Unit 11: Injury and Fatal Fire investigation

Question 1

There is a ________________prong approach to dealing with Fire fatalities.

Answer 1

three prong

1. Fire investigation
2. Sequence of events
3. death or injury investigation

Question 2

OBJECTIVES OF A FORENSIC

AUTOPSY

Answer 2

•   Identification of victim.
•   Establish:
–   Time of death. 
–   Cause of death.
–   Manner of death.

Question 3

Three Bridges

Answer 3

• Moving the body.
• Embalming the body.
• Disposing of the body.

Question 4

If victim is located at the point of origin, need

to ask why:

Answer 4

•   Attempting to locate or
suppress the fire.
•   Incapacitated.
•   Ignition witness.
௅
Person responsible for 
initiating fire.

Question 5

Cause and manner of death are the

responsibility of the __________.

Answer 5

coroner.

Question 6

ASPHYXIANT GASES

Answer 6

• Carbon monoxide (CO).
• Hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
• Carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Oxygen depleted air.

Question 7

Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level is a factor

of many variables, including:

Answer 7

– CO concentration.
– Exposure time.
– Volume and rate of breathing.
– Medical issues (respiratory, cardiac).

Question 8

COHb is relatively stable and can be

measured

Answer 8

in the blood long after death.

Question 9

Baseline COHb levels:

Answer 9

– Non smokers: 0.5 to 1.5 percent.

– Smokers: 4 to 10 percent.

Question 10

• COHb levels in fire victims:

– Ranges from less than

Answer 10

20 percent to more than

90 percent.

Question 11

– Greater than ______ percent is generally assumed
to be fatal, but this value depends on each
person.

Answer 11

50%

Question 12

Evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning is

_________________

Answer 12

Cherry red skin

Question 13

CONSIDER OTHER CONTRIBUTING

SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE

Answer 13

•   Portable generators.
•   Vehicle exhaust.
•   Gas appliances:
–   Water heaters.
–   Stoves/Ovens.
–   Furnaces.

Question 14

RESPIRATORY TRACT BURNS
•   It can be difficult to distinguish the effects 
of thermal inhalation burns from edema 
and inflammation caused by chemical 
irritants in smoke. 
•   Thermal inhalation burns are always 
accompanied by\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
•   Highly dependent on the humidity of hot 
gases. Inhalation of hotter gases is 
possible, if the gas is dry.

Answer 14

external facial burns.

Question 15

Types of burns

Answer 15

• Flame.
• Contact.
• Radiant.
• Scalding.
• Chemical.
• Microwave.
• Electrical.

Question 16

HEAT OR THERMAL EFFECTS ON THE BODY

Answer 16

• Color change of the skin.
• Blistering of the skin.
• Peeling of the skin.
• Splitting of the skin.
• Pugilistic posture.
• Bone damage or fractures.

Question 17

Body Burn patterns

0-5 minutes

Answer 17

Contraction of smaller muscles

hands, jaw

Question 18

Body Burn patterns

30 minutes to 1 hour

Answer 18

The arms may be in a raised in a defensive pose.

Pugilistic position

Question 19

• Burns at the entry and exits points.

Electrical burns appear as______________

Answer 19

Appear as thermal burns.

Question 20

CAUSE VERSUS MANNER OF
DEATH

Cause of death.
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Answer 20

Examples of the 
reason or event 
that caused the 
person to die:
--   Gunshot.
--   Stabbing.
--   Asphyxiation.
--   Heart attacks

Question 21

Manner of death.

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Answer 21

Examples of how 
the cause of 
death occurred 
(natural or 
unnatural):
--   Accidental.
--   Homicide.
--   Suicide.
--   Natural.
--   Undetermined.