Arson & Fire Investigation for Law Enforcement: A Patrol and Detective Guide to Building Strong Fire Cases

Arson & Fire Investigation for Law EnforcementA Patrol and Detective Guide to Building Strong Fire CasesWhen a fire call comes out, police are often first on scene—but most fire-investigation training is written for firefighters, not law enforcement. Arson & Fire Investigation for Law Enforcement bridges that critical gap, giving patrol officers, investigators, and supervisors the practical, street-ready knowledge they need to protect evidence, recognize arson indicators, and build cases that stand up in court.Whether you’re a patrol officer arriving minutes after ignition or a detective tasked with determining origin and cause, this book delivers clear, actionable guidance grounded in both fire-science principles and real-world police work.What This Book CoversDesigned for immediate on-scene application, this guide walks readers through the entire fire-investigation process, including:• Fire Scene Safety for Law EnforcementHow to identify structural risks, electrical hazards, and safe perimeters while preserving evidence.• Determining Origin and CauseWhat officers MUST document before suppression alters the scene.• Indicators of Arson vs. Accidental FiresBurn patterns, accelerant clues, tampered utilities, and avoiding common misinterpretations.• Working With Fire Marshals & Understanding NFPA 921/1033How to integrate properly into a scientific investigative framework.• Building a Prosecutable CaseReports, timelines, evidence integration, early collaboration with prosecutors, and courtroom preparation.• Special TopicsVehicle fires, wildland fires, serial arson, fatal-fire investigations, accelerants, ignition devices, digital evidence, insurance fraud, and more.• A Full Case WalkthroughA start-to-finish example showing how strong early police work leads to a successful arson conviction.Who This Book Is ForThis guide is essential reading for:Patrol officersDetectives and criminal investigatorsSupervisors and command staffFire marshals working with police agenciesAcademy instructors and training coordinatorsAnyone seeking to understand arson investigations from a law-enforcement perspectiveThe material is written in clear, accessible language with practical takeaways—not technical jargon.Why It MattersFire scenes are uniquely fragile. Evidence burns, melts, collapses, and washes away with suppression efforts. What police do in the first minutes can determine whether an arsonist is successfully prosecuted or walks away.This book shows officers how to avoid the most damaging early mistakes, identify suspicious indicators with confidence, and work seamlessly with fire investigators to uncover the truth.About the AuthorH. McKenzie brings over 27 years of law-enforcement experience across patrol, Alcohol Beverage Control, Narcotics, and Criminal Investigations. A certified Fire Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT) and current Assistant Chief, he has trained officers across multiple divisions and worked closely with fire marshals, arson task forces, and prosecutors. His dual background in policing and fire investigation provides a rare, mission-critical perspective on how law enforcement can dramatically strengthen fire cases through informed, proactive investigative work. Read more