Following a brief explanation of the nature of electricity and malfunctions that may cause a fire, the hardware portions of an electrical system are identified. It is advised that reconstruction of the area of fire origin must be followed by a complete checkout of the affected parts of the electrical system, working back to the service entrance. Attention is given to the following potential electrical causes of fire: lightning, static electricity, and faults (overload, short circuit, and ground fault). The final section discusses evidence collection. The evidence-collection steps considered are overall area photographs and closeups to show the suspect hardware and its relationship to the ignited combustibles; the proper securing and identifying of the evidence; and consultation with an electrical engineer, physicist, an electrical-testing or engineering laboratory, or a manufacturer of electrical components. Five footnotes and 11 bibliographic entries are provided.