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MotorVehicle
Fires
KnowledgeObjectives (2of3)
Identifypotentialignitionsourcespresentin
vehicles.
Discussthevariousvehiclesystemsand
componentswithrelationtofirecause.
Discussthebodysystemsinavehicleandhow
theymayaffectavehiclefire.
SkillsObjectives
Conductavehiclefireinvestigation.
KnowledgeObjectives (1of3)
Describetheinvestigativetechniquesusedto
analyzeavehiclefire.
Discusssafetyissuessurroundingvehiclefire
investigation.
Identifythefirefuelspresentinvehicles.
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KnowledgeObjectives (3of3)
Explainhowtodocumentavehiclefirescene.
Discusstheprocessusedintheexaminationof
avehiclefire.
Explainspecialconsiderationsforvarious
typesofvehiclesandequipment.
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Introduction
Vehiclefireinvestigationisoftenconsidered
complex.
Actually,investigationisthesameasforother
fires
Samerequirementsforsuccessfulignitionand
propagation
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InvestigativeTechniques
Investigatorsshouldlearngeneralsystemsand
characteristicsofvehicles
Beforeconductingvehicleinvestigation
Mostmobileequipmentusessimilar
mechanicalsystems.
Duringinitialphaseofinvestigation,lookfor
fireordamagepatternsinsideoroutsidethe
vehicle
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VehicleInvestigationSafety(1of2)
Supportandstabilizevehiclewheninspecting
undercarriage
Beawareofundeployedairbags.
Theymaydeployunexpectedly.
Electricalsystemsinhybridorelectricvehicles
Potentialshockhazard
RVsmayhaveshorepowerconnection

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VehicleInvestigationSafety(2of2) VehicleFireFuels
Otherhazards: Liquidfuels
Possibilityoffuelspillage Enginefuels,lubricants
Contaminationwithcoolants,lubricants,orother Transmissionfluid,powersteeringfluid
fluids Hydraulicorcargofluids
Cutandpuncturehazards Gaseousfuels(propane,naturalgas)
Releaseofenergyfromdamagedspringdevices
Solidfuels(wiringinsulation,plastics,etc.)
Presenceofmeltedmetalsisnotanindicator
oftheuseofanignitableliquid

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IgnitionSources OpenFlames
Generallysameasinstructuralfires Mostmodernvehicleshavefuelinjection
Butsomeareuniquetovehicles systems
Exhaustcomponents Nocarburetorfires
Brakingsystemcomponents Smokingmaterials
Rangeappliances
Outsidesources

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ElectricalSources (1of4) ElectricalSources (2of4)
Batteryisprimary
Battery sourceofelectrical
Somevehicleshavemultiplebatteries. energyinavehicle
Resistanceheating thatisnotrunning
Overloadedwiring Fuses,circuit
Arcingfromdamagedwiresandcrushedbatteries breakers,orfusible
Brokenbulbs
linksprotectthe
electricalcircuitsin
Externalignitionsources mostvehicles.

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ElectricalSources (3of4) ElectricalSources (4of4)
SomeRVshave Aftermarketequipment
multiplebatteries Maybeimproperlyinstalled
andconnectionto Maylackovercurrentprotection
anoutsidepower. Typicalculpritforresistanceheating
Audioandvideosystems
Enhancedvehiclelighting
Navigationsystems

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HotSurfaces(1of2) HotSurfaces(2of2)
Hotexhaustsystemcomponents
Catalyticconverters
Leakingengineoil,powersteeringfluid,brake
Mayreachhigherthannormaltemperatures
fluidmayigniteoncontact
underheavyloads
Factorsinclude: Ceramicmatrixmaterialinsidemaymeltandbe
Ventilation ejectedfromthetailpipe
Autoignitionpoint
Liquidvaporizationrate
Atomizationoftheliquid
Lengthofexposure

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MechanicalSparks SmokingMaterials
Metaltometalcontactdueto: Improperlydiscardedormisusedsmoking
Rotatingequipment materialsarepotentialignitionsource
Bearings
Metaltopavementcontact
Farm,logging,construction,orhighway
maintenanceequipment
Frictionbetweenmechanicalattachmentand
cellulosiccropmaycausesparks

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SystemsandTheirFunctionina FuelSystems (1of4)
Vehicle Vacuum/low
Fireinvestigatorshouldunderstandvarious pressurecarbureted
systems systems
Informationcanbefoundat Olderautomobiles
Library Gasolinepowered
Cardealershipservicedepartment farmequipment
Partssupplier Lawnvehicles
Stationary
equipment

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FuelSystems (2of4) FuelSystems (3of4)
Highpressurefuel
Dieselfuelsystems
injectedsystems
Oftenusetwopumps
Seenonmoderncars
Combustionairisprovidedthrougha
Fuelispumpedto turbocharger
singleventure
mountedfuelinjector Naturalgasandpropanefuelsystems
(throttlebody)ortoa Leaksfoundafterafiremightnotbeindicativeof
fuelrailassembly prefireleaks

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FuelSystems (4of4) EmissionControlSystems
Turbochargers
Reduceorcontrolexhaustgasemissions
Increasepowerof
enginebyforcing Collectgasolinevaporswhileengineis
pressurizedairinto operating
cylinders Problems:
Vaporleaks
Ignitionofundercoating,carpeting,andexternal
combustibles
Ejectionofhotparticlesfromexhaust

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MotorVehicleElectricalSystems(1of2) MotorVehicleElectricalSystems(2of2)
Thestoragebatteryistheprimaryenergy Types:
sourceinavehicle. 12voltelectricalsystems
Theconductorsizedeterminestheamountof Morerarely,6 or24voltsystems
electricalenergythesystemcansafelycarry. 120voltand12voltonRVs
Potentialcausesoffire: Investigatorcanobtainusefulinformation:
Arcingontheconductors Eventdatarecorders
Ignitionofhydrogen Electroniccontrolmodule(ECM)ondiesels
Wirelesscommunicationsandtrackingsystems

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MechanicalPowerSystems MechanicalPowerDistribution
Internalcombustion
Mechanicallygearedtransmissions
enginefailures
Poweristransferredthroughtheclutchassembly
Failureofbearings,
Aleakoftransmissionfluidmayleadtofire.
rings,pistons
Leaksfromlubrication
Hydraulicallyactuatedtransmissions
systemsandliquid Transmissionfluidiscooledbyroutingthroughthe
AlexKaladhnikob/ShutterStock, Inc.

coolingsystems radiatororbyauxiliaryheatexchangers
Beltbreakinginair Iftransmissionfluidcontactsheatedexhaust
components,afiremayresult.
cooledsystem

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AccessoriesandBrakingSystems AccessoriesandBrakingSystems
(1of2) (2of2)
Mechanicalfailuresmayoccurin: Failuresinthesesystemsmaypresentignition
Alternators sources.
Airconditioningcompressors Mechanicalfailuresthatproducefriction
Powersteeringpumps Leaksinhydraulicbrakesystemsthatspray
Airpumps,vacuumpumps ignitablevapors
Brakesystemmalfunctionsthatproducemore
heatthancanbesafelytransferredtotheair

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BodySystems DocumentingMotorVehicle
Containmany FireScenes (1of4)
combustiblematerials Sameproceduresused
fordocumentinga
Contributetofuel
structuralfirescene
loadoncefirehas
begun Vehicleidentification
Courtesy of the NJ State Fire Marshals Office, Arson/K-9 Unit Make,model,andyear
Interiorfinishesand
accessories Vehicleidentification
number(VIN)
Cargoareas
Investigatecontents.

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DocumentingMotorVehicle DocumentingMotorVehicle
FireScenes (2of4) FireScenes (3of4)
Vehiclefirescenehistory Inspectanexemplarvehicle.
Conductinterviews Documentingthescene
Obtain: Makeascenediagram
Lastuseofvehicleandbywhom
Takephotosinsystematicmanner
Mileageatthetimeofthefire
Operationproblems Takeprecautionsbeforethevehicleistowedtoa
Serviceormaintenancehistory controlledsetting.
Fuellevelandtype,whenlastfueledandwhere Wrapdamagedportionstopreventevidencefrom
Equipmentandpersonaleffectsineacharea droppingenroute.
Photosorvideospriorto,during,orafterthefire Protectvehiclefromtheelements.

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DocumentingMotorVehicle MotorVehicleExaminations(1of3)
FireScenes (4of4) Bestdoneafterremoval
Documentingawayfromthescene
fromscene
Dateandtimeofloss
Locationofloss
Notifyinterestedparties
beforedestructive
Namesoroperator,passengers
examination
Witnessstatements,policeandfirereports
Vehiclescurrentlocationandmethodof Determineareaof D Russell 78/ShutterStock, Inc.

transportation origin.
Missingordamagedparts Exteriordamage
patterns

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MotorVehicleExaminations(2of3) MotorVehicleExaminations(3of3)
Dividetheinvestigation:
Enginecompartment
Passengeranddriverareas
Cargospace
Systematicinspection
Includepositionofswitches,handles,and
levers

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AdditionalVehicleConsiderations(1of AdditionalVehicleConsiderations(2of
3) 3)
Totalburns
Recreationalvehicles
Conditionpriortofire/missingcomponents
Makesureconfinedspacesdonotcontain
Ignitableliquidsonfloorboard hazardouslevelsofexplosiveortoxicvapors
Remainingfluidsinsystems UseappropriatePPE.
Stolenvehicles Beawareofelectrichazards.
Thechancethatthefirewasaccidentalislow Beawareofthepotentialpresenceoffuels.
Vehiclesinstructures Evaluatepotentialstabilityhazards.
Potentialignitionsourceuntilhypothesisis
eliminated

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AdditionalVehicleConsiderations(3of
3)
Recreationalvehicles(contd)
Considertheuniquesystemsandcomponentsof
RVs
Ifappliancesareinvolved,obtaintype,brand,
model,andcondition
Obtainserviceandrecallhistory
Interviewusersforhistoryofmalfunctionor
replacement
GaininformationfromwebsitesandRVdealers
AgriculturalEquipment
Subjecttocellulosicmaterialaccumulation
Graindust,wheatorcornchaff,straw,etc.
Firesmayalsoresultfrom:
Electrical,fuel,hydraulicsystemsmayfail
Frictionfrombearingfailures.
Sparksfromforeignmetalsinthefield.
Friction/sparksfromfiledmechanicalparts
Routinemaintenanceisrequired.
Summary (1of5)
Firesinvehicleshavethesamebasic
requirementsforsuccessfulignitionand
propagationasotherfires.
Investigatorsshouldlearnthegeneralsystems
andcharacteristicsofvehicles.
Takecaretosupportandstabilizethevehicle
properlywhileinspectingthevehicles
undercarriage.
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HeavyEquipment
Earthmoving,construction,mining,forestry,
landfill,andagriculturalequipment
Medium andheavydutytrucksandbuses
Masstransitvehicles
Susceptibletofailure:
Overloadingtheengineortransmission
Failureofhydraulicorelectricalsystems;failures
ofbearingorengine
Unintendedignitionofmaterials
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HybridVehiclesandInspectionSafety
Dangerouslyhighvoltages
Usecautioninapproaching.
Wiringwithover60VDCor30VACisorange
incolor,indicatingpotentiallylethalhazard.
Obtainproductspecificinformation.
Afterpositiveisolationofhighvoltagesystem,
proceedasforanyothervehicle
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Summary (2of5)
Liquid,gaseous,andsolidfuelsareinvolvedin
vehiclefires.
Vehicleshavesomeuniqueignitionsources,
includingheatedexhaustcomponents,various
typesofbearings,andbrakingsystems.
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Summary (3of5)
Documentthevehicleatthefirescene,
followingthesameproceduresusedfora
structuralfirescene.
Amorecompleteexaminationofthevehicleis
bestaccomplishedafterremovalfromthefire
scene.
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Summary (4of5)
Thereisalwaysinformationtoberetrieved,
evenafteratotalburnfire.
Whenavehicleislocatedinastructurewhere
afirehasoccurred,considerthevehiclea
potentialignitionsource.

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Summary (5of5)
Assistancefromanelectricalormechanical
engineercouldbeindicatedinevaluatinga
recreationalvehiclesheatingandelectrical
systems.
Largeequipmentisoftendieselpoweredwith
ahydraulictransmission.Thesesystemsare
sometimessusceptibletofailure.