Frequently Asked
Questions

On your device. All case data – addresses, owner information, witness statements, scene photos, breaker panels, evidence logs, and exported PDFs – is stored locally on your iPad or Mac. It never leaves your device unless you explicitly share or export it yourself.

If you have iCloud enabled, your cases sync across your own Apple devices through your personal iCloud account. DocuFire never has access to that data.

No. We have no server, no database, and no backend that receives your case data. There is no mechanism by which anyone at DocuFire LLC can view, access, or retrieve your investigation files.

The only data that leaves your device is anonymous, non-identifiable diagnostic information collected by TelemetryDeck – crash reports and general performance metrics like app launch time. This data contains no names, no case details, and cannot be linked to any individual.

We do not collect contact info, location data, photos, financial information, or any case content.

Nothing. Your cases stay on your device exactly as they are. Canceling your subscription affects your access to the app's features, not your data. To remove your data, simply delete the app.

Yes. Because all case data is stored locally on your device and never transmitted to DocuFire's servers, DocuFire is well-suited for sensitive insurance, subrogation, and litigation support work. Your client information, findings, and reports stay under your control at all times.

As with any tool, you are responsible for the security of your device and for following any confidentiality requirements set by your clients or the courts.

The AI assistant reviews your completed case documentation and can provide cause determination review, flag inconsistencies, suggest follow-up interview questions, and reference applicable NFPA 921 sections. It is a review tool – it does not make origin and cause determinations on your behalf.

The AI feature is optional and disabled by default.

No. DocuFire automatically strips all personally identifiable information before sending anything to Claude. Fields including owner names, occupant details, witness contact information, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses are excluded from all AI requests.

The AI only sees structural and investigative content – fire patterns, cause documentation, utility information, and NFPA 921 compliance data.

No. The AI feature is disabled by default and requires explicit action to enable. You will never have data sent to Claude without choosing to do so.

Yes. The AI feature requires your own Anthropic API key to access Claude. You connect your own Anthropic account. DocuFire does not provide or proxy AI access. Your data goes directly from your device to Anthropic under your own account's terms and privacy policy.

Absolutely. The AI feature is entirely optional. Every other feature in DocuFire – case documentation, breaker panels, weather pull, evidence log, PDF export, compliance checklist – works completely independently with no AI involved.

DocuFire Monthly – $16.99/month. Full access, cancel anytime.

DocuFire Annual – $169.99/year. That's two months free compared to paying monthly. Best value for investigators who use DocuFire regularly.

Yes. DocuFire includes a free trial that lets you complete a set number of cases before subscribing. No payment information is required to start. The trial gives you full access to all features so you can evaluate the app on real casework before committing.

Yes. You can upgrade from monthly to annual at any time through the App Store subscription management page. Apple handles the proration automatically.

All billing is managed through Apple. To cancel, go to Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad, find DocuFire, and tap Cancel Subscription. You'll retain access through the end of your current billing period.

Not yet. DocuFire currently offers individual subscriptions only. Agency and team pricing is on the roadmap. If you represent an agency or department with multiple investigators, reach out directly to discuss options.

Yes. DocuFire is fully functional without an internet connection. You can create cases, document scenes, fill out all sections, and export PDFs entirely offline. The only features that require internet are the historical weather pull and the AI assistant.

iPad – All iPad models running iPadOS 16 or later. Optimized for iPad Pro with Apple Pencil support.

Mac – All Macs running macOS 13 Ventura or later via Mac Catalyst.

iPhone and Android are not currently supported. Android is on the roadmap.

Yes. DocuFire uses iCloud to automatically sync cases across all your Apple devices signed in to the same Apple ID. Start a case on your iPad at the scene and it will be available on your Mac when you get back to the office – no manual export or transfer needed.

From inside any case, tap the Export tab. Toggle which sections you want included – incident info, weather, evidence log, timeline, notes, checklist, and photo appendix are all individually selectable. Tap Export Case PDF and the standard iOS share sheet will appear, letting you AirDrop, email, save to Files, or send the report anywhere.

DocuFire was built by Roger Thorpe, an IAAI-CFI based in New Paltz, NY with a passion for incorporating technology into fire investigation. There were no dedicated native iPad or Mac apps built for how investigators actually work in the field, so he built one.