Fatal Fires Investigation

FATAL FIRE INVESTIGATION A fatal fire investigation involves determining the
cause of the fire and the cause of the victim's death. The
cause and manner of the victim's death will sometimes
become a factor in deciding the nature of human
involvement in the cause of the fire.
NATURE OF FATAL FIRES:
ACCIDENTAL
HOMICIDAL
SUICIDAL
HOMICIDE CONCEALMENT
- The fatal fire must be viewed as an investigation for the

criminal acts of arson and homicide.
SIX-PHASE 1. FIRE INCIDENT
2. BODY EXAMINATION
INVESTIGATIVE 3. CAUSE AND ORIGIN
APPROACH 4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE
5. FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATION
6. ARREST AND TRIAL
MAINTAINING THE FIRE The person responsible for preserving the integrity of
the fire scene until the first police or fire investigator arrives is
SCENE the fire officer in command.
Line fighters and other emergency services personnel

should be prevented from removing a human body found in
the charred debris.
Exception to this rule:
Any doubt as to whether the person is dead.
Danger of fire-structure collapse or falling debris

creating a serious hazard.
A serious threat that the body will be further damaged

by the spread of flames.
The continued presence of the body being a serious

hindrance to firefighting operations.
●
Arrival of the Fire An experienced fire investigator should
know that the timeliness of his response
Investigator to the fire scene can, to a great extent,

make or break the investigation.
● Investigator must make a conscious

effort to maintain his professional
objectivity and avoid getting caught up in
the confusion and hysteria that will
immediately confront him.
● An investigator must pause long enough

to assess the situation and develop a
preliminary plan of action.
Arrival of the Fire
Type of information that need to collect
❖ Exact address of the fire

Investigator ❖ The time of arrival at the scene
❖ The general observations
● The next step is to ensure that pedigree or

detailed background information on all injured
or evacuated persons is recorded by uniformed
personnel
● All injured will have to be interviewed when the

investigator has finished his task at the fire
scene.
Arrival of the Fire ● Once the investigator has evaluated the
situation, he should identify himself to the
Investigator fire marshal or fire officer on command.
● Other information that should be sought at

this time the identity of anyone missing or
unaccounted for, an estimate of the fire
damage, and whether or not the cause of
the fire is suspicious.
● The fire scene is to be treated as a crime

scene
Recording the Fire - Photographs of the body in its original position
Scene - Photographs of the room and area

Recording the Fire - Investigative notes
Scene
Recording the Fire - Rough sketches
Scene
Recording the Fire
Scene
Recording the Fire ● To give an overview of the body and
its surroundings so that is relative
Scene position can later be established.
● To identify furnishings, such as bed,

coffee table, desk, in the area where
the body was found.
● To indicate the relative position of

the body in relation to the point(s) of
origin
Recording the Fire
● To identify any other factors of
Scene importance to technical or forensic
procedure.
● To provide close-up photographs of any

evidence that indicates a ruler should be
used for true size comparison
Recording the Fire
Scene
● To clarify the conditions of the body

regarding, the extent of burning or
cremation, the flow of fire pattern on the
body.
Evidence at the Fire For some time, bloodstains evidence has been
instrumental in determining many different variables
Scene at the crime scene untouched by fire. It can observed

into very distinctive categories:
1. Internal Bloodstains
- are identified as bloodstains found inside the
body.
2. External Bloodstains
- This is acted upon by the laws of physics and
maintains specific properties. Blood has
specific grabity; and it reacts accordingly to
gravitational pull; it is viscious fluid or viscosity;
and blood has the surface tension or single
droplet of blood has an outer layer which is
referred to as “surface tension”
Interpretation of The following are some significant points to consider in
aid to the interpretation of evidence:
Evidence 1. Human Body

- When the body is exposed to heat and flame, it is
affected in variying degrees of thickness. The
standard measure of these burns are first,
second, third, and fourth degrees, or superficial,
partial, or full thickness, respectively.
● First Degree or Superficial burns - the skin
appears red and is warm to touch.
● Second Degree or Partial Thickness - burns
appear red, and depending on the severity, there
may or may not be blisters, and the burned area
will heal without scarring.
● Third Degree or Full thickness - burns appear dry
and light colored and blisters are not normally
seen.
Interpretation of ● Fourth Degree - burns whick involved long
exposure to a heat source result in the partial
Evidence cremation of the exposed portion of the body

and extend into layers below the skin.
Interpretation of
2. Smoke and Sludge
- Collect on internal surfaces in instructire fires. These

Evidence deposits cover ans sometimes preserve bloodstain
evidence on walls and ceilings by establishing a
protective layer covering the bloodstain. Conversely, if
the thermal momentum of the fire reaches its
maximun, the protective layer of soot can become
fuel for the later stage of the fire and along with the
soot the bloodstain can be consimed by flames.
3. Target Surfaces
- Different substrates will conduct heat energy in

different ways. Sheetrock surfaces will absorb with
little conducting ability, while in lath and plaster
surfaces the plaster is cooked and the lath
superheats until it eventually ignites. When looking at
bloodstains on specific surfaces, it is important to
keep the exact material in mind.
IDENTIFYING THE VICTIM Methods of identifying the Victim:
Fire investigator- collect items that can identify the

victim
Forensic Odontologist- Dental records
Pathologists- Autopsy
Medical/physical - tattoos, surgical procedures, bones

fractures, unusual deformations, sex race, build, fractures and
approximate age, jewelry, clothing etc.
Gross identification (friends/relatives)
Forensic scientists - Fingerprints

TIME AND DURATION OF
There are several factor which may help to get to some
Conclusions:
DEATH Physical examination:
● Was the victim face up or down? (Exception: victim found

in bed or couch)
● Presence of smoke and soot in the mouth and nose if the
victim was alive during the fire.
Body damage is described on the table below:

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FATAL FIRE INVESTIGATION A fatal fire investigation involves determining the

NATURE OF FATAL FIRES:

- The fatal fire must be viewed as an investigation for the

SCENE the fire officer in command.

Line fighters and other emergency services personnel

Exception to this rule:

Any doubt as to whether the person is dead.

Danger of fire-structure collapse or falling debris

A serious threat that the body will be further damaged

The continued presence of the body being a serious

Investigator to the fire scene can, to a great extent,

● Investigator must make a conscious

● An investigator must pause long enough

❖ Exact address of the fire

● The next step is to ensure that pedigree or

● All injured will have to be interviewed when the

Investigator fire marshal or fire officer on command.

● Other information that should be sought at

● The fire scene is to be treated as a crime

Scene - Photographs of the room and area

● To identify furnishings, such as bed,

● To indicate the relative position of

● To provide close-up photographs of any

● To clarify the conditions of the body

Scene at the crime scene untouched by fire. It can observed

Evidence 1. Human Body

Evidence cremation of the exposed portion of the body

- Collect on internal surfaces in instructire fires. These

- Different substrates will conduct heat energy in

Fire investigator- collect items that can identify the

Forensic Odontologist- Dental records

Medical/physical - tattoos, surgical procedures, bones

Gross identification (friends/relatives)

Forensic scientists - Fingerprints

● Was the victim face up or down? (Exception: victim found

Body damage is described on the table below:

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