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This Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team is comprised of multi-agency, multi-discipline professionals dedicated to coordinating fire investigations and training. The team members use their time and skills to assist other agencies within the county (through mutual aid agreements) conduct their origin and cause investigations. The purpose of this document is to establish guidelines and recommendations for the safe and systematic investigation or analysis of fire and explosion incidents. It is through an efficient and accurate determination of the cause and responsibility, that future fire incidents can be avoided. By using a systematic approach to uncover factual data, and a scientific method, together it will provide for the organizational and analytical process necessary in a successful fire investigation. The concept of the team is to assist area incident commanders with the resources they may need in order to determine the most likely probable cause of a fire or explosion. The probable cause will be determined through effective, interviews, thorough scene examinations, processing, and follow-up.