Evidence first.
Independence always.
Backed by Experience That Supports Confident Decisions
Delivering clear, defensible answers across Australia and internationally.
Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations was established with a clear purpose: to provide technically sound investigations without losing sight of the people and decisions behind every instruction.
A fire investigation is rarely just about determining where a fire started. Our findings can influence insurance claims, legal proceedings, recovery opportunities, business continuity and future risk management.
That responsibility shapes how we work. Every matter is approached methodically, independently and with the understanding that our conclusions must be supported by the available evidence.
We are here to help insurers, legal professionals and businesses make informed decisions following complex fire and explosion events
Our Values
The Principles
Behind Our Work
The Science
We apply a systematic, evidence-based methodology to scene examination, origin determination and cause analysis. Potential hypotheses are identified, examined and tested against the available evidence.
Our findings are backed by the science
Experience That Supports Confident Decisions
With more than 12 years of specialist experience and over 700 matters examined, our work spans residential and commercial structures, vehicles, marine vessels, heavy machinery, mining equipment, industrial facilities, electrical systems and complex fire losses.
We support insurers, loss adjusters, legal teams, corporations and industry stakeholders with scene examinations, origin and cause investigations, expert report reviews, technical advice, training and expert evidence.
Our experience allows us to understand both the technical complexity of a fire and the wider insurance, legal and commercial decisions that may follow.
Meet the Founder
Vithyaa Thavapalan
BSc, MSc, GradDipFI, StudIEAust, IAAI-FIT (V), NAFI-CFEI
Founder & Forensic Fire Investigator
LinkedIn
Vithyaa Thavapalan is an internationally certified forensic fire investigator with more than 12 years of experience examining fire and explosion incidents across Australia and internationally.
Her work has included residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, marine, mining and heavy-equipment fires. She has attended scenes, examined physical evidence, prepared expert reports, provided expert evidence and delivered training across the fire, insurance, forensic and legal sectors.
Before establishing Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations, Vithyaa managed national forensic teams, trained emerging investigators and helped drive business growth and operational improvement within the forensic industry.
As the founder of Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations, she became the first woman of colour to establish a forensics company globally. Her leadership is helping challenge traditional expectations, improve representation and demonstrate that technical excellence and diverse leadership belong together.
Vithyaa leads the business with the same principles she brings to every investigation: independence, curiosity, precision and a commitment to communicating complex evidence clearly.
More Than an Investigation.
A Clear Way Forward.