In Fire Investigation Reports: The Key to Writing a Quality Report fire expert witness and Principal of Pyrocop, Inc., Robert Rowe writes on the preparation of a fire report:
One of the most essential components of fire investigation is the writing of an accurate and comprehensive fire report. Although the writing styles of fire investigators may vary, as with any professional report, preparation is the essential first step.
The fire investigator must insure that all necessary information pertinent to the fire investigation has been collected and compiled before the report can be written. The material within the report must be arranged in a systematic order and that information not pertinent to the case is left out. Utilization of an outline will assist the fire investigator in ensuring that the report is in chronological order and easy to follow.