What kind of evidence might forensic scientists analyze in arson investigations?

In arson investigations, forensic scientists focus on analyzing physical and chemical evidence directly related to the fire itself. This includes accelerants, which are substances used to ignite or amplify a fire, and burn patterns, which are the distinctive ways in which materials burn and how the fire spread. Understanding these elements is crucial in determining whether a fire was set intentionally.

Analyzing burn patterns can reveal important details about the fire's origin and movement, allowing investigators to reconstruct the events leading up to and during the fire. The presence of accelerants, such as gasoline or other flammable liquids, can indicate that a fire was deliberately started rather than accidental. This scientific analysis provides critical information that can link a suspect to a crime or exonerate individuals wrongfully accused.

The other options, while they may provide contextual information or support investigations, do not involve the direct scientific analysis of the physical evidence that forensic scientists focus on in arson cases. Witness accounts and testimonies can offer insights into the circumstances of the fire but are not tangible evidence analyzed by forensic techniques. Fire department reports may document the response and initial assessments but lack the detailed forensic examination of materials involved. Surveillance footage can provide visual context but does not yield the chemical and physical evidence that accelerants and burn