Fire and the Analysis of

Fire Residues

The Problem with Arson

One of the fastest growing crimes in US
Arson for its own sake pyromania
Arson to cover up other crimes such as
murder or embezzlement
Not hard to determine if a fire is arson
Difficult to determine who caused the fire

What Is Fire?
Essentially a combustion reaction with a fuel,
oxygen and sufficient temperature. This is the
fire triangle.
2C8H18 + 25O2 = 18H2 O + 16CO2
An explosion and a fire involve the same process.
The only difference is the speed of the reaction.
Combustion may cause an explosion if confined

The Fire Triangle

oxygen

heat

fuel

Types of Fires
Burning or flaming fire
Sufficient oxygen and fuel
Flames and smoke visible

Smoldering fire
Oxygen deprived
Can burst into explosive flame if oxygen is

suddenly supplied

Arson
Deliberately set. Also sometimes called an
incendiary fire
May involve the use of an accelerant
Accelerant is a substance that causes a fire
to start that would not ordinarily start or to
burn faster than in the absence of the
accelerant. These are usually fuels such as
gasoline

Conditions for a Fire

A fire must have:
Oxygen
Fuel
Sufficient heat to get the fire started

Deprive the fire of one of these and it will

cease or wont start

Conditions for a fire

Generally only gases (vapors) will burn.
Solids and liquids will not burn
Sufficient heat is required to vaporize
some of the fuel and break oxygen
molecules apart into oxygen atoms
Fire will produce enough heat to continue
vaporization and keep fire going

Investigating the Fire Scene

Done by fire scene investigator
Search for point(s) of origin
Possible causes:
Accidental (leave the stove on, accidental

malfunction in appliance)
Natural (lightening)
Deliberate (Use an accelerant, deliberately
sabotage an appliance)

The Point of Origin

Crucial piece of evidence in determining
type of fire
Often most intense location of burning
Usually at a low point in the building-may
be buried under tons of rubble
Smoke or damage often shows V pattern

Determination of Arson
Eliminate all natural and accidental causes:
leaves only arson
Multiple points of origin
Fire trail
Presence of accelerant in debris
Presence of accelerant in observation of
fire: thick black smoke

The Role of an Accelerant

The accelerant supplies the heat needed to
get substances into the vapor phase so they
can burn.
Presence of an accelerant does not
necessarily mean that fire is arson. Why?
Absence of an accelerant does not rule out
arson. Why?

Finding Accelerants
Find point of origin
Look for absorbent materials
Use fire dog capable of sniffing out
miniscule quantities of accelerants
Look for fire trails

Role of the Crime Laboratory

Lab does not determine if fire is arson or
not
Examines debris to determine if an
accelerant may be present
Isolates and identifies accelerants
This may support the fire scene
investigator in determination of arson

Analysis of Residues
Uses GC or GC/MS for comparisons
MS has advantage of identifying particular

compounds which are present in certain

accelerants

Analyst should have own library of

knowns for comparison

GC of Gasoline

50% Evaporated Gasoline

Gasoline Residue

Furniture Polish

Cases
Dentist who liquidated his assets
Smoldering fire
Body in the trunk of the car

Dentist Who Liquidated His Assets

Dentist had failing practice in deteriorating
neighborhood
Had offer to relocate practice with partner but
needed $$$$$$$$$$ to get started
Used gasoline to make fire trail to each room in
office
Building destroyed but witness saw him leave
building before fire started
Convicted of arson

Smoldering Fire
Man catches wife fooling around and
decides to set trap for her.
He seals up all windows and doors to
house and sets a fire in living room
Fire flames first and then, having used up
oxygen, settles into glowing, smoldering
fire.

Smoldering Fire
He expects wife to come home from work and
enter house. This will cause influx of oxygen into
house and rekindle the fire explosively, killing her
instantly
She has an auto accident on the way home and is
delayed. Meanwhile a neighbor smells smoke and
calls fire department
They arrive at scene and recognize that whole
house is sealed up and enter very carefully.
Husband is charged with arson and attempted
murder

Body in the Trunk

This was believed to be a gangland
killing over drugs
Police were called to scene of fire in a car
They popped the trunk and found a charred
body
ME said that body was burned and then put
in trunk

Body in the Trunk

Inside of car was searched for accelerant
and fingerprints (superglue fumed entire
inside of car).
Gasoline was found in car on seats. Since
gas tank didnt explode, gasoline came
from elsewhere
Fingerprints found but no suspect. AFIS
search came up empty. Case still open