if they specialize in property claims.  There is a good chance that your lawyer already has a relationship with a fire cause investigator.  That could save you considerable time since the investigator will have a track record with your lawyer. 

 

Avoiding fire is the first step but if you do have a fire, you should know what your options are.  Hiring an investigator gives you the power you need to fight the insurance companies and businesses with deep pockets and make sure that justice is served.