At a fire scene that is under fire investigation, firefighters should NOT:

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When a fire scene is under investigation, the priority is to protect the scene and avoid influencing the investigation with unverified information. The best practice is to refrain from sharing any opinion about probable cause with the media. Probable cause is determined by the fire investigator, who has trained methods for examining evidence, burning patterns, and scene conditions. Firefighters should refer all inquiries to the incident commander or the designated public information officer and focus on scene security and preserving evidence.

Preserving evidence and coordinated overhaul or access decisions should be handled carefully and in line with investigative procedures, often with the investigator’s input, to avoid contaminating or destroying clues. The key point is that discussing probable cause publicly crosses lines of professional responsibility and can mislead the public or compromise the investigation.