Which term refers to the history of the fire, from the moment the ignition source and first fuel meet at the area of origin through the entire duration of fire spread?

• A. Fire Cause
• B. Ignition Sequence
• C. Evidence
• D. History of the Fire

Answer: (B)

The ignition sequence is the term that describes the chronological history of a fire from the moment the ignition source meets the first fuel at the area of origin through the entire progression of spread. This concept includes how the fire starts, the origin point, how it grows, and how it moves through the structure until it’s extinguished or burns out. Understanding this sequence helps investigators link the initiating event to observed damage and patterns, and to assess factors like ventilation, fuel availability, and timing. Fire cause explains why it started, not the timeline of growth; evidence refers to data and physical material collected; history of the fire is not a standard term for this progression.