Origin & Cause An Origin & Cause can be performed on any vehicle no matter how severely damaged the vehicle is. The cause of a vehicle fire can often be classified as undetermined. Dry and windy conditions often effect the severity of the fire and high winds can also effect fire and burn patterns. Many unattended vehicle fires may be difficult to assess, especially when the vehicle had burned to completion The Origin & Cause examiner should always perform an examination using the Scientific Method. A few things that should be considered as possible causes to a vehicle fire include recent services performed on the vehicle, prior issues with the vehicle, both mechanical and electrical, and any prior fluid leaks. Questions that should be addressed as part of the investigation include; Were there any issues with the vehicle prior to the fire, either mechanical or electrical? Where did the fire originate? What was the first color smoke that was noted? Where was the smoke emanating from? How long and where had the vehicle been driven prior to the fire? Were there any witnesses to the fire? What time of day/night did the fire occur?
