What does fire dynamics encompass in fire investigation?

Fire dynamics encompasses the physics and chemistry of fire behavior, which is essential in understanding how fires ignite, spread, and extinguish. This includes the study of heat transfer, combustion processes, and the properties of fuels, as well as how various materials react when exposed to fire. Understanding these concepts allows investigators to analyze fire scenes more accurately, determine the cause of a fire, and evaluate how fires develop over time under different conditions. This knowledge is critical in reconstructing incidents and providing evidence in investigations.

The other options do not encapsulate the scientific basis behind fire behavior; rather, they address aspects such as legal considerations, regulatory standards, or economic impacts, which, while relevant to the broader context of fire investigations, do not directly define fire dynamics.