Fire Cause Investigation

Question 1

Why do we investigate fires?

Answer 1

• It is the law as required by the International Fire Code
• To determine unsafe products and /or procedures that may be causing and creating a danger to the community
• To determine incendiary fires and investigate until the responsible party(ies) have been brought to prosecution

Question 2

Definition of Fire according to Fire Cause class

Answer 2

• Fire is a rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process usually accompanied by the evolution of heat and light in varying intensities

Question 3

Fire Triangle/fire tetrahedron

Answer 3

1. Fire Triangle
   a. Oxygen
   b. Fuel
   c. Heat
2. Fire Tetrahedron
   a. Oxygen
   b. Fuel
   c. Heat
   d. Uninhibited chemical chain reaction

Question 4

Methods of heat transfer

Answer 4

a. Conduction
i. Transfer of heat by direct contact of one body to another
b. Convection
i. Transfer of heat by some circulating medium (either gas or liquid)
ii. Convection is the form of heat transfer which is most responsible for the spread of heat in structure fires
c. Radiation
i. Heat being transferred 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 is heat in the form of energy which travels through space or materials as waves

Question 5

Flashover according to fire cause class

Answer 5

a. Contained fire where exposed surfaces simultaneously ignite from thermal radiation
b. Stage of fire when room or other area becomes heated to the point when flames flash over the entire surface area

Question 6

Backdraft according to fire cause class

Answer 6

a. An explosion or rapid burning of heated gases resulting from the introduction of oxygen when air is admitted into a building heavily charged by smoke form a fire that has depleted the oxygen content of the buildin

Question 7

Fire stages according to fire cause class

Answer 7

a. Growth/Incipient 300-600 21% oxygen
b. Free Burning 1200-2000 18%
c. Smoldering 800-1000 13-15%

Question 8

Combustion By-Products

Answer 8

a. Fire gases
b. Flame
c. Heat
d. Smoke

Question 9

Point of origen

Answer 9

a. The place of the fire’s beginning
b. Normally, the fire cause will be found at, or very near, the point of origin
c. Fires often burn longer near the point of origin
d. Evidence of incendiarism is often recovered near the point of origin
e. Evidence of fire spread (or direction of fire travel) may be noted/ confirmed after locating the point of origin
f. The point of origin may confirm or contradict the stories of owners/ occupants/suspects

Question 10

Fire Cause investigation is backwards why?

Answer 10

Investigator must usually work backwards in relation to the fire’s travel or spread, working toward the point of origin. For this reason, fire cause investigation is commonly referred to as a “Backward” investigation

Question 11

What fire investigative stuff do we find on the outside of a structure?

Answer 11

i. Note areas of damage by heat and smoke

ii. Fire damage to building exterior

Question 12

What are we looking for on the inside of a structure

Answer 12

i. Ceiling damage may help to locate point of origin
ii. Floor damage may help to locate point of origin
iii. Lowest level of burning
iv. Lack of soot (carbon) in a heavily burned area may indicate the area of origin
v. “V” Patterns
vi. Structural damage from fire as an indicator of fire’s travel
vii. Depth of charring as an indicator of fire’s travel and the point of origin
1. 1” for every 45 minutes in wood. (structural members) at approx.. 1400 F
viii. Flashover
ix. Multiple points of origin

Question 13

What does fire cause look for in glass objects?

Answer 13

1. Light staining .. limited fire or intense heat and/or rapid fire growth
2. Heavy staining.. slow fire build up or remote distance from point of origin. (Exception- Heavy petroleum base in fire load)
   xi. Glass- Cracking or crazing, Light bulbs

Question 14

What does fire cause look for in melting stuff?

Answer 14

xii. Melting
1. Aluminum 1200 F
2. Copper 2000 F
3. Window Glass 900 F when exposed for 10 minutes

Question 15

Is reconstructing the scene necessary?

Answer 15

xiii. Reconstruction Necessary to Properly Determine the Point of Origin
1. Locating the proper position of items within the fire scene
2. Identification and use of “protected areas”
3. Allows the investigator to more readily determine eh lowest level of burning, “V” patterns, and evaluate the fuel load and burning sequence within an area

Question 16

Three elements of accidental fire cause

Answer 16

a. Three elements of fire
i. Heat source
ii. Fuel
iii. An “event” which brings together the heat source and the fuel

Question 17

Heat sources

Answer 17

i. Chemical – exothermic, endothermic, pyrolysis, solution
ii. Electrical – resistance, induction, dilation, arching/sparking
iii. Mechanical – friction, compression
iv. Nuclear – explosion, radiation

Question 18

Accidental fire includes

Answer 18

i. Acts of God
ii. Mechanical Malfunctions
iii. Carelessness
iv. Stupidity

Question 19

Misrepresentation of fire causes

Answer 19

i. Owners and /or occupants will sometimes misrepresent accidental fires because:
1. May think insurance will not pay off
2. May be embarrassed
3. Hope fire department will find another cause
4. Afraid of being charged for fire department response
5. Parents trying to cover for juveniles or adult children trying to cover for parents

Question 20

Accidental fire causes sources

Answer 20

i. Heating equipment
ii. Smoking
iii. Flammable/Combustible liquids
iv. Spontaneous heating
v. Fireworks/ Explosives
vi. Lightning
vii. Low temperature ignition and accidental fires
viii. Cooking equipment
ix. Electrical equipment
x. Open flames/ Sparks
xi. Gas fires/ Explosions
xii. Dust explosions
xiii. Wild Land fires

Question 21

Incendiary fire indicators

ALL of them…

Answer 21

i. Multiple fires
ii. Flammable accelerants
iii. Structural damage prior to fire
iv. Absence of all accidental fire causes
v. Removal of contents prior to the fire
vi. Major appliances removed prior to the fire
vii. Trailers
viii. Plants
ix. Common equipment/appliances
x. Absence of personal items/ important papers
xi. Location of the fire
xii. Evidence of other crimes in the structure
xiii. Unnatural fire spread, excessive fire damage, or evidence of extreme heat
xiv. Entry of fire companies blocked or view into structure blocked
xv. Injuries to occupants
xvi. Inappropriate period of time between exit of occupant and fire
xvii. Pre-burned contents of second fire in same structure
xviii. Presence of burned or unburned fuel near point of origin
xix. Fires occurring on holidays or weekends
xx. Time of day
xxi. Water heater fires or fires where a convenient heat source is available
xxii. Fires during renovations
xxiii. Reported activities of owners/ occupants
xxiv. Statements of owners/occupants

Question 22

Incendiary fire indicators - fire only

Answer 22

• Multiple fires
• Flammable accelerants
• Trailers
• Plants
• Location of the fire
• Pre-burned contents of second fire in same structure
• Presence of burned or unburned fuel near point of origin

Question 23

Incendiary fire indicators - people only

Answer 23

• Evidence of other crimes in the structure
• Unnatural fire spread, excessive fire damage, or evidence of extreme heat
• Injuries to occupants
• Inappropriate period of time between exit of occupant and fire
• Reported activities of owners/ occupants
• Statements of owners/occupants

Question 24

Incendiary fire indicators - structure only

Answer 24

• Structural damage prior to fire
• Entry of fire companies blocked or view into structure blocked
• Fires during renovations
• Water heater fires or fires where a convenient heat source is available

Question 25

Incendiary fire indicators - stuff/misc

Answer 25

• Absence of all accidental fire causes
• Removal of contents prior to the fire
• Major appliances removed prior to the fire
• Common equipment/appliances
• Absence of personal items/ important papers
• Fires occurring on holidays or weekends
• Time of day

Question 26

When do you know you have an incendiary fire?

Answer 26

You can NOT have an Incendiary Fire if you cannot eliminate ALL accidental causes

Question 27

Motive of the fire setter

Answer 27

i. Motive Is The “Reason” For Setting A Fire
ii. Sometimes confused with INTENT which is the deliberateness of the act
iii. Motive is not necessary to prove the Corpus Delicti of the crime of arson,
iv. Identification of the motive often helps to assist the investigator during interviews
v. Frequently, the district attorney may decline to prosecute if the motive is not clearly understood
vi. Jurors may fail to find the accused guilty unless they know (and understand) why the individual(s) set the fire

Question 28

Seven basic motives for setting fires

Answer 28

i. Juvenile/ Vandalism
ii. Fraud/ Profit
iii. Vanity/Hero
iv. Crime Concealment
v. Spite/Revenge
vi. Civil Disorders
vii. Pyromania

Question 29

Juvenile vandelism

Answer 29

1. Accountable for 50% of incendiary fires and 25% of all fires in the United States
2. Does not include the “fire play” fire setter
3. Deals with the juvenile that has been or perceives himself to have been physically, mentally, or sexually abused. The risk taker trying to “fit in” or the true juvenile delinquent

Question 30

Fraud/profit

Answer 30

1. Fraud is defined as:
   a. A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain
   i. Direct gain
   ii. Indirect gain

Question 31

Vanity/hero

Answer 31

1. Dangerous because the fire setter believes the situation is “under control”
2. Sets fires in an attempt to prove worth to :
   a. Employer, spouse, family, friends, self

Question 32

Crime concealment

Answer 32

1. Destruction of books/records
2. Distraction for criminal activity
3. Arson for escape
4. Arson to conceal murder
5. Murder or suicide by arson
6. Crime to conceal arson (staged burglary)
7. Drug addicts and arson

Question 33

Spite/revenge

Answer 33

1. Most deadly type of fire
   a. Largest loss of life, Largest property loss
2. Initiated by hatred, jealousy, or other uncontrolled emotions
3. May involve any emotional situation
4. Commonly referred to as a “Lovers Fire”
5. Arsonist acts in a deliberate and malicious way to inflict injury without regard to possible consequences. Frequently disables fire protection systems and blocks exiting

Question 34

Civil disorders

Answer 34

1. Fire used as a weapon
   a. Two results
   i. Destruction of property
   ii. Impression that group activity involves many people
2. Mob action arson used in recent years
3. Power of suggestion “snowball effect”
4. Can relate to other motives (excuses for burning)

Question 35

Pyromania

Answer 35

1. Defined as: The uncontrollable urge to start fires. (May or may not be interconnected to sexual desires and /or gratification’s)
2. Wide range of opinions among experts
3. Very little comprehensive research in recent years
4. Many lay opinions available
5. The rarest of all seven motive types

Question 36

Indicators before arrivial

Answer 36

i. Weather, snow, rain, lightning
ii. Time of day, day of week
iii. Barricades or obstructions in street/road, blocking hydrant/sprinkler connections, tampering with fire protective systems
iv. Color of smoke and flames
v. Persons or vehicles leaving the scene
vi. Blacked out or boarded windows
vii. Multiple fires in the same structure or area
viii. Condition of doors and windows…Locked, unlocked, forced open
ix. Open file cabinets, ledgers and record books left out
x. Open safe
xi. Missing or Lack of stock, contents, clothing, furniture
xii. Unusual odors
xiii. Structural damage to assist fire spread
xiv. Civilians who appear at multiple scenes or try to help
xv. Location of fire
xvi. Plants and Trailers
xvii. Evidence, Containers, Unburned accelerant residue

Question 37

Codes and statutes relating to fire code

Answer 37

a. International Fire Code
i. The fire chief or his designate shall investigate the cause of all fires within the jurisdiction
b. Arizona Revised Statutes
i. Title 13 Chapter 17
ii. Defines damage as any physical or visual impairment of any surface

Question 38

Jurisdiction for prosecution

Answer 38

i. Reckless Burning—City/Civil Court
1. City Attorney
2. City Magistrate
ii. Arson — Superior Court
1. Pima County Prosecutor
2. Superior Court Judge
a. Occupied, Unoccupied structure, All other felony arson arrests except:
iii. Arson of Federal Property – Federal Court
1. District/ Circuit
2. Federal Prosecutor
3. Federal District Judge

Question 39

Arson conviction

Answer 39

a. To Obtain an arson conviction, the prosecutor must be able to prove:
i. There was a fire and damage occurred
ii. The accused is responsible for setting the fire
iii. The accused had intent to do harm
1. Fire —Incendiary—Guilty
a. FIG

Question 40

Burden of Proof

Answer 40

i. Civil – Preponderance of the Evidence

ii. Criminal –Beyond a Reasonable doubt

Question 41

Two types of search warrants

Answer 41

i. Administrative
ii. Criminal
1. Security for the fire scene is the responsibility of every fire fighter and begins the moment the fire department arrives

Question 42

Constitutional limits to investigations

Answer 42

i. Fourth Amendment—Search and Seizure
ii. Fifth Amendment –A person cannot be compelled to incriminate against his/herself
iii. Sixth Amendment – Accused has the right to legal representation and a public and speedy trial
iv. Fourteenth Amendment –Due process applicable to all states

Question 43

Plain view doctrine

Answer 43

i. Officer must have legal authority to be where he/she is when the evidence is observed
ii. The evidence must be in plain sight

Question 44

Benchmark cases in fire cause investigations

Answer 44

i. Tyler vs. Michigan
ii. Clifford vs. Arizona
iii. Miranda vs. Arizona
iv. Escobedo vs. California

Question 45

Miranda rights basics

Answer 45

i. A suspect must be informed of their rights when the officer:
1. Puts the suspect into custodial care and,
2. Intends to question the suspect

Question 46

TFD guidelines for fire cause investigations

Answer 46

a. Keep your supervisor informed of anything you see and /or hear
b. Stay alert and observant
c. Avoid using the term “Arson”, especially on the radio
d. Avoid giving detailed information of a fire cause investigation/determination over the radio