Playing With Fire

Students in Ramona Fontaine’s Forensic Science class recently wrapped up their arson unit with a hands-on project that asked them to think—and burn—like real investigators. After a brief study of fire behavior and arson analysis, students were tasked with building small-scale structures to set on fire and then investigate.

Each student group created a narrative for their structure, explaining how and where the fire was meant to start, whether any accelerants were involved, and who might be responsible. Once the houses were burned, teams exchanged evidence and storylines, using the physical remains to identify clues such as the point of origin and possible causes of the fire.

“The goal was to practice analysis methods that real forensic investigators use to solve crimes,” said Fontaine. “Students had to connect physical evidence with narrative reasoning—just like a real arson investigation.”

This project offered a unique way to bring classroom learning to life, reinforcing analytical thinking, observational skills, and scientific reasoning in a high-impact, memorable way.