Investigate a Range Top Fire
with NFE
Cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire-related injuries from 2017 to 2021, according to the latest data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Ranges and cooktops were involved in 53% of these incidents. These fires are often more complex than they seem, requiring detailed investigations to uncover the most plausible origin and cause. Come along on scene with National Fire Experts (NFE) for a look at what goes into these investigations!
Identifying the Area of Origin
Area of Least Fire Damage
When a policyholder reports that a fire started with a kitchen stove or cooktop, it’s essential to avoid confirmation bias—the tendency to interpret and favor information that aligns with one hypothesis and ignore or dismiss information that suggests other possibilities.
Area of Greatest Fire Damage
Instead of making any assumptions, NFE investigators follow NFPA 921 guidelines and use a systematic approach to uncover the fire’s most plausible origin. They start by interviewing the insured to gather background information. Then they conduct a thorough inspection of the home’s exterior, carefully examining the entire perimeter before moving inside. By analyzing fire patterns and progressing from the least damaged areas to those with the most severe fire damage, investigators determine where the fire began.
What Can the Evidence Tell You?
If investigators do determine that a fire originated on a range top, they’ll then examine various indicators to identify the heat source, first material ignited, and ignition sequence.
Benefit
Verbal Briefing
→
Benefit
Written Report
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Benefit
Verbal Briefing
After a fire scene investigation, certified fire investigators may share preliminary findings through a verbal briefing. NFE also offers clients the option to receive all conclusions verbally if preferred to a written report.
Benefit
Written Report
→
Benefit
Verbal Briefing
→
Benefit
Written Report
If clients do opt for a written fire report, these may include investigators’ observations and conclusions regarding the most plausible origin and cause of the fire, as well as recommendations for any additional testing or other next steps. Information contained within a report will depend on the type requested.
Documenting Equipment and Scene Details
Documenting Equipment and Scene Details
Packaging and Transporting Evidence
Conducting Product Failure Testing and Research
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During a range top fire investigation,
NFE investigators record the range’s brand, model, and serial number, unless they’re obscured due to severe fire damage. In this case, engineers can utilize non-destructive testing to assist in identifying the appliance brand and model.
Documenting Equipment and Scene Details
Packaging and Transpporting Evidence
Packaging and Transporting Evidence
Conducting Product Failure Testing and Research
NFE recommendations
As part of the Alpine Intel suite of services,
Documenting Equipment and Scene Details
Packaging and Transporting Evidence
Conducting Product Failure Testing and Research
Conducting Product Failure Testing and Research
CTL's Professional Engineers
Get the Kitchen Equipment Fire Case Study
Ready to learn about the details and process for a specific NFE kitchen fire investigation?
In this case study, the policyholder and insurance adjuster were unsure how a fire started and needed conclusive evidence to determine the cause and help prevent future incidents. NFE investigators traced the fire to an electric range top and toilet paper. Read about their process and discover more of their findings by requesting your own copy of this case study!
National Fire Experts, a part of Alpine Intel’s suite of services, maintains the scientific method at the forefront of residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, marine vessel, and specialty equipment fire investigations to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Under Alpine Intel, NFE can also work closely with Component Testing Laboratories (CTL). CTL’s in-house transportation service, Loss Logistics, ensures a single-line chain of custody for evidence, while their Professional Engineers provide reliable, top-of-class reports based on the scientific method and engineering principles to deliver insights you can depend on to make subrogation decisions.