FIRE

Uncover the shocking truth behind fire investigation, forensic science, and the history of how we understand flames.
For decades, modern legal systems relied on visual rules of thumb to convict people of arson-indicators like crazed glass, alligator charring, and pour patterns. But as science advanced, a terrifying realization emerged: many of the traditional signs used to identify intentional fires are regularly produced by ordinary room fires during a standard flashover.

Fire: In 200 Facts by Cornelis van Houte is a rigorous, eye-opening examination of combustion physics, historical blunders, and forensic science reform. Spanning two hundred independent, hard-hitting facts, this book breaks down everything from the microgravity behavior of flames to the systemic failures that sent innocent people to prison. Discover why wood and petrol burn at the same flame temperature, how modern synthetic furnishings changed fire growth rates from minutes to seconds, and why the most critical evidence is often consumed by the disaster itself.

Whether you are a true crime reader, a legal professional, a writer looking for factual accuracy, or simply someone fascinated by the science of everyday phenomena, this book delivers a meticulous, paradigm-shifting look at the element that shaped human civilization.

Cornelis van Houte, doctor of laws, is an independent researcher.