[WFTR]

Depending on where the fire had spread, kicking open that garage door would have been a natural thing for the firefighters to do in order to ventilate the house. They would want to move as much smoke as possible in order to see what they were fighting and find victims. I would lean against believing that this door being open is a clue to a crime.

[DainBramage]

Also if you look at the drawing, the hoseline came in from the unburned side of the house. If the crew that had opened the garage door had come in there with a line they would have steamed the other crew or visa virsa. It would be hard to tell without being there or interviewing the crews at the fire.

It could be that it was opened during overhaul too, which is after the fire is extinguished.

[COB1]

"kicking open that garage door would have been a natural thing for the firefighters to do in order to ventilate the house."

Of course!...............BUT:

This investigator was unable to determine if the door was forced by firefighters or was forced prior to the fire."[italics and bold mine]

Don't you think a simple question like, "Hey, guys, did you kick the door open", would have been a natural part of the investigation??!

[meyer]

Depending on where the fire had spread, kicking open that garage door would have been a natural thing for the firefighters to do in order to ventilate the house.

Sounds reasonable. The only issue I have is why they didn't simply match the shoe print with that of a firefighter or just ask those on the scene if they kicked the door open or not. I'll have to say though that judging where the dining room is in relation to the garage, this might not be too likely. Unless the dining room fire was a diversion since they knew that the chief may be armed.