PRESENTED BY:

F/S U P T

HERBERT

C E Z A R, Ed. D.

IN A NOT-SO-PERFECT WORLD

SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction

Terms of Reference

Four (4) Phases of Fire

Investigation

Scientific Method of Fire

Investigation

DID YOU KNOW THAT FOR CY 2003

more than two-thirds of these fire incidents
or 4,396 have been accidental in nature?
28%

69%

Intentional
Accidental
Under Investigation

3%

AREA OF ORIGIN the room or area where the fire

began.
ARROW PATTERN a fire pattern displayed on the
cross 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 judicial
decisions.

BACKDRAFT an explosion resulting from the

sudden introduction of air (i.e., oxygen) into a

confined
space
containing
oxygen-deficient
superheated 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.

CHAR BLISTERS convex segments of carbonized

material separated by cracks or crevasses that form on
the surface of char, forming on materials such as wood
as 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 falling
of burning materials. This is synonymous with "Fall
Down.

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 bring
a fuel and all ignition source together with proper air or
oxygen.
FIRE INVESTIGATION the process of deterll1illlllg the
origin, cause, and development of a fire or explosion.
FIRE SCENE RECONSTRUCTION the process of
recreating the physical scene during fire scene analysis
through the removal of debris and the replacement of
contents or structural elements in their pre-fire
positions.

FLASH FIRE a fire that spreads rapidly through a

diffuse fuel, such as dust, gas, or the vapors of an
ignitable liquid, without the production of damaging
pressure.
FLASH POINT OF A LIQUID the lowest temperature
of a liquid, as determined by specific laboratory tests, at
which the liquid gives off vapors at a sufficient rate to
support a momentary flame across its surface.

FLASHOVER

transition

phase

in

the

development of a contained fire in which surfaces

exposed to thermal radiation reach ignition temperature
more or less simultaneously and fire spreads rapidly
throughout the space.

HAZARD any arrangement of materials and heat

sources that presents the potential for harm, such as
personal injury or ignition of combustibles.

IGNITION the process of initiating self-sustained

combustion.
ISOCHAR - a line on a diagram connecting points
of equal char depth.
MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED - the fuel that is first
set on fire by the heat of ignition.
To be
meaningful, both a type of material and a form of
material should be identified.

PLUME the column of hot gases, flames, and

smoke rising above a fire. Also called convection

column, thermal updraft, or thermal column.
POINT OF ORIGIN the exact physical location
where a heat source and a fuel come in contact with
each 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 to
the shortest being closer.

PYROLYSIS the transformation of a Compound

into one or more other substances by heat alone.
Pyrolysis often precedes combustion.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD the systematic pursuit
of knowledge involving the recognition and
formulation of a problem, the collection of data
through observation and experiment and the
formulation and testing of a hypothesis.
SEAT OF EXPLOSION - a craterlike indentation
created at the point of origin of an explosion.

SECONDARY EXPLOSION any subsequent

explosion resulting from an initial explosion.
SELF-HEATING the result of exothermic
reactions, occurring spontaneously in some
materials under certain conditions, whereby heat
is liberated at a rate sufficient to raise the
temperature of the material.
SELF-IGNITION - ignition resulting from selfheating. This is synonymous with spontaneous
ignition.
SELF-IGNITION
TEMPERATURE

the
minimum temperature at which the self-heating
properties of a material lead to ignition.

SOOT black particles of carbon produced ill a

flame.

SPALLING chipping or pitting of concrete

or masonry surfaces.
SPARK a small, incandescent particle.
SPONTANEOUS HEATING process whereby a
material increases in temperature without
drawing heat from its surroundings. The
process results from oxidation often aided by
bacterial action where agricultural products are
involved.

SPONTANEOUS IGNITION initiation of

combustion of a material by an internal
chemical or biological reaction that has
produced sufficient heat to ignite the
material.
TIME LINE graphical representation of the
events in the fire incident displayed in
chronological order.

FIRE PATTERNS are the visible or measurable

physical effects that remain after a fire. These include
thermal effects on materials, such as charring,
oxidation, consumption of combustibles, smoke and
soot deposits, distortion, melting, color changes,
changes in the character of materials, structural
collapse, and other effects.

Burn pattern with fire from above and below.

SPALLING is the breakdown in surface tensile

strength of concrete, masonry, or brick caused by
exposure to high temperatures and rates of
heating resulting in mechanical forces within the
material.

Spalling on ceiling.
BACK

CLEAN BURN is a
phenomenon
that
appears
on
noncombustible surfaces
when the soot and
smoke condensate that
would normally be found
adhering to the surface
is burned off.
This produces a clean
area adjacent to areas
darkened by products of
combustion. Clean burn
is
produced
most
commonly
by
direct
BACK
flame contact or intense

Clean burn on wall surface.

Photograph on top shows protected area,

while photograph at bottom shows how the
chair was positioned during the fire.

The appearance of the V SHAPED PATTERNS is

created by flames, convective or radiated heat from
hot fire gases, and smoke within the fire plume. The V
pattern often appears as lines of demarcation,
defining the borders of the fire plume and less heated
areas outside the plume.

Typical V pattern showing wall

and wood stud damage.

INVERTED CONES are commonly caused by the

vertical flame plumes of the burning volatile fuels not
reaching the ceiling.

Inverted cone pattern fueled by a

natural gas leak below the floor level.

U PATTERNS are similar to the more sharply

angled V patterns but display gently curved lines
of demarcation and curved rather than angled
lower vertices.

Development of U-shaped pattern.

TRUNCATED CONE PATTERNS, also called

truncated plumes, are three-dimensional fire
patterns displayed on both horizontal and
vertical surfaces.

Truncated cone pattern.

Wood wall studs showing decreasing damage as distance from fire increases.

Irregularly shaped pattern on floor carpeting resulting from poured

ignitable liquid. Burned match can be seen at lower left.

SADDLE BURNS are distinctive U- or saddleshaped patterns that are sometimes found on the top
edges of floor joists. They are caused by fire burning
downward through the floor above the effected joist.
Saddle burns display deep charring, and the fire
patterns are highly localized and gently curved.

Saddle burn in a floor joist.

In many incendiary fires, when fuels are intentionally

distributed or trailed from one area to another, the
elongated patterns may be visible. Such fire patterns,
known as TRAILERS, can be found along floors to
connect separate fire sets, or up stairways to move fires
from one floor or level within a structure to another. Fuels
used for trailers may be ignitable liquids, solids, or
combinations of these.

Trailer running up a stairway.

Blistering of varnish on door and slight scorching of draperies,

the only indications of the natural gas flash fire.

A typical pulled bulb showing that the heating

was from the right side.

Damage to an outside brick wall caused by

thermal expansion of an I-beam in the basement.

BACK

Charring of wooden structural elements by heat

conduction through wall surface material.

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

BACK

Initially, the temperature of the fire gases decreases

as they move away from the centerline of the plume.

BACK

As the fire grows, the overall temperature in the

compartment increases as does the temperature of the
gas layer at the ceiling level.

The radiant heat (red arrows) from the hot gas

layer at the ceiling heats combustible materials which
produces vapors (green arrows)

BACK

A fully developed fire

Under normal fire conditions in a closed

structure, the highest levels of heat will be found at
ceiling level and the lowest level of heat will be found
at the floor level.

Applying water to the upper level of the thermal

layer creates a thermal imbalance.

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

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

1st phase

Fire Scene Investigation

Recording/Documentation

Protect/Preserve Fire
Scene

Information Gathering

Photography
Barricade Tape
Sketching
Audio/Video Utilization
Note Taking

Elicitation

Cordon Rope
Posting of Uniform
Personnel
Recognize Threats to
Evidence
Fire Suppression
Overhaul
Salvage
Use of Tools
Constant Walking through the
Scene

Interview
Interrogation

2nd Phase

Witnesses Account
Location of Area
of Origin
How Fire Detected
Unusual Event Prior
to Fire
Fire Cause

Fire Origin Determination

Observation Analysis

Fire Pattern
Analysis

Non-Communicating
Fires
Present Condition&
Location of Victim
Incendiary Devices
Missing Items
Unusual Appearance&
Location
Trace Evidence
Discover

Line an area of
Demarcation
w/ Severe Burning
Unburned Area
Less Burning

Continuation
Fire Pattern Analysis

Surface effects
Alligator
Deep of Charring
Spalling
Clean Burn
Rate of Charring
Oxidation
Smoke Soot

Penetration of
Horizontal
Surface

Calcination

U&V Pattern
Inverted U&V
Pattern
Saddle Burn
Arrow Pattern
Pointer

Loss of
Materials
Melting

3rd Phase

Search Method

Strip Method
Double Strip
Zone
Wheel
Spiral

Search, Recognize, Collect/Preserve Evidence

Recognize/Identify
Evidence

Flagging
Marking

Record/Document
Evidence Prior to
Collection

Photograph Evidence
Prior to Collection
Sketch & measure
Evidence Location

Evidence Collection,
Packaging Transport
Observe Standard Collection
Requirements
(Wearing of Gloves)

Place Evidence to
Suitable Container
Tag, Seal & Mark
Prepare Evidence
Chain of Custody Form
Packaging
Transmittal Letter

2 witness
requirements

4th Phase

Fire Cause Determination

Collection of Facts/Data

Analysis of Data
Develop Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis

Accidental

Undetermined

Intentional

Cause Build-up

I. RECORDING
a. Photograph
1. Crowd
2. Vehicles
- make and color
- speedometer reading
- key position
- plate number
3. Color of Flames and Smoke
b. Audio, Video Utilization
c. Sketch Preparation
1. Rough Sketch
2. Progression Sketch

II. INFORMATION GATHERING

a. Noting Characteristics of the Fire:
1. Rapidity of the spread of flame.
2. Color of the Smoke and Flames.
3. Identifiable Odors
4. Area of origin

II. INFORMATION GATHERING

b. Taking Notes on the Following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Unnatural state of the premises.

Obstacle on entry point.
Door and window locked.
Fire alarm or other fire protection

equipments disconnected/sabotage.
5. Artificial drafts by making opening.
6. Block entrance.

II. INFORMATION GATHERING

c. Interview and Elicitation
1. Witnesses - Discoverer of fire
2. Fire Victims
3. Responding Firefighter as to
area of origin.
4. Neighbors
- Outside the Involved Building
- Inside the Involved Building

III. FINDING THE AREA OF ORIGIN

1. Useful Technique
Observation of the direction of
spread of the flames. The fire then
can be traced backward to its
starting point and other observable
fire pattern.
a. Locate the lines or area of
demarcation.
The boarding defining
the differences in
certain heat
and smoke
effects of the fire upon
various materials.

III. FINDING THE AREA OF ORIGIN

1. Useful Technique
b. Surface effects - depth of
charring, pattern of allegation:
spalling and clean burn.
c.
Penetration of Horizontal
Surfaces (patterns such as V, U,
inverted V & U and saddle burn).
d.
Loss of
consumption
of
materials/melting.

Materials combustible

III. FINDING THE AREA OF ORIGIN

2.

Interview
first
responding
firefighters fire victims, witnesses
and neighbors who can attest to
some previous information.

ORGANIZATION
AND BASIC STAGES
IN SEARCH OPERATIONS

I. Preparation
A. Team Briefing
1. Materials requirement
of involved members
2. Discussed search
pattern use:

strip
double strip
wheel
spiral
zone

I. Preparation
A. Team Briefing
3. Assignment / role of
individual team
members.
4. Set up command post
5. Organize communication
with services auxiliary.
6. Coordination with other
agencies.

II. Secure and Protect the

Scene
a. Determine the extent to
which the scene has been
protected.
b. Check the adequate scene
security.
c. Take extensive notes, do
not rely on memory.

II. Secure and Protect the

Scene
d. Keep a record of persons/
individual who enters &
leave.
e. Established frame of
minutes to take control of
scene regardless of
circumstances observed
on arrival

III. Initiates Preliminary

Survey
a.

Accomplished
a
cautious walk through
the scene.

b.

Acquire preliminary
photograph.

c. Delineate extent of the

search area.

III. Initiates Preliminary

Survey
d.

Determine personnel
and equipment needs.

e. Identify
and
protect
transient
physical
evidence.
f.

Develop general theory

of the crime.

III. Initiates Preliminary

Survey
g.

Record vehicles
identification number,
key
position
and
odometer reading.

h.

Concentrate on most
transient evidence and
work to the least
transient
form
of
physical evidence.

III. Initiates Preliminary

Survey
i. Focus first on the easily
accessible
areas in open view and
progress eventually to
possible
outer
view
locations, look for a
purposively hidden items.
j.

Consider whether the

evidence appears to have
been moved inadvertently.

III. Initiates Preliminary

Survey
k. Evaluate whether or not
the scene and evidence
appears unintentionally
contrived.
l. Two basic search
approaches:
1. "Cautious" search of visible
areas, taking steps to avoid
evidence loss or contamination.
2. After the "cautious search,
a vigorous search for hidden
concealed areas.

IV. Depict Scene

Photographically
a. Begin photography as
soon as possible.
b. Document the
photographic effort with a
photographic logbook.
c. Insure that a progression
of overall, medium and
close-up view of the
scene is establish.

IV. Depict Scene

Photographically
d. Use recognize scale device
for size determination when
applicable.
e. When scale device is used
first take photograph with
out
the inclusion of the
device.
f. Photograph evidence in
place before its collection
and packaging.

IV. Depict Scene

Photographically
g. Be observant on
photographs areas
adjacent to the crime
scene points of entry,
exits, windows.
h. Photograph items,
places, etc to collaborate
the statement of
witnesses, victims, and
suspects.

IV. Depict Scene

Photographically
i. Prepares photographic
sketch and photo
logbook.
j. Do not hesitate to
photograph something
which has no apparent
significant at that time, it
may later prove to be a
key element in the
investigation.

V. Prepare Sketch of the Scene

The diagram establishes
permanent record of items
condition and distance/ size
relationship - diagram
photographs.

V. Prepare Sketch of the Scene

a. Typical Materials on rough
sketch (not drawn to
scale)

Case Identifier
Location
Date/Time
Scale or Scale Disclaims
Compass Orientation
Measurements
Key of Legends
Sketch Preparer

V. Prepare Sketch of the Scene

b. General Progression of
Sketches

Layout basic perimeter

Set forth fixed objects,
furniture, etc.
Insert evidence as it is
recovered
Record appropriate
measurements
Set forth key/ Legends
compass orientation
Others

V. Prepare Sketch of the Scene

c. Number designation on
sketch should be
coordinated with same
number designation on
evidence log.
d. Insure that enough room
is allowed to include all
pertinent information and
measurement.

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
a. Collect evidence in
accordance with standard
practice.
b. Use specialized search
patterns (strip, double
strip, zone, wheel)

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
c. Photograph all items
before collection and
enter notation in
photographic logbook.
d. Mark evidence location in
diagram sketch.

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
e. Have at least 2 persons:
See evidence in place
before collection;
Observe it being collected;
Tag zeal evidence;
Place identifying marks on
evidence container and
document the proceeding
by photograph.

f. Do not handle evidence

excessively after recovery.

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
g. If feasible, have one
person as an evidence
custodian to prepare
evidence chain of custody,
and evidence log.
h. Seal all evidence
containers at the crime
scene.

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
i. The best container for
physical evidence such
as debris with possible
flammable accelerants is
clean can, or jar and
thus, evidence plastic
container can do.

VI. Collect and Preserve

Evidence
j. Do not forget entrance/
exit areas at the scene to
obtain appropriate and
substantial known
standards.
k. Do not over documented
the physical evidence.

VII. Conduct Final Survey

a. This survey is a critical
review of all aspects of
the search.
b. Double check
documentation to detect
inadvertent errors.
c. Insure that photographs
are taken of scene
showing final condition
after completion of
search.

VII. Conduct Final Survey

d. Check to insure all
evidence is accounted
far before departing
scene.
e. Release of the fire scene
is accomplished only
after completion of the
final survey.
f. Secure affidavit that no
looting/ lost cause by
responding firefighters.

If you want to
catch an arsonist
and solve a crime

YOU HAVE TO THINK

LIKE ONE