8 Flashcards
One of the earliest dangerous crimes ever recognized globally is—-
arson
It is described as the deliberate, malevolent destruction of property by means of fire or explosion.
arson
– the type of the building may indicate a set fire under certain circumstances. A fire of considerable size at the time the first apparatus arrives at the scene is suspicious if a modern concrete or semi-concrete building is involved.
Burned Building
– when two or more separate fires break out within a building. The fire is certainly suspicious.
Separate Fires
– some fires burn with little or no smoke but they are exceptions.
The observation of the smoke must be made at the start of the fire since once the fire has assumed a major proportion, the value of the smoke is lost, because the
smoke will not indicate the material used by the arsonist.
Color of Smoke
When it appears before the water from the fire hose comes in contact with the fire, it indicates humid material burning. Examples are burning hay, vegetable materials, phosphorus (with garlic odor).
White smoke
It causes irritation to the nose and throat, lacrimation, and coughing indicating presence of chlorine.
Biting smoke
It indicates lack of air, if accompanied by large flames it indicates petroleum products or rubber, tar, coal, and turpentine.
Black smoke
It indicates presence of nitrocellulose, sulfuric acid, hydrogen gas, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid.
Reddish smoke
is a good indication of the intensity of the fire, an important factor in determining incendiarism, the act or practice of illegal burning or simply arson.
The color of the flame
can also indicate the nature of the combustible substance present.
color of the flame
Indicate petroleum
Red flames
Indicate alcohol as accelerant
Blue flames
indicates heat of 5000 degrees centigrade, a real bright read about 100 degrees centigrade.
reddish glow
– An experienced investigator can determine the volume of smoke involved at a fire and the character as residue deposited on walls or elsewhere.
———- have often been of assistance in determining the possibility of a fire having more than one place of origin.
Smoke Marks
– This is important when correlated with the type of alarm, the time received and the time of arrival of the first fire apparatus.
Fires make what might be termed a normal progress. Such progress can be estimated after an examination of the material that burned the building and the normal ventilation offered by the fire.
The time element and the degree of headway by the flames become important factors to determine factors to determine possible incendiarism.
Size of Fire
– While it is admitted that no two fires burn in identical fashion, yet it can be shown that fire makes normal progress through various types of building materials, combustibility of contents, channel of ventilation and circumstances surrounding the sending of alarm, an experienced investigator can determine whether a fire spread abnormally fast.
Direction of Travel
– The degree of heat given off by a fire and the color of its flame often indicate that some accelerant has been added to the material normally present in a building and the investigator must look for further evidence pointing to the use of such accelerants. Difficulty in extinguishing the fire is often a lead to suspect presence of such fluid as gasoline and kerosene.
Intensity
– The —— of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other inflammable liquids which are often used as accelerants is characteristic and oftentimes arsonists are trapped because of this telltale sign.
Odor
– Persons tending to set their house on fire frequently remove objects of value either materially or sentimentally. Store and other business establishments oftentimes remove a major portion of their content or replace valuable merchandise without style articles.
Condition of Content
will also affect the burning pattern; but without unusual ventilation, fires burn equally in all directions except down.
Ventilation
is usually easier to determine than the point of origin of other accelerants. Unless the investigator has had special training in this type of investigation, it probably would be to his advantage to call in a specialist.
The point of explosion
The checking of charred wood giving it the appearance of alligator skin.
The burning of wood produces char in a pattern of cracks which look like the scales on an alligators back.
ALLIGATOR PATTERN
It is caused by the fire often can be used to trace the fire to its origin.
ALLIGATOR PATTERN
The pattern at the point of origin is smaller and deeper than the rest of the areas.
The pattern is also smaller and deeper at points where flammable liquids were used.
ALLIGATOR PATTERN
Depth of char is a very important indicator and can be used to show trends of fire travel over a common surface.
ALLIGATOR PATTERN
The large blisters indicate rapid intense heat while the small flat blisters indicate
long low heat.
ALLIGATOR PATTERN
is a very important indicator and can be used to show trends of fire travel over a common surface.
Depth of char
indicate rapid intense heat
The large blisters
is a criminal act that involves deliberately setting fire to property, often with the intent of causing damage or harm.
It is a serious offense that can result in devastating
consequences, including loss of life and property.
Therefore, it is crucial for authorities to
be able to effectively establish and prove that a fire was intentionally set.
Arson
which are the effect on materials of heating or partial burning and may be used to determine the point or points of origin of a fire.
burn indicators
during a fire is done through a team of arson investigators in the form of surveillance of the fire scene, suspicious behavior of owners, occupants, and other persons present as to their actions, excitements, dresses, and other pertinent information are observed, which might be helpful later.
detection of arson
hasten the development of fire and increase the amount of
devastation. If either multiple points of origin or traces of fire accelerants are found, arson is indicated.
Fire accelerants
was, by far, the most frequently found fire accelerant, possibly because it is readily available.
Gasoline
Its characteristic and familiar odor makes it easier to detect than most other flammable liquids.
Gasoline
is also used to keep out firemen from the burning structure.
Ammonia
have pungent odors similar to camphor.
Films
Other accelerants often used are
kerosene and alcohol
as a means for the fire to spread more rapidly.
holes on walls and floors
may be an indication that flammable liquids or compounds could have been used to spread the fire more rapidly.
Intensity of heat
are all-valuables in determining the use of accelerant.
The color of the smoke, location, and size
is often used to conceal another crime
Arson
are inclined to use substances which will make the blaze certain and at the same time burn up any evidence of their crime.
fire-setters
indicate long low heat.
small flat blisters
