Welcome

Welcome to the eLearning for Fire Cause Determination. This course is designed to help you
understand the fundamentals of fire investigation and your role as a firefighter in fire investigation.

Firefighters and fire officers are the 'initial fire investigators' first on scene and can provide initial
observations, evidence protection, and documentation for fire investigators

This course is designed to inform and educate firefighters of their roles and responsibilities when
investigating a fire scene and the need to collect pertinent information while en route, upon arrival,
and during fire scenes.

Course Overview
As a first responder, fire investigation relies on your initial observations; you can help determine
elements of fire cause, ignition factors, and pertinent information for the fire investigator.

By understanding these factors, a firefighter can help lay a solid foundation on which the fire
investigator can determine origin and cause of a fire.

The Purpose of Fire Investigation (Part 1)

In simple terms, fire investigation is the discovery of the circumstances, conditions, and sequence of
events that caused the fire.

This lesson will focus on the first responder's role in determining fire origin and cause.

We investigate fires, not as a stand-alone process, but as part of our overall fire prevention
activities.

 Investigate all fires.

 Determine origin and cause for all fires.

 Use the information gained to improve fire prevention activities: fire inspections, fire code
enforcement, and fire and life safety education programs.

The Purpose of Fire Investigation (Part 2)

Why is determining exact fire cause important?

 Identifies gaps and the need for changes to codes and standards.
 Aids in the development of public fire and life safety education programs.
 Use in compiling fire incidence trends.
 To provide information to allied agencies such as insurance companies.

Know Thy Enemy!

The most valuable tool that a firefighter or investigator has in identifying the origin area of a
fire is understanding fire behavior.
Firefighters who understand fire behavior are better able to control and suppress the fire while
maintaining and securing the area of origin.

Fire Dynamics

In order for combustion to occur, three elements must be combined – there must be fuel, oxygen,
and a heat source to ignite the fuel.

These three elements along with the chemical chain reaction make up what we call the fire
tetrahedron; if any one of them is missing there can be no fire.

Three Ways Fire Transfers

For a fire to continue burning, heat must be transferred from one piece of fuel to another. There are
three ways this can happen: conduction, convection, and radiation.

Conduction: heat transfer within solids or between contacting solids (NIST)

Convection: heat transfer by the movement of liquids or gases (NIST) Convection is responsible
for 70% of heat transfer inside a structure.

Radiation: heat transfer by electromagnetic waves (NIST) Radiation is responsible for 30% of heat
transfer.

Basic Fire Science Terms

Some materials have the ability to increase in temperature without an external heat source. Factors
including the right conditions, the way the material is stored or piled, and the materials being
insulated enough can produce sufficient heat to bring the material to its ignition temperature.

This process is often referred to as self-heating or self-ignition. One example commonly found in
rural agricultural settings is the spontaneous combustion of freshly stored hay.

Dangers of Hay Storage

Hay that was too wet from rain or dew or that was not allowed to dry sufficiently in the field before
storage will undergo a curing process (sometimes referred to as a sweat) in storage.

During the curing process, heat is produced. This heat buildup is caused by live plant tissue
respiration coupled with bacteria and mold activity. Plant respiration converts plant sugars to water
and carbon dioxide, increases neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), and
decreases the net energy content of the hay.

Plant respiration slows as moisture content decreases but does not stop until plant moisture is 20%
or less. Mold organisms grow in hay having 20 to 35% moisture content.

As with plant respiration, molds likewise consume plant sugars, producing water and carbon dioxide,
causing loss of dry matter, digestible nutrients, and net energy.

The production of water through plant and mold organism respiration can increase the moisture
content of hay in storage (sweating) if the moisture is not able to escape from the bale, mow (the
pile of hay in the part of a barn where hay is stored), or stack.

If left unvented, the internal heat can rise high enough to reach the hay’s ignition temperature.

Fuel States/Ignition Sources

Ignition sources may be varied. They may be chemical, mechanical or electrical in nature.

Fuel may be in the form of a gas, a solid, or a liquid.

There are four sources of heat energy:

1. Mechanical

2. Chemical

3. Nuclear

4. Electrical

The Ignition Process

In order for a fuel to be ignited, adequate heat must be generated by the ignition source to
transmit enough heat to the fuel to begin pyrolysis.
Pyrolysis is the decomposition of a solid into a gas caused by high temperature.

Once pyrolysis begins, flaming combustion will soon follow as it is the gases which burn,
not the solid fuel.

Gases/Fuel Load

There are many factors that affect fire growth inside compartments; these include but are not
limited to:

 Fuel Orientation (fire spreads faster on vertically oriented fuels because convection allows
for faster pre-heating of virgin fuel)

 Fuel Composition (while both polystyrene foam and wood are flammable, the foam will
catch fire much more rapidly)

 Compartment Size (if given a similar fire in two different compartments, one large such as a
gymnasium and one smaller such as a bedroom, the fire will spread faster in the smaller
room due to thermal radiation feedback.)

 Ventilation Profile (modern fires are ventilation limited, which means that they will respond
to any additional oxygen. By limiting the ventilation, fire growth will be retarded.)

Gases/Fuel Load
There are many factors that affect fire growth inside compartments; these include but are not
limited to:

 Fuel Orientation (fire spreads faster on vertically oriented fuels because convection
allows for faster pre-heating of virgin fuel)
 Fuel Composition (while both polystyrene foam and wood are flammable, the foam
will catch fire much more rapidly)
 Compartment Size (if given a similar fire in two different compartments, one large
such as a gymnasium and one smaller such as a bedroom, the fire will spread faster in
the smaller room due to thermal radiation feedback.)
 Ventilation Profile (modern fires are ventilation limited, which means that they will
respond to any additional oxygen. By limiting the ventilation, fire growth will be
retarded.)

Ignition Factors

Act: an action

Omissions: a lack of required action that causes something to happen.

Both acts and omissions may be due to ignorance, negligence, or reckless conduct.
Therefore, you must determine the sequence of events or conditions that might have occurred.

Example: Fire is on a kitchen range that started when a pan of oil ignited and spread fire throughout
the kitchen. The cause is more than “the pan of oil overheated” (the Act); someone left that pan of
oil unattended (the Omission).

Ignition Factors

Act: an action

Omissions: a lack of required action that causes something to happen.

Both acts and omissions may be due to ignorance, negligence, or reckless conduct.

Therefore, you must determine the sequence of events or conditions that might have occurred.

Example: Fire is on a kitchen range that started when a pan of oil ignited and spread fire throughout
the kitchen. The cause is more than “the pan of oil overheated” (the Act); someone left that pan of
oil unattended (the Omission).

Fire Patterns (Part 1)

The patterns found during the interior examination assist the investigator to determine the history of
the fire from ignition to extinguishment.

The patterns provide information about how the fire traveled after ignition and about the fuels
involved during the progression of the fire.

Fire Patterns (Part 2)

Fire patterns are visible or measurable physical changes or identifiable patterns and shapes formed
during the fire at its various stages.

The patterns left by a fire will vary depending on ventilation, ignition sources, fuel loads, and air flow.
On screen, you can see a few types of patterns an investigator might find.

Understanding fire dynamics and fire development will assist the investigator to recognize, identify,
and analyze the how the patterns were created and their significance.

You can read more about First Response from an Investigative Perspective
here. http://www.interfire.org/training/firstresponse.asp

Fire Patterns (Part 3)

Information given to the lead investigator such as statements from first, pictures, witness statements
are necessary.

Additionally, fire ground operations, such as ventilation methods and sequence will all greatly assist
the investigator to interpret fire patterns.

To be successful, fire investigators must rely on scientific principals and have extensive knowledge in
many areas such as fire science and fire behavior.

Necessary Information
Unfortunately, in some cases, the significant amount of damage done by the fire or overzealous
firefighters during overhaul make the collection of evidence and the formulation of a viable
hypothesis for the origin and cause of a fire next to impossible.

Information provided by first responders with regards to fire conditions, growth, and fire ground
tactics is critical in most instances.

How you can assist with a successful investigation and your role as a first responder is covered in the
next lesson.

Collection of Evidence

In this lesson, we will look at the role firefighters play in the collection of evidence in the
investigation of the origin and cause of fires.

Firefighters can have important knowledge that can assist fire investigators to determine the
movements and circumstances of the fire.

Valuable Information to Note

Firefighters and fire officers are the 'initial fire investigators' who are first on scene and can provide
initial observations, evidence protection, and documentation for fire investigators.

Firefighters should begin by noting the following:

 An overall assessment en route to the fire

 Dispatch information

 Time of day

 Weather conditions

 Barriers (conditions that might create a delayed response)

Upon Arrival at the Fire Scene

Upon arrival, pay attention to the stage and location of the fire, the fire and smoke conditions, and if
there is any sign of forced entry.

Other things to consider include:

 What is the time of day?

 What stage is the fire in?

  Where in the structure is the fire?

 How forceful is the smoke/fire venting from the structure?

 What other smoke/fire conditions do you see?

Avoid “Tunnel Vision”

Although putting the fire out is your number one priority, it is important not to develop tunnel
vision.

During fire suppression pay attention to any abnormal fire behavior when water is applied,
or any obstacles hindering your ability to fight fire.

Heat intensity can indicate accelerants so pay attention to anything suspicious.

General Observations of the Fire Scene

General observations of the fire scene are fundamental and are the responsibility of suppression
personnel in observing evidence.

Protecting the area of origin is crucial in determining the fire cause as is appropriate documentation.

Fire personnel should limit overhaul activities and use methods that limit unnecessary damage or
alteration to evidence and fire patterns, such as thermal imaging cameras to check for fire extension.
If the removal or altering of wall coverings or furniture is necessary, then thorough documentation
with pictures and or drawings will aid the fire investigator to reconstruct the area during the
investigation.

Documentation

Firefighter narrative or notes should be based upon firefighter observations and not based upon
others’ recollections and not shared with anyone else besides the officer in charge or the fire
investigator.

With today’s wireless device technology, it’s easier than ever for a fire officer to use their
smartphone or tablet PC to gather witness statements, capture images of the scene before and after
overhaul operations, and much more. However, keep in mind that many fire departments strictly
prohibit its members from using cell phones for scene photos because the phone can become
evidence.

Witness Statements

Witness statements should be recorded by a fire officer or incident command and provided to the
fire investigator.

Remember that witnesses are providing information that can help piece the chain of events prior to
the arrival of first responders, they are not on trial and should not be interrogated or interviewed by
fire personnel.

Maintaining Fire Scene Security (Part 1)

Every fire scene should have a recognizable perimeter usually achieved with fire line tape, and the
perimeter should be maintained and secured at all times.
The security is initially the responsibility of fire suppression personnel.

Early security measures should include:

 Restricting access to the scene

 Protecting any potential evidence in the area.

 Minimizing fire suppression and overhaul activities that could destroy important information
regarding the origin and cause of the fire.

Maintaining Fire Scene Security (Part 2)

In its landmark ruling in Michigan v. Tyler, the Michigan courts laid out the basis for
maintaining scene security for fire investigation purposes.

In this case, the fire department left the scene unsecured following suppression operation.
Later, arson investigators and the fire department returned to the scene where they collected
evidence of arson.

In Tyler, the owner of a furniture store was subsequently charged with conspiracy to burn real
property and other offenses. Evidence secured from the building and the testimony of the
arson specialist were used at respondents' trial, which resulted in their convictions,
notwithstanding their objections that no warrants or consent had been obtained for entries and
inspection of the building and seizure of evidentiary items.

The State Supreme Court reversed respondents' convictions and remanded the case for a new
trial, concluding that:

"[once] the blaze [has been] extinguished and the firefighters have left the premises, a
warrant is required to reenter and search the premises, unless there is consent, or the
premises have been abandoned."

Therefore, it is incumbent for the fire department to maintain a physical presence by fire
department personnel until such time as the fire investigation has been completed.

“Rule of Thumb” for Fire Scene Perimeter

A good rule of thumb for securing the fire scene is to place barriers or fire line tape at the perimeter
of the property lines, which might seem extreme, however, items found outside of the structure like
tire tracks, footprints, cigarette butts might also be key evidence.

Explosion perimeters should be established 1.5 times the distance from the farthest piece of debris
found.

Chain-of-Custody for Potential Evidence

Key Point: ANY potential evidence that is discovered and subsequently transferred to another person
MUST be documented:

The name of the person in possession.

The name of the person to whom the item was transferred along with the description of the item
and the time and date of the transfer.

This is known as the Chain-of-Custody. Whether the item was transferred once, or ten times, each
transaction must be documented. Otherwise, the potential evidence could be declared inadmissible
in court later.

Fire investigators will always start to document and conduct their investigation from the outside or
perimeter of the property and work towards the structure.

Once at the structure they will then work from the least burned areas to the most burned or
damaged.