A Guide to Arson
Investigation
1
What is Arson?
ARSON is the crime of
burning property
- the burning of a
building or other
property for a criminal
or malicious reason.
2
The Chemistry
of Fire
The Fire Tetrahedron
• The “triangle” illustrates the rule that in order to
ignite and burn, a fire requires three elements
— heat, fuel, and oxygen.
• A fire is caused by the convergence of FUEL,
O2, HEAT, & an uninhibited chemical chain rxn.
3
The Chemistry
of Fire
• A liquid burns when the temperature is high
enough to vaporize it (flash point), while a
solid must be hot enough to decompose into
gaseous products (pyrolysis).
• Glowing combustion or smoldering is burning
at the fuel-air interface, such as a cigarette.
• Spontaneous combustion, which is rare, is
the result of a natural heat-producing process
in poorly ventilated containers or areas.
4
Combustion
• Fire is a combustion process during which
oxygen (min. req. is 15%) is united with some
fuel to produce noticeable quantities of heat
and light (flame) and releases Carbon or CO,
carbon monixde, a toxic gas, and water vapor. 5
Endothermic
vs. Exothermic:
6
Fuels
Flames
Oxygen
Heat
• Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of
exothermic (gives off heat or light) chemical
reactions between a fuel and an oxidant
accompanied by the production of heat or both
heat and light in the form of either a glow or
flames.
7
Heat
Production:
•
•
•
•
Chemically, through rapid oxidation
Mechanically, as the result of friction
Electrically, due to an electrical malfunction
Kinetically, in a compressed gas because
molecular activity is great increased
• Nuclearly, through the splitting of atomic
particles.
8
Transference
Of Heat
• Conduction – direct contact
• Convection – super heated gases
• Radiation – invisible waves that travel at
the same speed as visible light. Radiant
heat travel in a direct line from the source
until it strikes the object.
9
• Fires expand horizontally & vertically from the
point of origin
• They follow the path of least resistance –
through ceilings, doorways, windows, stairways
& other openings
• Fires start when the minimum temperature
needed to spontaneously ignite fuel, (ignition
temperature), is reached.
• The heat evolved when a substance burns-heat
10
of combustion.
Stages of A Fire;
Grow & Spread in
4 Stages:
1. Incipient Stage-Earliest stage. Duration may be a
fraction of a second to hours, depending on the fuel
available & ignition source
2. Emergent Stage-Combustion activity increases
3. Free Burning-The intensity of the fire increases. The
intensity of the heat doubles with each 18°F temperature
rise.
4. Oxygen-Regulated Smoldering-O2 enriched air in an
area or room is depleted causing combustion to cease.
Temp may exceed 1000°F. If O2 is re-introduced to the
fire, a backdraft (explosive ignition) may occur.
11
STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURES
12
Searching the
Fire Scene
• Origin and Cause
Determination
• Patterns –
How does fire burn?
Ignitable Liquids
• “Sniffers” –
Portable vapor detectors
• Make DeterminationAccidental vs. Incendiary
13
Searching the
Fire Scene
The causes of fire- 4 categories:
1. Natural (e.g., lightning)
2. Accidental (e.g., unintentional or negligent,
but explainable human action)
3. Incendiary (e.g., intentional)
4. Undetermined (unknown)
14
Looking for
Origin and Cause
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Windows blown away from structure
Originof and
Causes
Evidence
forced
entry
Missing inventory (warehouses, etc.)
Missing personal items such as photos,
bibles, yearbooks, weapons, jewelry (homes)
Evidence of a previous fire
Unkempt yard "For sale" signs
Fuel cans
Fire extending beyond the perimeter of the
structure
15
Origin
and Cause
(continued)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Large amount of damage
Low burning
Unidentifiable point of origin
No "V" burn patterns present
Lack of accidental causes
Separate and unconnected fires
Unusual burn patterns and high heat stress
continue
16
Origin
and Cause
(continued)
Be aware of fire movement
 Fire generally move upward
 Origin located closest to lowest point of
most intense burning
 Drafts & winds
 Secondary fires
 Stairways, holes, elevator shafts
 Flammable liquids flow down
17
“V” patterns
18
COLLECTION &
PRESERVATION
Of Arson
Evidence
19
Tools of the
Trade
• Metal cans and glass bottles
Used containers must be
kept sealed
Only 1/2 to 2/3 of the containers are filled,
to allow material sufficient air to breathe 20
• Safety
and
common
sense
Tools and Equipment
are important
Protective clothing
• Tools: shovels, rakes, hoes, brooms, sifting
screen
21
FirsT responders are
crucial to preservation
of evidence
First responders need to recognize items that
Protection of the Scene
may have evidentiary value. To any subsequent
investigations and take preventative measures
to ensure
Evidence is not damaged in the fire or rescuing process
• The area around the scene needs to be
secluded, not only for security reasons, but
for protection of evidence
22
Scene Investigation
Fire scenes are considered the hardest of any
investigations because evidence is always destroyed. 2-3
Quarts of ash and soot debris must be collected at the
point of origin of a fire in any arson case
23
Chain of Custody
• The person who collects and
processes the evidence is to take all
responsibility for handling of the evidence
• Proper records and files must be kept of who
and where has handled the evidence
• Mostly all evidence in arson investigations are
subject to analysis
• Preserving the evidence so that it is court
admissible is one of the most important tasks
24
FIRE INVESTIGATION
25
•Fire investigation is one of the most
difficult of the forensic sciences to
practice.
•In most forensic disciplines, even the
basic question of whether a crime has
been committed is normally obvious.
26
Origin and Cause of
Investigation
• After firefighters extinguish a fire, an
investigation is launched to determine the
origin and cause of the fire or explosion.
Investigations of such incidents are done
using a systematic approach and knowledge
of basic fire science.
27
•During a fire investigation, an entire process
must be undertaken just to determine if the
case involves arson or not. The difficulty of
determining whether an arson fire has
occurred or not arises because fires destroy
evidence.
28
•Fires can be caused by or involve most
things people see or use. For this reason,
fire investigators need to know not only
basic science of fire behavior, but
knowledge of many different areas of
study (including construction, electricity,
human behavior, vehicles etc) is helpful.
29
Accidental Fire Cause
Natural Fire Cause
Incendiary Fire Cause
Undetermined Fire Cause
Categories of fires
30
Accidental
31
Accidental
32
Accidental
33
Accidental
34
A
C
C
I
D
E
N
T
A
l
35
Incendiary
36
Incendiary
37
Incendiary
38
Incendiary
39
Types of
Arsonists
•
•
•
•
•
Revenge – 14%
Vandalism - 60%
Crime Concealment - 7%
Insurance Claims - 16%
Excitement & Pyromaniacs - 3%
40
Types of
Arsonists
41
Church Arson
• The leading cause of church fires is
arson
• Motives of the 100 people arrested in
those fires included racial hatred, but
juvenile vandalism, insurance fraud and
thrill-seeking were also factors.
• Churches are also targets because they
are unoccupied at night and for long
periods of time during the day.
42
Revenge
• Result of arguments, hatred or jealousy
• Victims are usually family, friends or
other familiar people
• Hate groups may not know victims
• Often intoxicated at the time of their
offense
• Typically use matches and gasoline
• Easily detected because they do not
cover their tracks
43
Vandalism
•
•
•
•
Destroy property for fun or sport
Sometimes revenge is motivation
Usually have one or more accomplice
Half of all arson arrests are white males
under age 18
• Tend to set fires at night
44
Crime
Concealment
• Usually burglary, often murder
• Use fire to cover traces of the original
crime or the criminal
• Often set at night
45
Insurance
Claims
• Arson for Profit
• Arsonist needs money, so they will set fire to
their own property to collect on the insurance
• “Fire Strippers” who set fires and then search
the burned remains for plumbing, electrical
and other construction materials
• Usually do not set fire to property that has
people in it
• Generally, fires are set in the day time
46
Excitement
• Set fires because they are entertained
• Some like the sight of fire burning
• Others enjoy watching the firefighters
using their equipment
• Usually intoxicated at the time of the fire
• Do not set fire to inhabited property
47
Pyromaniacs
• “Pathological Fire setters”
• They get a sensual satisfaction watching
fire destroy
48
Arson & Violence
• Fires set intentionally can also go hand in
hand with violence
• Mob violence fires
• Occurs where the median income is
below the poverty line
• Fire-setters have the least to lose in
personal property
49
Little known
Facts:
Did you know that?
• Arson is the #1 crime committed by juveniles.
• 1/3 of all children killed by fire set the fire
themselves.
• Left untreated 81% of fire setters will repeat
their dangerous actions.
50
Little known
Facts:
Did you know that?
• Fire is the only object of mass destruction to
which young people have access.
• Fire setters are not arsonists or pyromaniacs.
• Fire setting evaluation, education and
intervention services work.
51
Little known
Facts:
Did you know that?
• Arsonists intentionally set fires that
destroyed $879 million in insured property in
2004, including factories, residential
buildings, churches and motor vehicles.
• The number of civilians killed in arson fires in
buildings in 2004 totaled 320. Only 17% of
cases ended in arrests in 2004.
52
Little known
Facts:
Did you know that?
• Children are responsible for almost half
of the arson fires set in the United
States.
• Arson committed at night is usually
deemed as being more serious than t
hat committed during daytime.
53
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Investigating the scene alone:
– Fire scene examinations should not be
undertaken alone
• A minimum of 2 individuals should be
present to ensure that assistance is at
hand if an investigator should become
trapped or injured
54
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Structural stability
– By their nature, most structures that have
been involved in fires or explosions are
structurally weakened.
– Roofs, ceilings, partitions, load bearing
walls, and floors may have been
compromised by the fire or explosion
55
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Investigator Fatigue
– It is common for investigators to put in long
periods of strenuous personal labor during
an incident scene investigation.
– This may result in fatigue, which can
adversely influence an investigators
physical coordination, strength, judgment
to recognize or respond to hazardous
conditions or situations.
56
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Status of suppression
– If the investigator is going to enter parts of
the structure before the fire is completely
extinguished, he or she should receive
permission from the fire ground
commander.
– The investigator should keep the fire
ground commander advised of the areas
into which he or she will be entering and
working.
57
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Standing water
– Standing water can pose a variety of
dangers to the investigator.
– Puddles of water in the presence of
energized electrical systems can be lethal
if the investigator should touch an
energized wire while standing in a puddle.
58
Hazards & Dangers
Of Investigation
• Safety of fire scene atmosphere
– Fire and explosions often generate toxic or
noxious gases. The presence of hazardous
materials in this structure is certain.
• Homes: chemicals in the kitchen, bath, and
garage that can create great risk to the
investigator if they are exposed to them.
• Commercial business structures are generally
more organized in the storage of hazardous
materials, but investigator can’t assume that the
59
risk is less.
Conclusion
• Fires present a major
social and economic
problem.
• Arson in particular
costs the community
an enormous amount
of money each year.
60
Conclusion
• Arson can be used to
destroy personal
property, collect
insurance or to cover up
other crimes.
• Fires may destroy items
that are irreplaceable
due to their historical or
sentimental value.
61
61
Conclusion
• All arson fires are
incendiary, however not
all incendiary fires are
arson.
• In order for a fire to be
considered arson, it
must have been caused
by someone through the
use of an accelerant.
62
62
Conclusion
• Crime prevention
programs are used and
more resources are
dedicated to improving
the sophistication of
the investigation of
suspected arson.
63
63
EXPLOSIVES
64
Recent Bombings in
the News
• 1988 – Pan Am Flight • 1998 – The
Unabomber (20 yrs)
103, Lockerbie,
– Ted Kaczynski
Scotland
• 2005 – London
• 1995 – Murrah
Underground Train
Federal Building,
Bombings (4
Oklahoma City, OK
simultaneous
– Tim McVeigh
explosions/1 on bus)
– Terry Nichols
65
Where to look
For evidence
• There are 3 places to look for evidence
in a bombing:
– The target
– The materials damaged by the blast
– The area outside the bombing crime
scene
66
Where to look
For evidence
1. Explosions leaving a crater
– Recoverable evidence may be caught in
the hole or nearby the crater
2. Explosions leaving a hole
– Only explosive residue is generally left
behind.
67
What is an
Explosive
• Explosives are substances that undergo a
rapid oxidation reaction with the
production of large quantities of gases.
• It is this sudden buildup of gas pressure
that constitutes the nature of an explosion.
• The speed at which explosives decompose
and release their gases permits their
classification as high or low explosives.
68
Explosives
• Third World
Countries
69
Types of Explosives:
Low Explosives
• The most widely used explosives in the
low-explosive group are black powder
and smokeless powder.
• Black powder is a mixture of potassium
or sodium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
• Smokeless powder consists of nitrated
cotton (nitrocellulose) or nitroglycerin
and nitrocellulose.
70
Types of Explosives:
HIGH Explosives
Primary explosives
• Ultrasensitive to heat, shock, or friction
and provide the major ingredients found
in blasting caps or primers used to
detonate other explosives.
71
Explosives
Secondary explosives are relatively
insensitive to heat, shock, or friction and
will normally burn rather than detonate if
ignited in small quantities in the open
air.
• This group comprises the majority of
commercial (Dynamite) and military
blasting, such as TNT, PETN, and RDX.
72
Explosives
• First high explosive with a commercial
application was Nitroglycerin (NG) –
1850’s
• In recent years, NG-based dynamite
has all but disappeared from the
industrial explosive market and has
been replaced by ammonium nitrate(AN) based explosives (i.e., water gels,
emulsions, and ANFO explosives).
74
73
Military
Explosives
• Suitability of an explosive for military use
is determined by:
1.Can it be produced from cheap raw
materials that are not strategic [SIMPLE]
2.Are they available in GREAT quantity
[CHEAP]
3.Density must be as high as possible
[SAFE]
75
Military
Explosives
• TNT first used in WWI. TNT + AN used in
WWII by Germany for V-2 rockets in the
bombing of London. Blast velocity of 6825
m/s
• RDX is the most popular and powerful of
the military explosives, often encountered
in the form of pliable plastic known as C-4.
Blast velocity of 8050 m/s
• HMX – 30% more powerful than TNT. Blast
76
velocity of 9124 m/s
Explosives
TNT-It is valued because of its insensitivity to
shock and friction, which reduces the risk of
accidental detonation.
TNT
Time
RDX
TNT
Bomb
RDX- possesses greater explosive power than
TNT used in the WW I. Requires no new raw
materials for its manufacture
77
ExplosivE’s markEt
• C-4
C4 is made up of explosives,
plastic binder, plasticizer and,
usually, marker or odorizing
taggant chemicals such as 2,3dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane
(DMDNB) to help detect the
explosive and identify its
source. As with many plastic
explosives, the explosive in C4
is RDX.
78
Military
Explosives
• In many countries outside the United States, the
accessibility of military high explosives to
terrorist organizations makes them very
common constituents of homemade bombs.
• IED’s – Improvised Explosives/3 common types
1. KNO3 w/sugar & aluminum
2. Sulfur/Charcoal, KClO3 & sugar
3. KClO4, sugar & aluminum
79
Military
Explosives
High Explosive IED’s
• TATP – preferred by terrorists because
it does not have a nitrogen atom in its
structure
• Presumptive tests for explosives are
made to identify or respond to a reactive
nitrogen atom in the residue tested
• Easer to past airport and other bomb
detectors
80
Evidence
Collection
• Presumptive Field Tests
IMS – ion mobility spectrometer
Detects a wide range of explosives including
plastic & military explosives, even at trace
levels
Portable Hydrocarbon Detectors – detects
explosive residues on objects or people
Chemical reagents – Greiss reagent tests for
presence of nitrates
81
Specially trained dogs can also detect
hydrocarbon residues *Offcrs. Meade & Lucky
Back at
the Lab
• Testing procedures include color spot
tests, thin-layer chromatography, highperformance liquid chromatography, and
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
• Confirmatory identification tests may be
performed on unexploded materials by
either infrared spectrophotometry or Xray diffraction.
82
February 2003
The Station Night
Club Fire
83
A Case Study
Of a Fire
• Background and Cause(s) of a fire and
ongoing investigation
• NFPA Response
• Incident hits close to home
• NFPA Fire Codes/OSHA Compliance
• Case update
84
The Aftermath
85
Fire Details
• Location: West Warwick, RI
15 miles from Providence
• Building Type: one story wooden
structure
• Fully engulfed within 3 minutes
• Business was too small to require a
sprinkler system
• Occupancy limit: 300 with furniture / 404
without
86
Fire Details
• 99 people perished (4 out of 16 club
employees)
• Over 180 people injured
• Greatest loss of life due to a fire since the
1995 Branch Davidian
• Compound, where 80 people died
87
Causes/
Investigation
• Pyrotechnics were used (without a permit),
ignited wall behind stage
• Fire spread to ceiling, despite band
member trying to extinguish with water
• There were three fire exits besides the
main doors
• Most tried to escape through the main
doors, but thick smoke quickly obstructed
the means of egress
88
Causes/
Investigation
• Due to neighbor complaints, sound proofing
was installed in 2000
• Sound proofing was made up of an egg-crate
type foam material (cost - $575) made out of
polyurethane, which burns like gasoline –
smoke emitted contained carbon monoxide,
cyanide, and other toxic gases
• Rhode Island law prohibits using flammable
acoustic material on the walls of gathering
places like bars
89
Causes/
Investigation
• Attorney for the club’s owners stated they
were not aware this foam was dangerous
• Club passed most recent fire inspection, and
this material was not documented
• Issues from last inspection
– Burned out light bulbs
– Improperly installed fire extinguishers
90
Causes/
Investigation
– Exit door near the stage swung inward, therefore,
a violation of the fire code
– Town manager (Wolfgang Bauer) states this door
was taken down to pass inspection, and then put
back up
• Town could be held liable due to the
overlooking of the foam sound proofing
91
NFPA Response
• Jim Shannon (President) interviewed by 60 Minutes II
March 5, 2003
– NFPA code development process
– Organization’s position on sprinklers
– Cause of West Warwick tragedy
• NFPA fire codes have reduced fire in buildings by
nearly 50% over the last 25 years
• Interact with victim’s families/learn from these
tragedies
92
NFPA Response
“One of the most frustrating things about the
Rhode Island nightclub fire is that this
tragedy could have been prevented. If NFPA
code had been followed, there would have
been no fire.”
93
NFPA Response
• Strong advocates of sprinkler systems in
most structures.
• As a result of this tragedy, a public
assembly occupancy committee was held to
address all of the issues and details
pertaining to this tragedy – codes may need
to be updated
94
NFPA Response
NFPA methodology:
“The level of Safety provided is not the
result of any single safety system or
feature, but rather is achieved through
the combination of multiple safeguards
that are provided”
ex: NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code
95
NFPA/Rhode Island
Fire Code
• Life Safety Code
• NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code - 1994 (1997)*
• Governs life safety - egress requirements,
protection of occupants.
• Divided by occupancy classification different occupancies have different code
requirements.
96
Fire Codes
What is a Means of Egress?
• A continuous and unobstructed way of
exit travel from any point in a three
separate and distinct parts:
(a) the exit access
(b) the exit
(c) the exit discharge
97
Fire Codes
• A means of egress comprises the vertical
and horizontal travel and shall include
intervening room spaces, doorways, hallway,
corridors, passageways, balconies, ramps,
stairs, enclosures, lobbies, escalators,
horizontal exits, courts, and yards.
Egress Doors - shall be arranged to be opened
readily from the egress side whenever the
building is occupied.
98
Fire Codes
• Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of
a key, tool or special knowledge, or effort for
operation from the inside of the building.
Where are Exit Devices Required?
In a means of egress where:
Occupancy load is 100 people or more
Occupancy type is for Education or Assembly
99
Fire Codes
(1) Educational
Buildings or parts of buildings which are
used by more than 5 people at one time for
educational purposes, with a total occupancy
load of greater than 50 people, for
kindergarten through 12th grade or day care
centers for children over 2 years and 9
months of age.
100
Fire Codes
(2) Assembly
Buildings or parts of buildings which are
used or designed for the gathering together
of persons for purposes such as civic,
social, or religious functions, recreation,
food or drink consumption, or awaiting
transportation, which will accommodate 50
or more occupants
101
OSHA
Regulations
CFR 1910.38 Employee Emergency Plan
Purpose:
Shall cover those designated actions
employers and employees must take to
ensure employee safety from fire and other
emergencies
102
OSHA
Regulations
Contents:
(i) Emergency escape procedures and
emergency escape route assignments
(ii) Procedures to be followed by employees
who remain to operate critical plant
operations before they evacuate
(iii) Procedures to account for all employees
after emergency evacuation has been
completed
103
OSHA
Regulations
(iv) Rescue and medical duties for those
employees who are able to perform them
(v) The preferred means of reporting fires
and other emergencies
104
OSHA
Regulations
Other requirements:
1) Fully operational alarm system
2) Training
– Employer must train a sufficient number
of persons to assist in the action plan
• when plan is formulated
• when employee’s responsibilities or
designated actions change
105
• when plan is changed
Evacuation Procedures
Store Management
Makes announcement for all
associates and customers
to evacuate the store using
the nearest EXIT
Dept. Supervisors
All Associates
Assist associates and
customers in evacuating the
store using the nearest EXIT
Evacuate the store
using the nearest
EXIT
Assist associates and
customers in evacuating the
store using the nearest EXIT
Search assigned area for
any customers/associates
that are left in the store
Meet at end of
parking lot in front
of store
Search assigned area for
any customers/associates
that are left in the store
Evacuate store using the
nearest EXIT
Evacuate store using the
nearest EXIT
Meet at end of parking lot in
front of store
Meet at end of parking lot in
front of the store
106
OSHA
Regulations
• Sprinklers were not installed due to an
exemption in this older venue (exact date of
when became mandatory unknown)
• Sprinklers would have reduced the impact
of the fire, but not necessarily saved more
lives
107
RI Case
Update
April 4:
Foam soundproofing found to be spraypainted, and glitter present on surface
April 9:
Contract w/band found amongst the rubble.
Document revealed that the owner’s
promoted the event for 550 people, as they
did with prior concerts.
108
RI Case
Update
• Litigation
– 2 civil lawsuits from 3 victim's families
– 3 additional attorneys representing 30
survivors (no formal charges yet)
– Currently, there are no criminal charges filed
109
RI Case
Update
April 9: Providence, Rhode Island Committee
Bans Pyrotechnics
A legislative committee approved a ban on
pyrotechnics in nightclubs April 8. Rep. Norman
Landroche, Jr. is a co-sponsor of the bill. The bill,
passed unanimously by the Corporations Committee,
would ban pyrotechnics in places licensed to serve
liquor that have a capacity of up to 1,000 people, and
would eliminate an exemption that has allowed older
venues like The Station to operate without installing
sprinklers.
110
RI Case Update
Final Outcome
April 10: Owners fined $1 million for not
carrying W/C for their associates ($1,000/day
x 3 years)
*Fan pieces were also found. Fans were mounted to the wall, and if they
were running, may have possibly accelerated the fire
111