Hump Day History


 You may have seen in the news, a deadly fire in a Hong Kong housing complex.

151 people have been confirmed dead.

The buildings had been undergoing renovations, and the directors of the construction company have been arrested.  Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, has ordered an investigation.

So I thought we'd take a look at the history of fire forensics.

It was during the Industrial Revolution that the first fire departments were established and the need for trained investigators to determine the cause of factory fires.  The first documented arson investigation was in 1794.

Early cases relied heavily on eyewitness accounts, and it wasn't until the 1970's that chemical analysis was introduced.  The ATF, formed in 1972, later pioneered the use of accelerant-detecting canines.

Accelerants point to arson, and the International Association of Arson Investigators was charted December 4, 1951, formed in Louisville, KY.  

But that's not say investigations are only about arson - they are also looking to identify accidental sources and, as in this case, possible negligence.


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