ARSON FIRE INVESTIGATIONS : Mike Parks
Investigator Department of Public Advocacy
London, Ky.
August 13, 2009 ARSON FIRE INVESTIGATIONS 1
: NAFI (National Association of Fire Investigators) Certified fire & explosion investigator / instructor
Ky. State Fire Rescue Training Instructor
IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation Congress) Certified fire fighter
Hazardous Materials Technician 2
FIRE CAUSES : FIRE CAUSES 3 This presentation emphasizes arson detection, the main focus of this unit will be based on the indicators of incendiarism\arson fires.
Objectives : Objectives 4 List and describe numerous causes of accidental fires.
Identify the most common incendiary – arson methods used by fire setters.
List and explain the most common types of incendiary - arson devices.
Introduction : Introduction 5 There are several reasons why a fire may start accidentally.
To be successful, the investigator should be familiar with them. Many accidental fires are a result of equipment or appliance malfunctions beyond control of the owner/occupant.
Carelessness or neglect on part of the owner/occupant also causes accidental fires. This does not make the cause incendiary / or arson in nature.
Introduction : Introduction 14:06 6 The investigator must realize that for a fire to be incendiary \ arson, most states require that intent or recklessness on the part of the fire starter be proven.
An intentional fire is a crime of deliberately and maliciously setting fire, that threatens harm, is set for financial gain, (arson for profit), or is started in a manner inconsistent with the goal of a controlled fire that avoids harm.
Introduction : Introduction Arson for profit occurs when businesses or individuals set fires to reduce financial loss, recoup initial investments, and/or dispose of depreciated assets usually for a payout from insurance companies.
Referring to all types of arson, the Insurance Information Institute indicates that arsonists destroyed nearly $900 million in insured property and killed 295 civilians nationwide in 2007 alone. 14:06 7
: According to FBI statistics:
18% of arson offenses were cleared by arrest
In 2006, 49% of arrestees were under the age of 18
An estimated 5-7 % of arson offenses result in convictions
Most often fires are set during the night, making it easier for the arsonist to go undetected, and very difficult to find an eye witness to the crime. 14:06 8
Incendiary Fires… : Incendiary Fires… 9 Fires of incendiarism – arson usually leave behind some type of evidence that are indicators and are indicative only to this fire cause.
Most arsonists leave behind telltale indicators and evidence that the investigator must be able to identify.
Most arsonists are not very clever and will use the most commonly available materials to initiate the fire.
Incendiary Fires… : Incendiary Fires… 10 Most arsonists use gasoline to accelerate the fires because it is the most readily available flammable liquid. Other common liquids include but are not limited to; diesel fuel, kerosene, rubbing alcohol, charcoal & cigarette lighter fluid, etc.
Some fire setters are quite clever and construct elaborate devices to initiate a fire, such as some type of timing device.
These devices are as elaborate as the imagination of the arsonist. Include electrical, mechanical, or chemical components.
Most devices leave behind some type of residual evidence after the fire.
Two Causes : Two Causes 14:06 11 There are only 2 causes of a fire.
Accidental or Incendiary (Arson).
Accidental : Accidental 14:06 12 Does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite the fire where the fire should not be.
“Natural” fits into this category
Natural fires are those without direct human intervention such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, etc.
Incendiary : Incendiary 14:06 13 Deliberately ignited under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should not be ignited. Includes all intentional, reckless, wanton causes.
Undetermined : Undetermined 14:06 14 Could mean the fire is still under investigation
Used whenever cause cannot be determined
Total destruction, no evidence remains after the fire
This is not an official cause
May require leaving the file open pending further information to re-open the investigation
Suspicious : Suspicious 14:06 15 Should not be used as a determination of a fire cause
Simply reflects the presence of indicators of possible incendiarism – arson
Must be an investigation to make a determination of accidental, incendiary /arson or undetermined.
At the “end of the day”, the cause must be listed as “accidental”, “incendiary”, or “undetermined”
Accidental Fire Causes : 14:06 16 Accidental Fire Causes
Some Accidental Fire Causes : Some Accidental Fire Causes 14:06 17 Heating equipment
Electric space heaters
Fireplaces/wood burning stoves
Furnaces/water heaters
Cooking equipment
Smoking and related fires
Energized electrical equipment
Flammable & combustible liquids
Open flames and sparks Spontaneous heating
Gas fires, (natural or propane gas, etc.) and explosions
Fireworks and explosives
Dust explosions
Low temperature ignition
Lightning
Sunlight
Christmas trees
Incendiary Structure Fires : Incendiary Structure Fires 14:06 18 The following study of indicators of incendiarism is not complete, since there are many situations which help to identify the set fire
However indicators discussed here are common in many set fires and are frequently used as evidence of incendiarism
Trailer Materials : Trailer Materials 14:06 19 Any combustible or flammable material used to spread fire from one point to another
Usually leave char or burn pattern(s) on surfaces where used – floors, carpets, etc.
May be found through doors, windows, or wall openings, across floors, suspended above or below floor level
Outside or inside the structure
Steps : Steps 14:06 20
Steps : Steps 14:06 21
May Use Existing Openings for Fire Spread : May Use Existing Openings for Fire Spread 14:06 22
Common Trailer Materials : Common Trailer Materials 14:06 23 Newspaper
Rope, string, twine
Fuse cord, may cause skip char pattern
Clothing, bedclothes, drapes, or other similar household materials
Tissue paper
Waxed paper
Candles w/timing devices Bounce fabric softener sheets this brand is one of the few that will not self extinguish
Ignitable liquids
Lays potato chips
Building contents
Ignitable Liquids : Ignitable Liquids Flammable or combustible liquids
Often normally found in many areas of buildings
May be “foreign” or out of place in an occupancy 14:06 24
Ignitable Liquids : Ignitable Liquids 14:06 25 Gasoline
Kerosene
Fuel oils
Alcohol – may be difficult to detect as it evaporates quickly, is water soluble, and is usually consumed by the fire (clean burn no residue)
Charcoal or cigarette lighter fluid
Common Indicators… : Common Indicators… 14:06 26 Suspect flammable liquids when no sign of container explosion or leakage is evident
Heavy, isolated floor damage
“V” burns or grooves between floorboards
Unusual patterns on flooring materials
Unusual low burning
Holes burned through floors
Spalling of concrete
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 27 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 28 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 29 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 30 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 31 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 32 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 33 Common Indicators (cont’d) Inside drawers and cabinets, files, desks, boxes
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 34 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 35 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 36 Common Indicators (cont’d) Usually most accidental fires produce very little floor char
Temperatures at floor level are usually below ignition temperatures in most fires
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 37 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 38 Common Indicators (cont’d)
Common Indicators (cont’d) : 14:06 39 Common Indicators (cont’d) “V” burns or grooves between floorboards may indicate the presence of a liquid fuel
Flammable liquids may run through flooring producing burning under the floor
Charring must not have come from below
Slide 40 : 14:06 40 Evidence residue may be recovered from between floor and subfloor
Settling of flammable liquids on the lower parts of the floor surface
Corners of rooms and along base of walls
Flammable liquids produce charring in puddle or running patterns.
They may also splash on doors and walls(appearance of small black spots)
Flammable liquids may soak into absorbent materials
Carpets leave distinct patterns, residue in carpet and pad on edge of burned area or in remaining charred pad Common Indicators (cont’d)
Spalling on concrete : Spalling on concrete 14:06 41
Spalling (Cont’d) : 14:06 42 Spalling (Cont’d)
Spalling (Cont’d) : Spalling (Cont’d) 14:06 43 Spalling of concrete or masonry is a result of being heated then rapidly cooled by water. It can also occur from the heating of moisture trapped within the concrete or masonry
Causes surface to crack and loosen, can produce a pitted appearance or large cracks
Spalling (Cont’d) : Spalling (Cont’d) 14:06 44 Can indicate possible use of accelerants, however must not be used as a sole indicator
Other causes of spalling, chemical reactions, mechanical breaks, extreme hot or cold temperatures
Blistering or destruction of floor tiles
Asphalt and vinyl tiles may be blistered or destroyed in an area where flammable liquids spread producing spalling on concrete floors underneath the tiles
Flammable liquids : Flammable liquids 14:06 45 Flammable liquids may produce unusual burning of contents or building components
Charring on bottom surface of doors is often an indicator of flammable liquids at floor level
Burning of floor surface along edge or at contact with walls may be due to the presence of flammable liquids