Wildland Fire Investigations in the U.S.
Wildland fire investigation is a specialized discipline within U.S. fire science, focusing on determining how brush fires, forest fires, and grassland fires ignite and spread. Agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management follow strict investigative procedures based on the NWCG Fire Investigations Guide (PMS 412).
Investigators start by analyzingburn indicators such as grass stem angles, char height, spalling, protection patterns, and fuel consumption levels. These indicators help track the fire’s movement and ultimately pinpoint the ignition area.
Common ignition sources include lightning, campfires, powerline failures, improperly discarded cigarettes, and equipment sparks. Investigators also closely examine weather conditions such as humidity, wind speed, and drought levels, which dramatically influence fire spread.
Once the point of origin is located, investigators collect soil, fuel, and debris samples, search for ignition devices, and interview witnesses or first responders. Accurate scene preservation is especially challenging in wildland environments due to wind, animal activity, and ongoing fire suppression operations.
As wildfires increase across the United States, wildland fire investigators play a crucial role in prevention, mitigation planning, and prosecution of intentional fires.
