Decoding Fire Behaviour with a Legend: Myths, Arson and Junk Science

In this episode of What the Fire, we sit down with legendary fire investigator and forensic scientist John Lentini to unpack how our understanding of fire behaviour has changed and why so many investigation reports still get it wrong.

John explains why “if you’re not a scientist, what are you doing in my profession?” isn’t just a sound bite, it’s a standard. We talk about:

• Why fire usually burns up and out, not down

• How low burning and “suspicious” patterns are often misread

• The overuse (and misuse) of liquid accelerant conclusions

• How junk science and bad assumptions have fuelled wrongful arson findings

• What it really means to think like a scientist in fire investigation, even without a science degree

Whether you’re writing reports, reviewing them, or trying to lift the standard of care in your organisation, this conversation will challenge the way you look at fire scenes and documentation.

If you find this episode valuable, please follow the show, rate the podcast, and leave a review with your feedback – it helps more people in the fire and forensic community discover What the Fire.

Keywords: fire investigation, fire behaviour, accelerants, fire reports, forensic science

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