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Firm flags gaps in fire investigation; origin undetermined and no accelerant found in tests
Summary
Jensen Hughes said the fire-investigation unit indicated origin near the exterior stairwell/Units 303–304, flagged incomplete photographs and lack of systematic evidence control, and noted lab testing of collected samples found no accelerant on those tested samples.
Jensen Hughes told the commission reviewers received limited investigation materials because the case remains under active investigation. The team said available scene photographs and documentation lacked a systematic approach, control samples were not always present in lab submissions, and supplemental follow-up reporting appeared incomplete.
"The fire investigation unit noted the origin to be the exterior stairwell of Building 3 in or around the landing of Units 303 And 304," the presentation said. The firm advised the origin and cause remain under investigation and that "origin cause investigation report should have been completed by now even if undetermined with the discussion of competing cause hypothesis."
In Q&A commissioners asked whether accelerant testing had been completed; Jensen Hughes said lab reports on tested samples showed no accelerant was found on the samples tested. The consultants also said several external resources (sniffing dogs, ATF, state resources) were contacted and unavailable for immediate assistance in the days after the fire.
The firm recommended additional investigator training, stronger documentation practices (systematic photography and scene diagrams) and better regional resource coordination for complex origin‑and‑cause incidents.
