Fire Investigation

Question 1

Describe the Fire case including the snowmobiler in Port Perry in 2006.

Answer 1

• Snowmobiler drives by in the morning and sees the fire
• Bangs on the glass of the fire station but theres nobody there so he leaves
• Both parents, son and pet pig died in the fire
• Daughter was at sleepover and survived

Question 2

What is the role of the Forensic Identification Officer at a fatal fire scene?

Answer 2

1. Document the scene
2. Gather evidence
3. Assist other agencies (Fire Marshals/Fire Departments)

Question 3

What sort of equipment may be used at the scene?

Answer 3

• Safety equipment (steel toe/shank boots, hard hat, safety glasses, and breathing apparatus)
• Camera
• 3D Scanner
• Mason Jars/Arson Bags

Question 4

What is the role of the Forensic Identification Officer at a non-criminal fatal fire scene vs. at a criminal fatal fire scene?

Answer 4

Non-Criminal: Usually just there to assist the fire marshal

Criminal: Roles are reversed, and fire marshals/service is there to assist the Identification Officer.

Question 5

What do fire marshals do?

Answer 5

• Investigate fires and explosions
• Testifies in court
• Trains fire service

Question 6

When should fire marshals attend a scene?

Answer 6

• All fatal fires or serious injuries
• Explosions
• Fires in buildings with vulnerable occupants (i.e.
  hospital)
• Grow ops (Marijuana)
• Large loss fire
• Large fire spread

Question 7

What is fire lol?

Answer 7

The rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process

Question 8

What are the characteristics of a victim of a fatal fire?

Answer 8

• Pugilistic Stance (defensive position that is typically seen in severely burned bodies)
• Colour Progression (goes from normal -> burned -> calcined)
• Calcined Bone (thermally altered: all organic material and moisture lost)
• Charred Bone (Black in colour meaning it has been in contact with fire and, will usually have microscopic residual burned soft tissue)

Question 9

How can one tell which way a fire was moving by looking at bones?

Answer 9

If the bone has a curved transverse mark on it, it means that the fire was moving that way (tissue tries to “run” from it)

Question 10

Referring to the study done at U of Tennessee: how do bodies decomposed when they’re hanging?

Answer 10

They tend to mummify because maggots can’t stay on the body.

Question 11

Give a brief description of Case Study #1, located in Cannington, ON. (Main points)

Answer 11

• 911 gets a call saying that there’s been a family fight & everything’s on fire
• Survivor says dad & brother still inside
• Deceased found in bathroom & were laying down
• Neighbour heard 2 explosions during the fire (2nd was sound of tin roof collapsing)
• Bathroom was thought to have not caught on fire because there was TOO MUCH gas, therefore it would not ignite

Question 12

Give a brief description of Case Study #2, located in Pickering, ON. (Main points)

Answer 12

• Husband tried to kill wife, but she escaped & called the police
• Police found the wife’s car set on fire with a man’s body laying in the front seat
• Lighter found close to the guys foot & gas can found in passengers seat
• Keys to vehicle were found indicating he may have done this himself
• Body had surgically repaired mandible (can be used to identification)
• Soot in trachea (guy was still breathing while car was burning)

Question 13

Give a brief description of Case Study #3, located in Scugog, ON. (Main points)

Answer 13

• Couple brought in family from South Africa
• The guy had won a 30 min free flight, and asked if his brother could have 15 mins
• While the brother was in the plane, it went down
• Hand was curled back with a broken radius & ulna & body was impaled with a bunch of shit
• Forensic anthropologist was called (Kathy Gruspier)
• Skull wrapped in saran wrap to keep teeth in place, & fragmented bones were placed in tin foil so they wouldn’t get damaged on the way to the morgue