Basics of Fire Cause Investigation Flashcards
What are the 3 reasons why we investigate fires?
It is the law required by international fire code
To determine the unsafe products/procedures that may be causing/creating a danger to the community
To determine incendiary fires and investigate until the responsible party/s have been brought to prosecution
What is the definition of fire?
The rapid, self sustaining oxidation process usually accompanied by the evolution of heat and light in varying intensities
What is the fire tetrahedron?
O2
Fuel
Heat
Uninhibited chain reaction
What are the 3 methods of heat transfer on the power point?
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
What is conduction?
Heat transfer by direct contact of one body to another
What is convection?
Heat transfer by circulating medium
Can be gas or liquid
What form of heat transfer is most responsible for the spread of heat in structural fires?
Convection
What is radiation?
Heat transfer from one area to another without direct contact with the area and without any circulating hot gases to help “bathe” the area in heat
It’s in the form of energy which travels through space or materials as waves
What is flashover?
Contained fire where exposed surfaces simultaneously ignite from thermal radiation
Stage of fire when room or other area becomes heated to the point when flames flash over the entire area
What is backdraft?
An explosion or rapid burning of heated gases resulting from the introduction of O2 when air is admitted into a building heavily charged by smoke from a fire that has depleted O2 content of the building
What is the temperature range for the growth/incipient stage? O2 content?
300-600
21%
What is the temperature range for the free burning stage? O2 content?
1200-2000
18%
What is the temperature range for the smoldering stage? O2 content?
800-1000
13-15%
What are the 4 combustion by products listed on the powerpoint?
Fire gases
Heat
Flame
Smoke
What is the “point of origin”?
The place of the fire’s beginning
Normally, the fire cause will be found at…
At or very near the point of origin
Fires often burn ____ near the point of origin
Longer
Evidence of _____ is often recovered near the point of origin.
Incendiarism
Evidence of fire spread/direction of fire travel may be noted/confirmed after locating the ____ __ ___.
Point of origin
The point of origin may ___ or ____ the stories of owners/occupants/suspects
Confirm or contradict
Investigators must usually work ____ in relation to the fire’s travel or spread, working toward the point of origin.
Backwards
Fire cause investigation is commonly referred to as a ____ investigation
Backward
With fire cause investigation… what 2 things are you looking at on the exterior of the structure?
Note areas damaged by heat and smoke
Fire damage to building exterior
(Isn’t that the same thing? Whatever…)
Ceiling damage and floor damage may help to locate the ___ __ ___
Point of origin
What might the lack of soot (carbon) in a heavily burned area indicate?
The area of origin
You can look at structural damage from fire as an indicator of…
Fire’s travel
The depth of charring can be an indicator of travel and the point of origin.
Fire penetrates into wood 1” every ___ minutes at approx ____ degrees F
45 minutes
1400
What does light staining on glass objects indicate?
Limited fire or intense heat and/or rapid fire growth
What does heavy staining on glass objects indicate?
Slow fire build up or remote distance from point of origin
What is the exception with heavy staining on glass objects?
Heavy petroleum based fire load
What is the melting temp of aluminum?
1200F
What is the melting temp of copper?
2000F
What is the melting temp of window glass?
900F when exposed for 10 minutes
On the interior of a structure, ____ is necessary to properly determine the point of origin
Reconstruction
What are the 2 things listed on the power point under “reconstruction”?
Locating the proper position of items within the fire scene
Identification and use of “protected areas”
Reconstruction allows the investigator to do what 3 things?
Determine the lowest level of burning
Determine V patterns
Evaluate the fuel load and burning sequence within an area
What are the “three elements of fire” on the fire cause poiwer point?
Heat source
Fuel
An event which brings together the heat source and the fuel
What are the 4 sources of heat on the fire cause power point?
Chemical
Electrical
Mechanical
Nuclear
What are the 4 sources of chemical heat?
Exothermic
Endothermic
Pyrolosis
Solution
What are the 4 sources of electrical heat?
Resistance
Induction
Dialation
Arcing/sparking
What are the 2 sources of mechanical heat?
Friction
Compression
What are the 2 sources of nuclear heat?
Explosion
Radiation
Accidental fires include what 4 things?
Acts of God
Mechanical malfunctions
Carelessness
Stupidity
What are the 5 reasons why owners/occupants may misrepresent accidental fires?
May thing fire insurance will not pay off
May be embarrassed
Hope fire dept will find another cause
Afraid of being charged for fire dept response
Parents trying to cover for juveniles or children trying to cover for their parents
What are a BUNCH of examples of accidental fires?
Heating equipment Smoking Flammable liquids Spontaneous heating Fireworks/explosives Lightning Low temp ignition Cooking equipment Electrical equipment Open flames/sparks Gas fires/explosions Dust explosions Wildland fires
What are a BUNCH of indicators of incendiarism?
Multiple fires
Flammable accelerants
Structural damage prior to fire
Absence of all accidental fire causes
Removal of contents prior to fire
Major appliances removed prior to the fire
Absence of personal items/important papers
Location of the fire
Evidence of other crimes in the structure
Unnatural Fire spread
Excessive fire damage
Extreme heat
Entry of fire dept blocked
View into structure blocked
Injuries to occupants
Inappropriate period of time between exit of occupant and fire
Pre burned contents or second fire in same structure
Presence of burned or unburned fuel near point of origin
Fire occurring on holidays or weekends
Fire during renovations
You cannot have an incendiary fire if you cannot eliminate all ____ ____
Accidental causes
Motive is sometimes confused with ____ which is the ____ of the act
Intent
Deliberateness
Motive is the ____ for setting a fire
Reason
Motive is not necessary to prove the ____ ____ of the fire
Corpus delicti
Investigating the _____ may help the investigator during interviews
Motive
The district attorney may decline to prosecute if the motive is….
Not clearly understood
Jurors may fail to find the accused guilty unless they…
Know/understand why the individual/s set the fire
What are the 7 basic motives?
Juvenile/valdalism Fraud/profit Vanity/hero Crime concealment Spite/revenge Civil disorders Pyromania
Juvenile/vandalism fires account for ___% of incendiary fires and ___% of all fires in the US
50%
25%
Juvenile/vandalism fires do not include the “___ ___” fire setter
Fire play
What is the definition of fraud?
A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain
What are the 2 types of fraud fires?
Direct gain
Indirect gain
Why are vanity/hero fires especially dangerous?
The fire setter believes the situation is “under control”
Vanity/hero fire setter sets fires in order to…
Prove worth to employer, spouse, family, friends, self
What are 8 types of crime concealment?
Destruction of books/records Distraction for criminal activity Arson for escape Arson to conceal murder Murder/suicide by arson Crime to conceal arson (staged burglary) Drug addicts and arson
Spite/revenge is the most ___ type of fire
Deadly
Spite/revenge fires have the largest ___ ___ ___ and the largest ___ ___
Loss of life
Property loss
Spite/revenge fires are initiated by what 3 things?
Hatred
Jealousy
Uncontrolled emotions
Spite/revenge fires are commonly referred to as ____ ____
Lover’s fire
Spite/revenge fire setters frequently do what 2 things to their fireground?
Disable fire protection systems
Blocks exiting
Civil disorder is when fire is used as a ____
Weapon
What are the 2 results of a civil disorder fire?
Destruction of property
Impression that group activity involves many people
Power of suggestion is the ____ ____
Snowball effect
I don’t know what this means
What is the definition of pyromania?
The uncontrollable urge to start fires
May or may not be interconnected with sexual desires/gratifications
There has been very little ____ ____ in recent years when it comes to pyromania
Comprehensive research
What is the rarest of all 7 motive types?
Pyromania
What are 6 fire cause indicators before arrival?
Weather Time of day/day of week Barricades/obstructions to fire scene Color of smoke and flames Persons/vehicles leaving the scene Blacked out or boarded windows
What are a BUNCH of indicators of fire cause upon arrival?
Multiple fires in the same structure Condition of doors and windows Open file cabinets Open safe Missing/lack of stock Unusual odors Structural damage to assist spread Civilians who appear at multiple scenes Location of fire Plants and trailers Evidence/containers/unburned accelerant residue
What does the international fire code say about causes of fires?
The fire chief or his designate shall investigate the cause of all fires within the jurisdiction
ARS title 13 chapter 17 defines damage…
As any physical or visual impairment of any surface
What court does reckless burning go to?
City/civil court
What court does arson go to?
Superior court
What court does arson of federal property go to?
Federal court
To obtain an arson conviction, the prosecutor must be able to prove what 3 things?
There was a fire and damage occurred
The accused is responsible for setting the fire
The accused had intent to do harm
What does FIG mean?
Fire Incendiary Guilty
What is burden of proof for Civil? Criminal?
Preponderance of the evidence
Beyond a reasonable doubt
What are the 2 types of search warrants?
Administrative
Criminal
Security of the fire scene is the responsibility of…
Every fire fighter and begins the moment the fire dept arrives
What 4 amendments limit investigations?
4th
5th
6th
14th
What is the 4th amendment about?
Search and seizure
What is the 5th amendment about?
Cannot be compelled to incriminate against his/herself
What is the 6th amendment about?
Right to legal representation and a public and speedy trial
What is the 14th amendment about?
Due process applicable to all states
What is the plain view doctrine?
Officer must have legal authority to be where he/she is when the evidence is observed
Evidence must be in plain sight
What are the 4 benchmark cases in fire cause investigation?
Tyler vs Michigan
Clifford vs Michigan
Miranda vs AZ
Escobedo vs CA
What are the miranda rights?
Rights that a suspect must be informed of in certain situations
When must an officer inform a suspect of their miranda rights?
When the suspect is put into custodial care AND the officer intends to question the suspect
What are the 4 TFD guidelines for fire cause?
Keep your sup. informed of things you see/hear
Stay alert/observant
Don’t say arson over the radio
Avoid giving detailed info of investigation over the radio
