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    Arson

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    Pallavi Dubey
    aspects of arson

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    Arson

    Uploaded by

    Pallavi Dubey
    89 views26 pages
    aspects of arson

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    aspects of arson

    Copyright:

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    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    89 views26 pages

    Arson

    Uploaded by

    Pallavi Dubey
    aspects of arson

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
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    Arson

    Fire Debris Assay


    Frank J. Padula FIC NYSP

    Arson is defined as purposely setting fire to a house, building or other property.

    Arson Statistics

    Rules of Fire Origin


    Arson is the second leading cause of death by fire. Estimated 500 Americans die in arson-related fires. Arson causes more than $2 billion in property damage. Only 19% of arson cases resulted in arrest; Only 2% were convicted. 50% of arsonists -- under age of 20 (40% are under 15 years old). Fire burns up and out (v-pattern). Presence of a combustible material is needed. Needs fuel and oxygen to continue. Spread influenced by air currents, walls and stairways.
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    Definitions. Flammable liquid. Combustible liquid. (IN?) Flammable. Flammable or explosive limits. Vapor density.

    Ignition temperature and flash points are NOT related!


    Liquid Gasoline Kerosene Flash Point -45oF 100oF Ignition Temp 536oF to 853oF 410oF

    Flash Point - temperature at which a particular flammable liquid gives off vapors (vaporizes) and therefore can ignite. Ignition Temperature - - required for a liquid to continue to emit vapors that can sustain combustion.

    A flammable liquid in its liquid state will not burn. It only will ignite when it vaporizes into a gaseous state. All flammable liquids give off vapors that can ignite and burn when an ignition source i.e., lighted cigarette or spark.

    Ignition Temperature Combustion will continue until: Fuels are Consumed Oxidizer is Quenched Fuels Cooled Below Ignition Temperatures Flames Retarded. Transfer of Heat, Types of: Conduction Convection Radiation Direct Flame Contact
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    Class

    1. Light Petroleum Distillates (LPD)

    2. Gasoline
    3. Medium Petroleum Distillates (MPD) 4. Kerosene

    5. Heavy Petroleum Distillates (HPD)


    6. Miscellaneous
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    Light Petroleum Distillates


    Produced by distilling crude oil. From C4 thru C11 range of hydrocarbons. Representatives: petroleum ether, cigarette lighter fluid, some camping fuels and solvents.

    Gasoline
    Refined petroleum mixture of the C4 thru C12 range. Produced from crude oil using cracking and reforming. All brands / grades of automotive gasoline fit within this.

    Medium Petroleum Distillates


    Produced by distilling crude oil. From C8 thru C12 range of hydrocarbons. Representatives: paint thinners, mineral spirits, dry cleaning solvents and charcoal starter containing mineral spirits.

    Kerosene
    Produced by distilling crude oil. From the C9 thru C16 range of hydrocarbons. Representatives: kerosene, jet fuel, and lamp oils.

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    Heavy Petroleum Distillates


    Produced by distilling crude oil. From C10 thru C23 range of hydrocarbons. Representatives: diesel, lamp / home heating oils.

    Miscellaneous
    Produced by collecting - recombining certain fractions of distilled crude oil. From a wide range of hydrocarbons. Representatives: brush cleaners, thinning agents, strippers, products for home, auto--industrial use.
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    Point of Origin (POO).


    Where the fire originated. Cause of fire may be near ... Fire usually burns longer at ... If accelerants / ignition devices used; may be present ... Multiple POOs MAY indicate arson. V patterns usually point here. Extensive ceiling damages may be present above ...

    Interior Examination. Work backward in relation to fire travel and from least to most damage. Ceiling damage may lead to POO. In accidental fires, floor damage is limited in respect to the ceiling damage. V patterns may help locate POO.

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    Evidence of Accelerants
    Large amounts of damage. Unusual burn patterns. High heat stress. Multiple sites of origin. Sniffers Portable GC Chemical Tests Canines Portable Detectors Detect O2 level on a Semiconductor Guides to the best place to collect samples
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    Dogs can detect 0.01 mL of 50% evaporated gasoline 100% of the time. 0.01 mL is about the size of a thousandth of a drop.

    Investigation of Vehicle Fires


    Vehicular fires are investigated just as structural fires. Accidental fires tend to be isolated to one area of the vehicle.

    Incendiary fires tend to consume the entire vehicle; are very hot.
    The loss of temper of the seat strings may be observed.

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    LINE OF DEMARCATION IN A WOOD SECTION


    Depth of char is used for evaluating fire spread is used to estimate the duration of a fire the rate of charring of wood varies widely

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    Steps to Recover and Identify Accelerants


    Collect samples. Extract the fire debris. Carry out instrumental analysis. Interpret the results .

    The evidence container should have the following qualities: Air tight Highly resistant to breakage Prevents cross-contamination Good integrity seal

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    Collection of Evidence
    First, search looking for objects that do not seem to belong. Concentrate where the suspected accelerant container was found. Store the samples in containers where they will not be contaminated.

    Common Sampling Errors


    Insufficient sample Taking samples from the wrong places or materials Ineffective sample preservation techniques No comparison samples Not maintaining an evidence chain of custody

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    Identification consists of three steps: Sample preparation Instrumental analysis Data analysis Common methods used today: Steam distillation Vacuum distillation Solvent extraction Charcoal sampling Swept headspace . The paint can containing the debris is identified by a unique case and item number. DFLEX inserted. The can is put into the oven and heated. After heating, the DFLEX are put in separate glass vials.

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    The vial is automatically injected on the gas chromatograph / mass selective detector (GC/MSD). The GC will separate all of the samples substances. The MSD will identify the samples substances.

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    An Ignitable Liquid Is Detected


    Sample contains a medium petroleum distillate (MPD), some examples are paint thinners and mineral spirits. Sample contains a mixture of gasoline and a heavy petroleum distillate (HPD). Some examples of a HPD are diesel fuels and heating oils.

    No Ignitable Liquids Were Detected


    We can look at this in four different ways... No ignitable liquids were ever used Ignitable liquids were used to start the fire, but have been totally consumed. Ignitable liquids are still present; however, not in the collected sample. Ignitable liquids are still present in the collected sample; however, they are too dilute to be detected.
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    The problem with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, however, is that in order to analyze evidence, you have to destroy itwhich means investigators have to get the test right the first time, or the perp might walk. Laser ablation etches off only a tiny slice of a sample with a needlelike light beam and cooking it in a plasma furnace equipped with a mass spectrometer especially sensitive to trace elements.

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