What statistic is commonly used to assess the overall effectiveness of a fire investigation unit?

The case closure rate serves as a critical statistic for evaluating the overall effectiveness of a fire investigation unit. This metric indicates the percentage of investigations that reach a conclusive outcome, whether through arrests, charged cases, or other resolutions. A higher closure rate signifies that the unit is successfully solving cases and achieving its objectives, which is a key indicator of its efficacy and operational success in detecting the cause of fires and holding responsible parties accountable.

In contrast, while incident response time can provide insights into how quickly a unit reacts to fires, it does not reflect the investigative quality or success in solving cases. The number of reports filed may indicate the volume of work conducted but does not measure how effectively those investigations are leading to conclusions or actions. Similarly, average cost per investigation may help assess budgetary concerns but does not comment on the investigative outcome or success rate. Therefore, the case closure rate is the most relevant and comprehensive statistic for assessing a fire investigation unit's overall performance.