Fire Related Crime Investigation and Detec. Course

8/19/2019 Fire Related Crime Investigation and Detec. Course

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PRESENTED BY:PRESENTED BY:

F/S U P T H E R B E R T B C E Z A R, Ed. D.F/S U P T H E R B E R T B C E Z A R, Ed. D.


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IN A NOT-SO-PERFECT WORLD…


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SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATIONSEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction

Terms of Reference

Four (4) Phases of FireInvestigation

Scientic Method of FireInvestigation


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28%

3%

69%

Intentional AccidentalUnder Investigation

I YOU KNOW THAT FOR CY 2003…

… more than two-thirds of these fire incidentsor4,396 have beenaccidental in nature?


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AREA OF ORIGIN – the room or area where the fire began.

ARROW PATTERN – a fire pattern displayed on thecross section of a burned wooden structural

member.

ARSON – the crime of maliciously and intentionally,or recklessly, starting a fire or causing an explosion.

Precise legal definitions vary among jurisdictions, wherein it is defined by statutes and judicialdecisions.


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BACKDRAFT – an explosion resulting from the

sudden introduction of air (i.e., oxygen) into aconfined space containing oxygen-deficientsuperheated products of incomplete combustion.

BLEVE – boiling liquid expanding vapor

explosion.

CEILING LAYER – a buoyant layer of hot gases and

smoke produced by a fire in a compartment.

CHAR – carbonaceous material that has been

burned and has a blackened appearance.


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CHAR BLISTERS – convex segments of carbonizedmaterial separated by cracks or crevasses that form onthe surface of char, forming on materials such as woodas the result of pyrolysis or burning.

CLEAN BURN – a fire pattern on surfaces where

soot has been burned away.

DROP DOWN – the spread of fire by the dropping or fallingof burning materials. This is synonymous with "FallDown”.


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FIRE ANALYSIS – the process of determining the origin,cause, development, and responsibility as well as the

failure analysis of a fire or explosion.

FIRE CAUSE – the circumstances or agencies that bringa fuel and all ignition source together with proper air oroxygen.

FIRE INVESTIGATION – the process of deterll1illlllg theorigin, cause, and development of a fire or explosion.

FIRE SCENE RECONSTRUCTION – the process ofrecreating the physical scene during fire scene analysisthrough the removal of debris and the replacement ofcontents or structural elements in their pre-firepositions.


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FLASH FIRE – a fire that spreads rapidly through adiffuse fuel, such as dust, gas, or the vapors of an

ignitable liquid, without the production of damagingpressure.

FLASH POINT OF A LIQUID – the lowest temperatureof a liquid, as determined by specific laboratory tests, at

which the liquid gives off vapors at a sufficient rate tosupport a momentary flame across its surface.

FLASHOVER – a transition phase in the

development of a contained fire in which surfacesexposed to thermal radiation reach ignition temperaturemore or less simultaneously and fire spreads rapidlythroughout the space.


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HAZARD – any arrangement of materials and heatsources that presents the potential for harm, such aspersonal injury or ignition of combustibles.

IGNITION – the process of initiating self-sustainedcombustion.

ISOCHAR - a line on a diagram connecting pointsof equal char depth.

MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED - the fuel that is firstset on fire by the heat of ignition. To bemeaningful, both a type of material and a form ofmaterial should be identified.


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PLUME – the column of hot gases, flames, and

smoke rising above a fire. Also called convectioncolumn, thermal updraft, or thermal column.

POINT OF ORIGIN – the exact physical location where a heat source and a fuel come in contact witheach other and a fire begins.

POINTER - the difference in height of a series of fire

damaged vertical wood members ranging from high being the farthest away from a source of heating tothe shortest being closer.


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PYROLYSIS – the transformation of a Compoundinto one or more other substances by heat alone.Pyrolysis often precedes combustion.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD – the systematic pursuit

of knowledge involving the recognition andformulation of a problem, the collection of datathrough observation and experiment and theformulation and testing of a hypothesis.

SEAT OF EXPLOSION - a craterlike indentationcreated at the point of origin of an explosion.


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SECONDARY EXPLOSION – any subsequentexplosion resulting from an initial explosion.

SELF-HEATING – the result of exothermicreactions, occurring spontaneously in somematerials under certain conditions, whereby heatis liberated at a rate sufficient to raise the

temperature of the material.

SELF-IGNITION - ignition resulting from self-heating. This is synonymous with spontaneous

ignition.

SELF-IGNITION TEMPERATURE – theminimum temperature at which the self-heatingproperties of a material lead to ignition.


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SOOT – black particles of carbon produced ill aflame.

SPALLING – chipping or pitting of concrete

or masonry surfaces.

SPARK – a small, incandescent particle.

SPONTANEOUS HEATING – process whereby amaterial increases in temperature without

drawing heat from its surroundings. Theprocess results from oxidation often aided by

bacterial action where agricultural products areinvolved.


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SPONTANEOUS IGNITION – initiation ofcombustion of a material by an internalchemical or biological reaction that has

produced sufficient heat to ignite thematerial.

TIME LINE – graphical representation of theevents in the fire incident displayed in

chronological order.


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FIRE PATTERNS are the visible or measurablephysical efects that remain ater a re. These incluethermal efects on materials! such as charrin"!

o#iation! consumption o combustibles! smo$e ansoot eposits! istortion! meltin"! color chan"es!chan"es in the character o materials! structuralcollapse! an other efects.

Burn pattern with fire from above and below.


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SPA%%IN& is the brea$o'n in surace tensilestren"th o concrete! masonry! or bric$ cause bye#posure to hi"h temperatures an rates oheatin" resultin" in mechanical orces 'ithin thematerial.

SPA%%IN& is the brea$o'n in surace tensilestren"th o concrete! masonry! or bric$ cause bye#posure to hi"h temperatures an rates oheatin" resultin" in mechanical orces 'ithin thematerial.

Spalling on ceiling.

BAC BAC


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(%EAN )*RN is aphenomenon that

appears onnoncombustible suraces'hen the soot ansmo$e conensate that'oul normally be ounaherin" to the suraceis burne of.

This prouces a clean

area a+acent to areasar$ene by proucts ocombustion. (lean burnis prouce most

commonly by irect,ame contact or intenseClean burn on wall surface.BAC BAC


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Photograph on top shows protected area,

while photograph at bottom shows how the

chair was positioned during the fire.


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Typical V pattern showing walland wood stud damage.

The appearance o the - SAPE/ PATTERNS iscreate by ,ames! convective or raiate heat romhot re "ases! an smo$e 'ithin the re plume. The -pattern oten appears as lines o emarcation!enin" the borers o the re plume an less heateareas outsie the plume.


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Inverted cone pattern fueled by a

natural gas leak below the floor level.

IN-ERTE/ (0NES are commonly cause by thevertical ,ame plumes o the burnin" volatile uels notreachin" the ceilin".


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evelopment of !"shaped pattern.

* PATTERNS are similar to the more sharplyan"le - patterns but isplay "ently curve lineso emarcation an curve rather than an"le

lo'er vertices.


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Truncated cone pattern.

TR*N(ATE/ (0NE PATTERNS! also calletruncate plumes! are three1imensional repatterns isplaye on both hori2ontal an

vertical suraces.


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#ood wall studs showing decreasing damage as distance from fire increases.


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Irregularly shaped pattern on floor carpeting resulting from poured

ignitable li$uid. Burned match can be seen at lower left.


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Saddle burn in a floor %oist.

3SA//%E )*RNS4 are istinctive *1 or sale1shape patterns that are sometimes oun on the tope"es o ,oor +oists. They are cause by re burnin"

o'n'ar throu"h the ,oor above the efecte +oist.Sale burns isplay eep charrin"! an the repatterns are hi"hly locali2e an "ently curve.

I i i h l i i ll


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Trailer running up a stairway.

In many inceniary res! 'hen uels are intentionallyistribute or 3traile4 rom one area to another! theelon"ate patterns may be visible. Such re patterns!$no'n as 3TRAI%ERS!4 can be oun alon" ,oors toconnect separate re sets! or up stair'ays to move resrom one ,oor or level 'ithin a structure to another. Fuelsuse or trailers may be i"nitable li5uis! solis! orcombinations o these.


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Blistering of varnish on door and slight scorching of draperies,

the only indications of the natural gas flash fire.


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& typical 'pulled( bulb showing that the heating

was from the right side.


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amage to an outside brick wall caused by

thermal e)pansion of an I"beam in the basement.


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*harring of wooden structural elements by heat

conduction through wall surface material.BAC BAC


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An LP-Gas cylinder that suffered a BLEVE as a result of exposure to an external fire.

BAC BAC


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Initially, the temperature of the fire gases decreases

as they move away from the centerline of the plume.

BAC BAC


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As the fire grows, the overall temperature in thecompartment increases as does the temperature of the

gas layer at the ceiling level.


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The radiant heat (red arrows) from the hot gaslayer at the ceiling heats combustible materials which

produces vapors (green arrows)


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BAC BAC


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A fully developed fire


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Under normal fire conditions in a closedstructure, the highest levels of heat will be found at

ceiling level and the lowest level of heat will be found

at the floor level.


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Applying water to the upper level of the thermallayer creates a thermal imbalance.


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Improper ventilation during fire fighting operations may result in a backdraft.

BAC BAC


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The four products of combustion are heat, flame, smoke and fire gases.


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http://d/fire%20science%20doc/LUCHIE/ARSON.ppt


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Fire Cause Determination4th Phase

T"t t* H2ot*"$"


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I. RECOR ING

b. Audio, Video Utii!"tio#

$. %&et$' ()e*")"tio#

+. Rou' %&et$'

2. ()o)e--io# %&et$'

". ('oto)"*'

+. C)od

2. Ve'i$e-

/ 0"&e "#d $oo) / -*eedo0ete) )e"di#

/ &e1 *o-itio#

/ *"te #u0be)

3. Coo) o F"0e- "#d %0o&e


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II. INFORATION GATHERING

". Noti# C'")"$te)i-ti$- o t'e Fi)e4

+. R"*idit1 o t'e -*)e"d o "0e.

2. Coo) o t'e %0o&e "#d F"0e-.

3. Ide#tii"be Odo)-

5. A)e" o o)ii#


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II. INFORATION GATHERING

b. T"&i# Note- o# t'e Fooi#4

+. U##"tu)" -t"te o t'e *)e0i-e-.

2. Ob-t"$e o# e#t)1 *oi#t.

3. Doo) "#d i#do o$&ed.

5. Fi)e "")0 o) ot'e) i)e *)ote$tio#

e6ui*0e#t- di-$o##e$ted7-"bot"e.

8. A)tii$i" d)"t- b1 0"&i# o*e#i#.

9. :o$& e#t)"#$e.


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$. I#te)


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+. U-eu Te$'#i6ue

Ob-e)


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+. U-eu Te$'#i6ue

b. %u)"$e ee$t- / de*t' o

$'"))i#, *"tte)# o "e"tio#4

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%u)"$e- >*"tte)#- -u$' "- V, U,

i#


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2. I#te)


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ORGANIATION

AND :A%IC %TAGE%

IN %EARCH O(ERATION%


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I. Pr(r(t$o%

A. Team rie!ing

". #aterials re$uirement

o! involved mem%ers

2. Discussed searc&

'attern use(

stri' dou%le stri'

)&eel s'iral

*one


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3. Assignment + role o!

individual team

mem%ers.

,. -et u' command 'ost

. /rgani*e communication )it& services au0iliar1.

6. Coordination )it& ot&er

agencies.

I. Pr(r(t$o%

A. Team rie!ing


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a. Determine t&e e0tent to

)&ic& t&e scene &as %een

'rotected.

%. C&ec t&e ade$uate scene

securit1.

c. Tae e0tensive notes do

not rel1 on memor1.

II. S!r (%d Prot!t t*S!%


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d. 4ee' a record o! 'ersons+

individual )&o enters 5

leave.

e. sta%lis&ed !rame o!

minutes to tae control o!

scene regardless o!circumstances o%served

on arrival

II. S!r (%d Prot!t t*S!%


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a. Accom'lis&ed a

cautious )al t&roug&t&e scene.

%. Ac$uire 'reliminar1

'&otogra'&.

c. Delineate e0tent o! t&e

searc& area.

III. I%$t$(t" Pr$'$%(r2Sr#2


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d. Determine 'ersonnel

and e$ui'ment needs.

e. Identi!1 and 'rotect

transient '&1sical

evidence.

!. Develo' general t&eor1

o! t&e crime.



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g. 7ecord ve&icles

identi!ication num%ere1 'osition and

odometer reading.

&. Concentrate on mosttransient evidence and

)or to t&e least

transient !orm o!

'&1sical evidence.



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i. Focus !irst on t&e easil1

accessi%le

areas in o'en vie) and

'rogress eventuall1 to

'ossi%le outer vie)

locations loo !or a

'ur'osivel1 &idden items.

8. Consider )&et&er t&e

evidence a''ears to &ave%een moved inadvertentl1.



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. valuate )&et&er or not

t&e scene and evidence

a''ears unintentionall1contrived.

l. T)o %asic searc&

a''roac&es(

". 9Cautious9 searc& o! visi%leareas taing ste's to avoid

evidence loss or contamination.

2. A!ter t&e 9cautious: searc&

a vigorous searc& !or &iddenconcealed areas.



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a. egin '&otogra'&1 as

soon as 'ossi%le.

%. Document t&e

'&otogra'&ic e!!ort )it& a

'&otogra'&ic log%oo.

c. Insure t&at a 'rogression

o! overall medium and

close;u' vie) o! t&e

scene is esta%lis&.

I3. D$!t S!%P*oto+r(*$!(2


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d. Use recogni*e scale device

!or si*e determination )&en

a''lica%le.

e.


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g. e o%servant on

'&otogra'&s areas

ad8acent to t&e crime

scene > 'oints o! entr1

e0its )indo)s.

&. =&otogra'& items'laces etc to colla%orate

t&e statement o!

)itnesses victims and

sus'ects.

I3. D$!t S!%P*oto+r(*$!(2


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i. =re'ares '&otogra'&ic

setc& and '&oto

log%oo.

8. Do not &esitate to

'&otogra'& somet&ing

)&ic& &as no a''arent

signi!icant at t&at time it

ma1 later 'rove to %e a

e1 element in t&e

investigation.

I3. D$!t S!%P*oto+r(*$!(2


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T&e diagram esta%lis&es

'ermanent record o! items

condition and distance+ si*erelations&i' ; diagram

'&otogra'&s.

3. Pr(r S1t!* o& t* S!%


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?a1out %asic 'erimeter -et !ort& !i0ed o%8ects

!urniture etc. Insert evidence as it is

recovered

7ecord a''ro'riatemeasurements

-et !ort& e1+ ?egends

com'ass orientation /t&ers

3. Pr(r S1t!* o& t* S!%

%. Beneral =rogression o!

-etc&es


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c. um%er designation on

setc& s&ould %e

coordinated )it& samenum%er designation on

evidence log.

d. Insure t&at enoug& roomis allo)ed to include all

'ertinent in!ormation and

measurement.

3. Pr(r S1t!* o& t* S!%


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a. Collect evidence in

accordance )it& standard

'ractice.

%. Use s'eciali*ed searc&

'atterns @stri' dou%le

stri' *one )&eel

3I. Co!t (%d Pr"r#E#$d%!


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c. =&otogra'& all items

%e!ore collection and

enter notation in

'&otogra'&ic log%oo.

d. #ar evidence location in

diagram setc&.



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e. ave at least 2 'ersons(


-ee evidence in 'lace

%e!ore collectionE /%serve it %eing collectedE Tag *eal evidenceE =lace identi!1ing mars on

evidence container anddocument t&e 'roceeding

%1 '&otogra'&.

!. Do not &andle evidence

e0cessivel1 a!ter recover1.


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g. I! !easi%le &ave one

'erson as an evidence

custodian to 're'areevidence c&ain o! custod1

and evidence log.

&. -eal all evidencecontainers at t&e crime

scene.



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i. T&e %est container !or

'&1sical evidence suc&

as de%ris )it& 'ossi%le!lamma%le accelerants is

clean can or 8ar and

t&us evidence 'lastic

container can do.



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a. T&is surve1 is a critical

revie) o! all as'ects o!

t&e searc&.

%. Dou%le c&ec

documentation to detect

inadvertent errors.

c. Insure t&at '&otogra'&sare taen o! scene

s&o)ing !inal condition

a!ter com'letion o!

searc&.

3II. Co%d!t F$%( Sr#2


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d. C&ec to insure all

evidence is accounted

!ar %e!ore de'arting

scene.

e. 7elease o! t&e !ire scene

is accom'lis&ed onl1

a!ter com'letion o! t&e!inal surve1.

!. -ecure a!!idavit t&at no

looting+ lost cause %1

res'onding !ire!ig&ters.

3II. Co%d!t F$%( Sr#2

!If t t


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!If "ou #ant to

catch an arsonist

and so$ve a crime%

&' A*+ T' TI,

-I+ ',+.


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Fire Related Crime Investigation and Detec. Course

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Transcript of Fire Related Crime Investigation and Detec. Course