What pattern is indicated by a wide angle "V" in a fire scenario?

When evaluating the patterns of a fire, the shape and direction of the burn marks provide vital clues to understanding its behavior. A wide angle "V" pattern typically indicates that the fire was fast-burning. This shape is created as flames rise and spread outward from the origin, producing a wider angle.

Fast-burning fires tend to use available fuel quickly and generate higher heat, leading to this characteristic pattern as the flames reach up and out. The wider angle of the "V" reflects how rapidly the heat and flames have traveled up through the materials involved, and it suggests a significant intensity in the fire’s earlier stages. Recognizing this pattern can be crucial for investigators in determining the fire's origin and dynamics during an investigation.

In comparison, slow-burning fires would exhibit a much narrower angle or potentially a more uniform spreading of damage, signifying less intense, prolonged heat exposure on certain sections of materials.