Analysis

keith@parkerfireservices.com (415) 328-4778

Analysis

Parker Fire Services Consulting LLC provides analysis of all things fire using our knowledge and experience of fire science, investigation, suppression, incident management and operations to separate the complex into its component parts.  Large damaging fires may have numerous investigation teams developing independent conflicting findings. In California the public agency with jurisdiction will usually complete an investigation prior to allowing the multitude of private investigation teams from interested parties into the scene. PFSC analysis differs from forensic scene fire investigation in that we are analyzing data, investigative theories and conclusions from outside sources or investigation using a broader data set as we look to prove, disprove or find theories that were not addressed. Often times it is the investigation that is analyzed for flaws, such as inappropriate application of the scientific method and cognitive bias resulting in flawed conclusions. When analyzing cases for litigation we use the appropriate doctrines of critical thinking and deduction to assess claims made by others.  Our analysis work commonly stems from one of two situations; 1) when PFSC has conducted a complete origin and cause investigation and conflicting theories are put forward by plaintiff or defense advocates; 2) when a client first receives notice of their potential exposure months or years after an incident.  

The left is a multi million dollar commercial fire, the right shows the scene when the client received the first claim notice.

Our Approach:

Analysis follows the same methodology as investigation; gathering all potentially relevant data and validating is the foundation.  This is particularly important in the situations where the scene is no longer available and our origin and cause determination, if possible, will be from data gathered by others. Data is organized into three categories; confirmed, not confirmed, or refuted. We build the same timelines and fact trees of various areas of interest to analyze the data as we do with our scene investigations.  We input all information into a reference data base that gives us the ability to sort and filter by time, place, person, action, event or other category as needed. This process is critically important as new data becomes available, is entered, and evaluated.  Throughout the process we can identify gaps in time lines, conflicts within fault trees, and attempt to locate missing data to complete the picture.   

PFSC Standard Data Collection Book.

Disproving Investigation Findings: 

We are keenly aware of the weight a public agency report carries.  Unfortunately, few public agencies have dedicated investigative staff and most who do are understaffed, underfunded, undertrained and overworked. Because of the weight given to public agency reports, it is not enough to simply offer a properly supported alternative opinion, it is incumbent on us to clearly define where and how any errors were made leading to an inaccurate conclusion. To refute other investigation findings, it is critical to analyze the investigation from beginning to end and specifically identify the errors in process, methodology and science that led to the inaccurate finding as stated in a report. 

The photo on the left shows the greater origin area taped off by the Government Fire Investigators, enhanced by the green dashed line. The photo on the right shows a witness photo taken within moments of the fire discovery. The red circle on the left shows the fire perimeter seen in the photograph on the right. The fires origin was not contained within the greater origin determined by the Investigation and was obviously never correctly located.

Litigation Support:

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of opposition theories, and quickly and accurately analyzing new theories is crucial.   Having all the data pertaining to deponents is invaluable in preparing for depositions and reacting to new data discovered in and throughout the process. We collect, analyze, store and organize data in a way to facilitate accurate, through and timely answers to these and other issues that arise in the litigation process.