Chapter 5

Arson

The crime of
intentionally
setting fire to
buildings or
other
property
-The American
Heritage Dictionary
Reasons for Arson
1. Revenge
2. Profit
3. Crime Concealment
4. Pyromania
5. Recognition / Hero
What is Fire?
- Rapid oxidation
that produces
heat and light
- Oxygen is united
to another
substance to
produce heat and
light energy

Combustion (fire) has 3 key
elements:
1. A Fuel must be present
2. Oxygen must be available in
sufficient quantity
3. Heat must be applied to initiate
and sustain combustion
Vocabulary
Ignition Temperature the minimum
temperature at which a fuel will
spontaneously ignite
Smoldering fire burns without the
presence of a flame (charcoal)
Flash Point the lowest temperature
at which a liquid fuel will produce
enough vapor to burn
Demarcation amount of damage to
wood at fire scene. Can indicate
speed at which fire burned.
Classification of Fire
Four Groups
Fires are classified into four groups
based on the fuel (what is being
burned)
1. Class A Ordinary (wood, paper,
cloth, etc)
2. Class B Liquids (gas, kerosene,
oil, etc)
3. Class C Electrical
4. Class D Metals (magnesium fire)
Factors Controlling Fire
Speed/Spread
Amount Oxygen present
Temperature of Fuel faster
reaction rate.
State of fuel (solid, liquid, gas)
Air movement up and out so new
air can come in.
Availability of fuel
Floor plan
Four stages of Fires
1. Incipient: The start of fire
2. Emergent Smoldering: heat is
confined to area of fire only.
3. Free burning: Heat and fire spread
exponentially (fast) throughout
area/structure.
4. Oxygen-regulated smoldering:
Lack of oxygen causes flaming
combustion to end.
Four stages of Fires
4. (cont) Lack of oxygen in an
area/room can lead to a
Backdraft: Superheated gases
under pressure can resume free
burning at an explosive rate when
fresh oxygen supply is available.
This is why firefighters touch
door/window to check for heat
before opening it.
Searching Fire Scene
Examine immediately evidence can
be easily destroyed by fire.
Search for fires origin
Streamers spread fire from one
area to the other
Containers which may hold
accelerant
Ignition devices
Footprints
Obvious areas where a fire may
start.
Search for fires origin (cont)
Usually lowest point is where
fire originated fire tends to
burn up.
Exceptions:
1. drafts and streamers may
cause secondary fires to
start.
2. Floor plan can control the
way a fire burns
3. Fire tends to show signs
of hottest burn around its
origin.
Searching Fire Scene Cont.
Search for traces of flammable
liquids
Highly likely a portion will remain
Use portable detectors
Water slows evaporation so
flammable liquids may be around
longer
Gaseous accelerants may remain
Legal Issues
Search and Seizure
Plain View unless there is
reasonable belief that fire was
started intentionally and that
because of the fire the
evidence may be destroyed.
Supreme Court held that once
fire and police officials have
left a scene they cannot re-
enter to determine the cause
of fire w/out warrant or
consent
Collection and
Preservation of Evidence
2-3 Quarts of ash by origin of fire
Any porous materials they will hold
accelerants in the pours.
Air in suspect area accelerants evaporate
and molecules can be found in air.
Control specimens soot and air from areas
that are not considered to be origin.
Package immediately in airtight containers
Possible ignition devices matches, lighters,
firearms, sparking devices.
May be residue on perp for few hours after
Analysis of Flammable
Residues
Gas Chromatography
Gas is used instead of liquid
solvent
Produces a readout called a gas
chromatograph
Match accelerants to knowns (i.e.
automobile gas to suspected gas
found at crime scene.
Very accurate
Analysis of Flammable
Residues
Infrared Spectrophotometer
Used at crime scene
Detects certain chemicals that are
present in the air
Not as accurate as chromatography
but can give an indication of
chemicals present.
5 classes of accelerants
recognized by gas
chromatography tests
1. Light Petroleum distillates; ex. Lighter
fluid, rubber cements, solvents
2. Gasoline all major brands/types
3. Medium Petroleum; ex. Paint thinner,
charcoal starter
4. Medium to Heavy Petroleum; ex. No. 1
diesel fuel, certain insect sprays
5. Heavy Petroleum; ex. No. 2 diesel fuel
Explosives
Definition
The product of combustion
accompanied by the creation of
gases and heat.
Defined by the rapid rate at which
the reaction proceeds.
The sudden build up of expanding
gas pressure produces violent
physical disruption.
The heat energy releases by the
explosion helps to expand the gas.
Types of Explosives
Low Explosives
Speed of
Deflagration
less than 1,000
m/sec
Black Powder
Smokeless
Powder
Natural gas
High Explosives
Speed of Detonation
more than 1,000
m/sec
Primary - easily
detonated by heat or
light
Secondary- must be
detonated by a
primary explosive
Most dangerous
Collection of Explosives
Entire bomb site must be
systematically searched for:
Traces of Detonating Device
Items Foreign to site
Objects located at or near origin
of explosion must be collected
Traces of explosive can be
found and collected far from the
point of origin
Analysis of Explosives
Microscopic examination of
unconsumed explosive particles
Color spot tests
Chromatography and Gas
Chromatography