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A fire inside a fire station. A scene at minus 31°C.

A fire inside a fire station. A scene at minus 31°C. And a candid look at how cognitive bias creeps into decisions when your fingers are numb and the clock is ticking. We sat down with Finnish investigator and trainer Tuomas Palvia to unpack how Finland’s tiered investigation system works, why structural fires drive the biggest societal losses, and how prevention and investigation should be one continuous feedback loop.

Tuomas walks us through the realities of Finland’s landscape: near-universal saunas, wood-lined interiors, heavy insulation, and chimneys that tell their own story through winter and summer cabin season. We explore the most common sauna fire causes, the subtle ways better energy efficiency can change fire dynamics, and how local guidance complements broad European standards. Along the way, Tuomas explains why he specializes in structural fires, how he collaborates with insurance and police, and where he draws the line by referring out vehicle and marine cases to dedicated experts.

Bias is the thread that ties it all together. From confirmation and expectation bias to the stress and time pressure that quietly steer judgment, Tuomas shares practical debiasing tactics: clear information management, devil’s advocate reviews, structured tools like roadmaps and ignition matrices, and a culture that favors documented reasoning over gut feel. We also dive into technology in the field—how Lidar-enabled 3D scanning streamlines floor plans, improves communication with clients, and supports courtroom clarity without replacing core photography.

If you care about fire investigation quality, this conversation offers grounded strategies, field-tested tools, and a network-first mindset. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the biggest bias trap you’ve seen—and the best tactic you’ve used to beat it.

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The amazing Vithyaa Thavapalan joins me to talk all things FI — and becomes the very first guest to turn the tables on me!

That kind of bold, dynamic energy is nothing new for this powerhouse in the FI space. 💥

Learn more about Vithyaa here:

• 🌐 vithyaa.com.au – Official Website
  
  
• 💼 LinkedIn – Vithyaa Thavapalan
  
  
• 🧭 Origin & Cause Investigations
  
  
• 🎯 Coaching with Vithyaa
  
  
• 🌏 South Asian Foundation Australia
  
  
• 📸 Instagram – What The Fire

When Vithyaa realized her social life was too important for medical school, she never imagined it would lead her to dismantling IEDs in a forensic laboratory and ultimately becoming one of Australia's most innovative fire investigators. Her unconventional path bypassed the traditional fire service route, instead securing an internship while still completing her studies—a move that accelerated her career and positioned her uniquely in the field.

Now approaching the first anniversary of launching Origin & Cause, Vithya's entrepreneurial spirit shines as she balances solo fire investigation with community leadership. Her work on mine fires takes her to remote locations across Australia, examining multimillion-dollar machinery failures where companies desperately need answers to restore operations. These investigations require not just technical skill but the ability to understand complex mechanical systems while working in challenging environments—sometimes climbing through massive haul trucks in scorching heat.

Beyond her technical expertise, Vithya has transformed how fire investigators approach cases involving domestic violence, creating comprehensive guidelines that address a critical gap in traditional training. As a woman of South Asian descent in a predominantly white male industry, she faced persistent skepticism about her capabilities, from assumptions she wouldn't return after having children to surprise when her reports demonstrated deep technical knowledge. Rather than becoming discouraged, these experiences inspired her to create Brown Boss Babes, now a nationwide organization supporting women of color across Australia.

Perhaps most fascinating is her innovative approach to quality assurance—developing an AI system trained on established fire investigation texts to review her reports in the absence of colleague peer review. This balance of traditional forensic practice with cutting-edge technology exemplifies how the next generation of investigators is reshaping the field.

Whether you're considering a career in fire investigation, interested in the challenges facing women in technical fields, or simply curious about what happens after the flames are extinguished, Vithya's story offers rare insight into the evolving world of forensic fire science. Subscribe to CSI on Fire for more conversations with the passionate professionals working behind the scenes to uncover the truth in the aftermath of destruction.

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Fire has secrets that only science can unlock. In this riveting conversation with legendary fire investigator John Lentini, we explore the transformation of fire investigation from subjective interpretation to rigorous science over the past five decades.

Lentini's journey began in 1974 at the Georgia State Crime Laboratory, where a young chemist found his calling in a field few wanted to tackle. His candid reflections reveal how he became drawn to the scientific clarity of fire investigation—something he could confidently explain to juries—and how this decision led him to become one of the field's most influential voices.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Lentini describes the groundbreaking 1991 Lime Street fire experiment that fundamentally changed fire investigation. Expecting flashover in 15-20 minutes, investigators were shocked when it occurred in just four minutes. This revelation exposed critical misconceptions about fire patterns that had led to countless wrongful convictions. "It blew my mind," Lentini recalls, describing patterns on the floor that mimicked what investigators wrongly believed indicated arson.

Particularly compelling is Lentini's work helping exonerate 35 people wrongfully convicted of arson. His methodical approach to testing hypotheses and documenting findings stands in stark contrast to older, more subjective methods. When discussing persistent myths, he doesn't hold back: "There are still people that think they can look at a fire pattern and tell what caused it," he notes, explaining why this approach fails after flashover.

For anyone interested in forensic science, Lentini's insights on ventilation effects, documentation practices, and the evolution of standards provide invaluable education. His upcoming book "Twice Burned" promises to share more case studies from his remarkable career—stories that not only changed lives but transformed an entire field.

Listen now to understand why proper fire investigation matters, how science continues to reshape our understanding of fire, and what lessons Lentini's fifty years of experience offer to investigators today. The truth, as it turns out, is in the flames—if you know how to read them correctly.

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