It is only a car or lorry or bike and it is insured!
The Course
Founded by Richard Dunbar in 2000, the International Vehicle Fire Investigation Course has earned a global reputation, attracting delegates from across the world. In 2023, it delivered the world’s first Electric Vehicle Fire Investigation Course in Norway, welcoming participants from Europe and India. The following year, the course returned to Norway, where 40 delegates gained hands-on experience investigating six recently burned electric vehicles— including one subjected to police ballistic testing — and three battery boxes.
FIRE INVESTIGATION = Systematic investigation to attempt to locate the point of origin then we can put forward possible or probable causes.
As fire losses continue to rise, tackling vehicle arson has never been more critical. Too often, fires are deliberately set to destroy evidence of criminal activity, including insurance fraud. Yet for every deliberate fire, there are many more that are accidental—and each one has a cause that must be identified. Fire investigation demands expertise, precision, and persistence—qualities that Park Lodge International and its partners bring to every case. With our specialist skills and proven methods, we help uncover the truth, improve safety, and drive down losses.
There are three key points to any successful investigation:
The Importance of a Systematic Investigation
A systematic fire investigation relies on meticulous attention to detail — carefully recording the scene, taking comprehensive notes, and capturing clear photographs. Investigators must avoid assumptions, basing their conclusions solely on verifiable facts, all documented in a robust, legally compliant report supported by high-quality photographs and accurate drawings.
An investigator should work within their level of expertise and record the probable cause and point of origin only when these can be confidently supported by evidence. While conclusive findings are not always possible, adherence to these three key principles significantly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.
“My power lies not in what I know, but in the questions I ask to seek out the correct answers — sometimes those questions are to myself.”
— Richard Dunbar
