Trachea with heavy soot deposition The presence of soot in the airways indicates that the decedent was alive (and as such, breathing) when the fire started. This can be crucial evidence in proving or disproving foul play in cases where a fire started under suspicious circumstances. A lack of soot in the airway has proven many times that a victim didn’t die an accidental death in a fire, but was deceased beforehand.

Trachea with heavy soot deposition

The presence of soot in the airways indicates that the decedent was alive (and as such, breathing) when the fire started. This can be crucial evidence in proving or disproving foul play in cases where a fire started under suspicious circumstances. A lack of soot in the airway has proven many times that a victim didn’t die an accidental death in a fire, but was deceased beforehand.