Before a fire investigator arrives, what should firefighters do with any evidence found?

Firefighters are tasked with protecting and preserving evidence before a fire investigator arrives on the scene. This is critical because the integrity of the evidence can impact the investigation's outcome. By ensuring that the evidence is safeguarded from contamination or alteration, firefighters help maintain its original state, allowing investigators to conduct a thorough and accurate examination.

In addition to protecting it, preserving evidence includes securing the area and preventing contamination from other variables, such as fire suppression activities or personnel traversing the scene. This foundational step is essential in fire investigations because even the smallest change can lead to misinterpretation of evidence, which could affect the determination of the fire's cause.

While tagging and photographing, collecting and packaging, or isolating and removing evidence are important steps in the investigative process, they should be performed by investigators trained specifically for those tasks. Firefighters’ primary role at this stage is to ensure that evidence remains undisturbed and intact until those experts arrive.