Wildfire Knowledge Graph · Fire Investigation
The identified action, circumstance or mechanism that brings an ignition source, fuel and conditions together to start a fire.
In plain language
Cause labels can evolve from under investigation to undetermined or to a documented category as evidence matures.
Why it matters
Technical cause, criminal allegation, conviction and civil liability answer different questions and must not be collapsed into one statement.
Fire cause: distinguish an investigated conclusion from an early hypothesis
Fire cause describes the mechanism and event responsible for ignition, as determined within the limits of available investigation. It is not interchangeable with point of origin, first publicly reported location or the name of a nearby power line, road or human activity.
An early incident bulletin may use ‘under investigation’ while later reports identify a specific cause, rule out candidates or leave the cause undetermined. Each stage should be preserved with its publication date and the authority making the statement. Replacing an early hypothesis with a later conclusion without a revision trail distorts what was knowable at the time.
Research workflow: record the stated cause classification, document type, report date and quoted conclusion. Separate direct investigative findings from media summaries, witness statements and inferred mechanisms. When sources conflict, identify whether they refer to different investigation stages rather than treating them as equivalent claims.
Do not make allegations against named individuals or organisations from location proximity, a viral video or isolated sensor measurements. A technical reconstruction must clearly separate facts, plausible hypotheses and unresolved matters.
Related concepts: Point of Origin, Ignition Source and Wildfire Black Box Methodology.