To illustrate the potential benefits of such technology, a case study is presented in which the authors compare the predicted temperatures and smoke-layer height produced by a computer model with the actual conditions generated during a full-scale burn of a structure. The computer model input data were obtained from an investigation of an actual fire scene with a full-scale reconstruction of the structure built and ignited under similar conditions. The output of the computer model generated temperatures within an average of plus or minus 8.2 percent of the temperatures recorded by the thermocouples within the structure. Similarly, the predicted smoke-layer interface height in the den of the structure was within plus or minus 0.06 meters of the observed value. Such results show that computer modeling has a place in modern fire investigation and can provide reasonably accurate results, provided the scene is fully documented at the time of initial fire investigation. The complete documentation of a fire scene required for computer modeling enhances site observations and acts as a useful checklist for the fire investigator. 8 figures and 2 references