This document discusses fire and explosion investigations from an insurance claim perspective. It covers frameworks for investigations according to NFPA 921, goals of investigations such as determining coverage and recovery potential, expert selection focusing on root cause specialties, the role of counsel in documentation and evidence demands, and challenges of evidence preservation especially when not in direct control. Case studies are provided on topics such as using social media to find additional evidence and testing exemplars to verify accounts.

1. Krista Fowler AcuñaKrista Fowler Acuña
Partner/Chair Marine Practice Group
Email: kfacuna@chartwelllaw.com
Telephone: 00+1+305.372.9044
Mobile: 00+1+305 778 1640Mobile: 00+1+305.778.1640

2. OVERVIEWOVERVIEWOVERVIEWOVERVIEW
NFPA 921‐ FRAMEWORK
EXPERT SELECTION
USE OF COUNSEL
EVIDENCE PRESERVATION
Fire & Explosion Investigations
By: Krista Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices 2

3. Claim Example: Airport Fuel Storage Explosion & Fire
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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4. Claim Perspective:
•On notice well after fire
•Do no control scene or
access
•Urgency to repair facility
• $10 million in PD
• Over $20 million claimed BI
• 70,000 gallons of Grade A Jet g f
Fuel
• 162 cancelled flights
•Reduced capacity temporary jet
fuel supply systemfuel supply system
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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5. Claim Example: Multi‐Vessel Marina Fire
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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6. Claim Perspective:p
•Notice within 24 hours of fire
•Underwriters control primary
fire vessel
•Evidence somewhat•Evidence somewhat
contained/preservable
• Over $5 million in total damage• Over $5 million in total damage
• 5 yachts burned‐ 3 were constructive
total loss
• PD to the marina
• Personal injury to occupants
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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7. FIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONSFIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONS
Risks/Problems:
Chaos cannot be controlled off‐sightChaos cannot be controlled off sight
You only get one shot at C&O
Facts must be gathered so as to be admissibleFacts must be gathered so as to be admissible
Early timing is everything, delay will cost money
Exposure is high so costs are highExposure is high, so costs are high
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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8. GOALS OF F/E INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF THE INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF F/E INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF THE INVESTIGATION
COVERAGE DETERMINATION
DEFENSE OF ASSURED
RECOVERY POTENTIALRECOVERY POTENTIAL
ACCURATE QUANTUM & RESERVES
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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9. FRAMEWORK OF F/E INVESTIGATIONFRAMEWORK OF INVESTIGATIONFRAMEWORK OF F/E INVESTIGATION
NFPA 921:
FRAMEWORK OF INVESTIGATION
NFPA 921:
• Issued in 1992 (8
revisions)revisions)
• First definitive document
of its kind
• Shift from experience‐
based to science‐based
approachapproach
• Published in multiple
languageslanguages
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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10. NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?
NFPA 921 US Courts post‐1993
NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?
NFPA 921
• “purpose of this document
is to establish guidelines….”
US Courts post‐1993
• “The gold standard”
• “Bible of arson forensics”
• “this document is not
intended as a
comprehensive scientific or
Bible of arson forensics
• “National standard”
• “Generally accepted
comprehensive scientific or
engineering text…”
standard in the fire
investigation community”
CONCLUSION: IT’S A STANDARD,
SO YOUR EXPERT BETTER FOLLOW IT
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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11. ANATOMY OF AN F/E INVESTIGATION
ANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION/
ANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION
Origin Determination
Fire Cause Determination
( d f f l )(ignition source, oxidant, first fuel, ignition sequence)
Analyzing Responsibility for Damage, Injury or
Death
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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12. ANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATIONANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION
• CAUSE CATEGORIES • DEMISE OF “NEGATIVE
– INCENDIARY
– ACCIDENTAL
– NATURAL
CORPUS”
– Ex: 3 potential causes, 2
ruled out, so the 3rd must
b
– UNDETERMINED
• “Possible” or “suspected” =
undetermined
Fi l i i l d
be cause
– Not consistent with the
scientific method
Creates un testable• Final opinions only as good
as quality of data
• Decision re: level of
certainty rests with
i i
– Creates un‐testable
hypothesis (assumption
not fact)
– Results in incorrect
investigator
Results in incorrect
determination of the
ignition source and first
fuel
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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13. BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• NFPA Chapter 13: Public
BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
NFPA Chapter 13: Public
sources of photos and
videos of the fire
sequence can provide
evidence relative to:
– Timeline
– Spread
Witness identification– Witness identification
– Witness credibility
Media footage sourced by Broadcast Media
Monitoring
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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14. BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCEBEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• Media footage lead to g
source of original video
• Original unedited
f b dfootage obtained
• Access to meta data
Wit t t t• Witness statement
taken
• Assisted in establishingAssisted in establishing
more certain fire
timeline
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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15. BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• azureazimut, Mar 31, 2008
BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Blogs, twitter,
youtube and other
• #3
• azureazimutNew Member
• Joined:Apr 28
y
internet postings
can lead to
additional
• Joined:Apr 28,
2007Messages:33Location:J
C
I' t th iwitnesses, photos,
and video that can
assist investigation
• I'm at the marina on my
yacht just one dock over. I
have some pretty ridiculous
id f th fi th t I'llvideo of the fire that I'll
post links to once I upload
them. Pretty scary stuff.
i 31 2008• azureazimut, Mar 31, 2008
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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16. BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCEBEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• Inspection/testing of spec o / es g o
exemplars is appropriate
methodology under NFPA
921921
• Example: after witness
statements completedstatements completed,
expert re‐created egress
• Helped identify potential p y p
causes of fire
• Verified witness accounts
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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17. EXPERT SELECTIONEXPERT SELECTION
• C&O Expert=CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)C&O Expert=CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)
– NFPA 1033
Most investigations will require other specialties– Most investigations will require other specialties
to determine root cause
– CFI opinions re: cause typically limited– CFI opinions re: cause typically limited
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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18. EXPERT SELECTION
• Licensed Professional Engineers (PE )
EXPERT SELECTION
Licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.)
– Electrical
Mechanical– Mechanical
– Chemical
Fi S i– Fire Science
– Materials/Metallurgy
f /b h l• Human factor/biomechanical
• Toxicology/Pathology
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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19. EXPERT SELECTION
EXPERTS: GETTING TO THE ROOT
CAUSEEXPERT SELECTION
Case Study: cause of
CAUSE
Case Study: cause of
fire was ruptured
hydraulic hosehydraulic hose
Solution: CT Scan of
hose revealed it
ruptured outward
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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20. EXPERTS: GETTING TO THE ROOT
CAUSECAUSE
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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21. EXPERTS: THE INTANGIBLESEXPERTS: THE INTANGIBLES
• Good experts are…Good experts are…
– Mute…(observe and selectively speak)
– Deferential…(look to counsel for guidance)( g )
– Humble…(not focused on being smartest person in
the room)
– Creative…(seek alternative avenues)
– Assertive…(firm and capable in handling scene)
– Kind/Polite…(interaction with experts/assured)
– Dirty…
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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22. ROLE OF COUNSELROLE OF COUNSEL
• Perspectives “from the office”e spect es f o t e off ce
– Timing: early is better
• Experts handle data to determine cause
• Counsel and/or Underwriters handle the ultimate goal
– Expert selection/retention
• Better faster accessBetter, faster access
• Right fit for specific investigation
– Establishing privilege
– Documentation
• Demands to preserve evidence
• Notice to parties• Notice to parties
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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23. ROLE OF COUNSELROLE OF COUNSEL
• Perspective “from the field”Perspective from the field
– Value of first‐hand perspective
Assist and protect the experts– Assist and protect the experts
– Handle other attorneys
B t t f– Be an extra set of eyes
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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24. EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION
• What is spoliation?
– Loss, destruction, alteration
• What legal duties govern evidence preservation?
– “reasonable expectation of litigation”
• What are the penalties for spoliating evidence?
• Rebuttable & Irrebuttable Presumptions
• Admission of Evidence of the Spoliation
• Sanctions‐ monetary to striking pleadings (“the death knell”)
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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25. EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION
When you control the y
evidence:
• Preservation/security
• Access
• When can you dispose?
• Solutions for the
difficult third party (title
transfer courttransfer, court
intervention, cost
assumption)
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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26. EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION
• When others control the evidence:When others control the evidence:
– Early demand to preserve
Renew demands when circumstances change– Renew demands when circumstances change
– Special circumstances:
• Need to repair and return to service• Need to repair and return to service
• Be reasonable/flexible
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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27. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
Ti i i k• Timing is key
• Appoint counsel and retain experts early
• Team approach to expert identification,
evidence gathering, documentation
• Results= goals and cost management can both
be achievedbe achieved
Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista
Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices
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28. Krista Fowler Acuña
Partner/Chair Marine Practice Group
fEmail: kfacuna@chartwelllaw.com
Telephone: 00+1+305.372.9044
Mobile: 00+1+305.778.1640