What does heavy smoke stains remote from the point of origin indicate?

Heavy smoke stains located remote from the point of origin indicate a slow fire buildup. This phenomenon occurs because, during a slow fire growth phase, smoke can travel considerable distances from where the fire started before it becomes more destructive. The smoke's ability to spread indicates that the fire was progressing at a slower rate, allowing smoke to accumulate and travel before significant burning or heat damage occurs.

In contrast, rapid fire growth would typically cause more concentrated smoke and heat damage closer to the origin rather than distant stains. The presence of accelerants would create a quicker and more intense fire, also resulting in dense smoke localized around the origin. When a fire has been extinguished quickly, it would not typically cause extensive smoke staining away from the point of origin, as the fire would not have been given the chance to grow and spread the smoke effectively. Thus, observing heavy smoke stains away from where the fire started aligns with the characteristics of a slow fire buildup.