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A fire inside a fire station. A scene at minus 31°C.

A fire inside a fire station. A scene at minus 31°C. And a candid look at how cognitive bias creeps into decisions when your fingers are numb and the clock is ticking. We sat down with Finnish investigator and trainer Tuomas Palvia to unpack how Finland’s tiered investigation system works, why structural fires drive the biggest societal losses, and how prevention and investigation should be one continuous feedback loop.

Tuomas walks us through the realities of Finland’s landscape: near-universal saunas, wood-lined interiors, heavy insulation, and chimneys that tell their own story through winter and summer cabin season. We explore the most common sauna fire causes, the subtle ways better energy efficiency can change fire dynamics, and how local guidance complements broad European standards. Along the way, Tuomas explains why he specializes in structural fires, how he collaborates with insurance and police, and where he draws the line by referring out vehicle and marine cases to dedicated experts.

Bias is the thread that ties it all together. From confirmation and expectation bias to the stress and time pressure that quietly steer judgment, Tuomas shares practical debiasing tactics: clear information management, devil’s advocate reviews, structured tools like roadmaps and ignition matrices, and a culture that favors documented reasoning over gut feel. We also dive into technology in the field—how Lidar-enabled 3D scanning streamlines floor plans, improves communication with clients, and supports courtroom clarity without replacing core photography.

If you care about fire investigation quality, this conversation offers grounded strategies, field-tested tools, and a network-first mindset. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the biggest bias trap you’ve seen—and the best tactic you’ve used to beat it.

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