FO CH18 Flashcards
The process of determining the origin, cause, development, and responsibility for a fire or explosion, as well as the failure analysis of a fire or explosion.
Fire analysis
The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a fire or causing an explosion.
Arson
The destructive distillation of organic compounds in an oxygen-free environment that converts the organic matter into gases, liquids, and char.
Pyrolysis
Tangible items that can be identified by witnesses, such as incendiary devices and fire scene debris.
Demonstrative evidence
Physical marks left on an object by the fire.
Fire patterns
Evidence in written form, such as reports, records, photographs, sketches, and witness statements.
Documentary evidence
Devices or equipment that, because of their intended modes of use or operation, are capable of providing sufficient thermal energy to ignite flammable gas–air mixtures.
Source of ignition
The exact physical location where a heat source and a fuel come in contact with each other and a fire begins.
Point of origin
The remains of the material first ignited, the ignition source, or other items or components in some way related to fire ignition, development, or spread. An artifact may also be an item on which fire patterns are present, in which case the preservation of the artifact is not focused on the item itself, but rather on the fire pattern that appears on the item.
Artifacts
A logical, systematic examination of an item, component, assembly, or structure and its place and function within a system, conducted to identify and analyze the probability, causes, and consequences of potential and real failures.
Failure analysis
Carbonaceous material that has been burned and has a blackened appearance.
Char
What the ignited material is being used for; for example, for cotton it might be clothing or bales of cotton.
Form of material
The process of re-creating the physical scene during fire scene analysis through the removal of debris and the replacement of contents or structural elements in their prefire positions.
Fire scene reconstruction
An agent—often an ignitable liquid—used to initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
Accelerant
The documentary or oral statements and the material objects admissible as testimony in a court of law.
Evidence
