FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Type of rigid water piping which is built into multi-story buildings in a vertical position, to

which fire hoses can be connected.
A. Fire hydrant B. Fire extinguisher C. Stand pipe D. Fire hose

2. A mechanical device strategically located in an installation or in a street where a fire hose will
be connected
A. Fire hydrant B. Fire extinguisher C. Stand pipe D. Fire escape

3. An integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building, structure or area

with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges water when
activated by heat.
A. Smoke detector B. Fire Alarm C. Sprinkler System D. Fire hose

4. Any visual or audible signal produced by a device to warm the occupants of the
building of the presence or danger of fire
A. Fire Alarm B. Fire hydrant C. Fire exit D. Fire drill

5. The active principle of burning characterized by the heat and light of combustion.
A. Flash point B. Boiling point C. Fire D. Fire point

6. The fire triangle is composed of heat, oxygen and –

A. burning. B. fuel C. smoke D. flame

7. Is anything that will burn when heated with sufficient oxygen.

A. Oxygen B. Combustion C. Fuel D. Heat

8. The source of ignition in all fires is the –

A. Fuel B. Heat C. Oxygen D. flame

9. The rapid oxidation of substances by the generation of heat and light

A. Combustion B. Convection C. Radiation D. Ignition

10. Burning occurs only when the ____ essential elements of fire are present.
A. five B. four C. three D. two

11. Is a phenomena in which a combustible materials generates or produces heat because of

internal chemical action.
A. Combustion B. Ignition C. Spontaneous Combustion D. pyrolysis

12. Which term that refers to the measure of the degree of thermal agitation of molecules?
A. Temperature B. Boiling point C. Fire point D. Fire flash

13. The minimum temperature to which the substance in the air must be heated in order to initiate
combustion without the addition of heat from outside sources is known as –
A. Temperature B. Flash point C. Fire point D. Ignition Temperature

14. When the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the atmospheric pressure it reaches to its
constant temperature called –
A. Flash point B. Fire point C. Boiling point D. Burning point

15. Are changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is added before the reaction takes place.
A. Endothermic reactions C. Combustion reaction

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 B. Exothermic reaction D. Fuel Combustion

16. Are those that releases or gives off energy thus, they produced substances with less energy
than the reactants.
A. Endothermic reactions C. Combustion reaction
B. Exothermic reactions D. Fuel Combustion

17. Is a chemical change in which combustible materials (fuel) and an oxidizing agent like oxygen,
reacts.
A. Combustion B. Ignition C. Oxidation D. Endothermic reactions

18. In order to be sustained, it should maintain a high temperature and a concentration of short-
lived intermediate chemical reaction.
A. Gas B. Heat C. Oxygen D. Flames

19. Stages of fire development wherein there is a presence of smoke when oxygen in the
surrounding drops at 13%.
A. Combustion stage B. Incipient stage C. Smoldering stage D. Flaming stage

20. Heat travel through solids or between solids in contact with each other or through intervening
heat conducting medium.
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Inflammation

21. Heat energy is emitted from a hot body to a cold body, Light is visible through
intervening space by heat rays or electromagnetic ray.
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Combustion

22. It is a method of extinguishing fire by cutting the supply of oxygen.

A. Smothering B. Cooling C. Suffocating D. Starving

23. The fourth element in Fire tetrahedron.

A. Fire B. Fuel C. Oxygen D. Chemical reaction

24. The Revised Fire Code of the Philippines.

A. RA 9511 B. RA 9512 C. RA 9513 D. RA 9514

25. Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off explosives.
A. Blasting agent B. Combustible liquid C. Corrosive liquid D. Black powder

26. Any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with certain chemicals.
A. Combustible liquid B. Corrosive liquid C. Incendiary D. Fuel

27. Descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction with other elements
produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings
A. Cryogenic B. Cryoprocess C. Distillation D. Combustible material

28. A normally open device installed inside an air duct system which automatically closes to
restrict the passage of smoke or fire
A. Jumper B. Damper C. Ventillation D. Exhaust system

29. A finely powdered substance which, when mixed with air in the proper proportion and
ignited will cause an explosion.
A. Oxygen B. Air C. Atmosphere D. Dust

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30. A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks adequate
exits or fire escapes
A. Fire Hazard B. Fire Trap C. Fire drill D. Fire threat

31. Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability of the
occurrence of fire
A. Fire Hazard B. Fire Trap C. Fire risk D. Fire exposure

32. A piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an electrical
system.
A. Duct System B. Jumper C. Fuse D. Breaker

33. The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly starting a fire causing an explosion
A. Arson B. Fire C. Burning D. Radiation

34. Have the power to investigate all cases of fires and, if necessary file the proper complaint with
the City/Provincial prosecutor
A. NBI B. PNP C. BFP D. PCG

35. The following are the basis of criminal liability in arson, EXCEPT.
A. Kind and character of the building burned;
B. Location of the building
C. Whether or not the offender know that the building burned was occupied or not.
D. Location of fire

36. Stages when the offender commences the commission of a felony directly by overt acts, and
does not perform all the acts of execution.
A. Attempted B. Frustrated C. Consummated D. Initial phase

37. Stages when all the elements necessary for the execution and accomplishment are present.
A. Attempted B. Frustrated C. Consummated D. Free-burning phase

38. Crime of arson in the Philippines are classified into:

I. Arson under Section 1 of P.D. No. 1613
II. Destructive Arson under Section 10 of R.A. 7659
III. Other Cases of Arson under Section 3, P.D. 1613
IV. Arson under Article 321 of the RPC

A. I, II, III, IV C. I, III,

B. I, II, III, D. I, III, IV

39. A person who burned his own property can be charged with the crime of –
A. Impossible crime B. arson C. malicious mischief D. No crime

40. The following are classified as destructive arson, EXCEPT.

A. Any archive, museum, whether public or private, or any edifice devoted to culture,
education or social service
B. Any church or place of worship or other building where people usually assemble.
C. Any train, airplane or any aircraft, vessel or watercraft, or conveyance for
transportation of persons or property
D. Garbage

41. If any building used as offices of the government or any of its agencies was burned it is
classified as.
A. Destructive Arson B. Malicious arson C. Other cases of arson D. Heinous arson

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42. The following are the special aggravating circumstances in arson, EXCEPT.
A. If committed with intent to gain
B. If committed by insane person
C. If committed for the benefit of another;
D. If the offender is motivated by spite or hatred towards the owner or occupant of the
property burned

43. The offense is committed by a syndicate if it is planned or carried out by a group of ___
or more persons.
A. 2 C. 3 C. 4 D. 1

44. The following are the prima facie evidence of arson, EXCEPT.
A. If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of the building or establishment.
B. If substantial amount of flammable substances or materials are stored within the building
not necessary in the business of the offender nor for household use.
C. If the building or property is insured for substantially more than its actual value at the time
of the issuance of the policy.
D. If the building or property is burned due to faulty electrical wiring.

45. The building which is the object of arson including the land on which it is situated shall be
confiscated and escheated to the –
State.
A. Bureau of Fire Protection C. The investigating agency
B. Philippine National Police D. The State or government

46. In arson cases, it is the fact that the crime was committed
A. Evidence B. Fire C. Testimony D. Corpus Delicti

47. Motives of arsonist when fire setter may enjoy the actual fire setting or the activities
surrounding the fire suppression efforts.
A. Vandalism B. Excitement C. Thrill D. Adventure

48. The motive of the fire setter which is to retaliates for some real or perceived injustice.
A. Revenge B. Vandalism C. Pyromania D. Adventure

49. Category involves fire setting that is a secondary or a collateral criminal activity, perpetrated for
the purpose of hiding the primary criminal activity.
A. Intentional fire B. Pyromania C. Crime concealment D. Vandalism

50. The following are the factors in the extent of burning, EXCEPT.
a. Wind velocity; C. Numbers of Incendiary
b. Relative humidity D. Air temperature;

51. EXCEPT one, all can be used as incendiary materials.

A. Gasoline C. H2O
B. Alcohol D. Carbon monoxide

52. Devices which are designed to ignite combustible materials sometime after the initiating
action. Which of these?
A. Alarm devices B. Plants C. Incendiary devices d. Accelerants

53. Means intentional and implies that the act was done purposely and intentionally.
A. Malice B. Intent C. Willfulness D. Motive

54. In its broadest sense, denoted hatred or desire for revenge.

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 A. Malice B. Intent C. Willfulness D. Motive

55. Is the moving cause which include the commission of a crime.

A. Malice B. Intent C. Willfulness D. Motive

56. Is the purpose or design with which the act done and involves the will.
A. Malice B. Intent C. Willfulness D. Motive

57. These signs maybe so obvious that the first fireman at the scene will suspect arson.
A. Fire signs B. Arson signs C. Tell tales signs D. Probable cause

58. White smoke appears before the water from the fire hose comes in contact with the fire, it
indicates.
A. Humid material burning C. Indicates lack of air
B. Chlorine burning D. White powder burning

59. Indicates lack of air but if accompanied by large flames it indicates petroleum and petroleum
products and rubber
A. Biting smoke B. Black smoke C. White smoke D. Fire smoke

60. Irritating the nose and throat and causing coughing indicates the presence of chlorine
A. Biting smoke B. Black smoke C. White smoke D. Fire smoke

61. Is the source, the beginning and the exact place where an unfriendly fire originates.
A. Corpus Delicti B. Fire scene C. Point of origin D. Incendiary place

62. The following are some to be observed in the investigation during the fire, except.
A. Color of flame C. Direction of fire travel
B. Nature of the building D. Location of flames

63. The __________ of burning should be given first consideration when locating the point of
origin of the fire.
A. lowest point C. middle point
B. neutral point D. highest point

64. It is the central location of a fire from which subsequent investigation efforts will begin.
A. Fire area B. Fire sequence C. Fire scene D. Crime scene

65. Means to keep the site of the fire in the same physical condition as it was left by the
perpetrator.
A. Preserving the fire scene C. Holding of witnesses
B. Preserving the evidence D. Chain of custody

66. In the search for evidence, the investigator should attempt to determine if money, personal
property or other valuables are missing because –
A. these points could lead him to the prima facie evidence of arson
B. these points could lead him to ascertain the commission of the crime.
C. these points could lead him to find out important evidence in the commission of the crime.
D. these points could lead him to establish motives in the commission of the crime .

67. Which technique of search where the fire investigator enters the point of entrance and goes to
the first piece of evidence, process it, then go to the next apparent item of evidence, repeating
the process until all has been processed and collected?
A. Sector Search B. Wheel method C. Point to Point Search D. Double strip

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68. Kind of search wherein the first scene is subdivided into areas, a building into rooms or floors.
Each fireman or officer is then assigned to a specific area.
A. Sector Search B. Concentric search C. Point to Point search D. Double strip

69. Kind of search wherein the searcher starts at a central point.

A. Sector search B. Concentric search C. Point to point search D. Double strip

70. Law that authorized BFP to file arson cases is –

A. DILG Act of 1990 B. Fire Code C. RA 8551 D. RA 9708

71. Amending the law on Arson.

A. PD 1611 B. PD 1612 C. PD 1613 D. PD 1614

72. To prove the crime of arson, the investigator must establish its corpus delicti and -
A. determine exactly the amount of the property burned
B. identify the real owner of the property burned
C. identity the arsonist
D. establish the identity of the owner of the property burned

73. EXCEPT one, the following are indicators of criminal intent in the commission of arson:
A. Valuables were removed before the fire,
B. Ill feeling between the accused and the occupants of the building burned,
C. Absence of effort to put out the fire
D. Absence of the owner during the fire

74. The following materials or compounds that are easily set on fire can be described as follows,
EXCEPT one.
A. Combustible B. Flammable C. Corrosive D. Poisonous

75. The irresistible impulse or compulsion to start a fire and experience gratification and
satisfaction from it.
A. Fire setter syndrome B. Pyrotechnic C. Pyromania D. Pyrophobia

76. It can be readily identified by their distinctive odors, and the most common examples are
gasoline, turpentine and kerosene.
A. Accelerants B. Trailers C. Timing device D. Stopper

77. A tool employed by an arsonist to delay the start of the fire and allow him to establish an alibi.
A. Accelerants B. delaying tactic C. timing device D. stopper

78. It is, in most cases, the initial step for obtaining information to determine the origin and cause
of fire.
A. Evidence collection C. Interrogation of suspects
B. Laboratory examination D. Interview witnesses

79. Aids in combustion; comes from the atmosphere we breath.

A. Oxygen B. Air C. Temperature D. Mixture

80. The following are susceptible to spontaneous combustion, except.

A. Coal B. Flour C. Hay D. electrical

81. Is the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid in an open container at which vapors are
evolved fast enough to support continuous combustion.
A. Fire point B. Flash point C. Boiling point D. Melting point

82. Is the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a vapor air mixture that ignites
A. Fire point B. Flash point C. Boiling point D. Evaporation

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83. Bursting into flames, the peak of the fire, everything is burning, oxygen is 21%.
A. Incipient Fire B. Smoldering C. Flaming D. Bursting

84. Which is NOT one of the source of ignition?.

A. Mechanical B. Chemical C. Electrical D. Accidental

85. When heat is applied on one end of an iron rod, the heat spreads throughout the entire iron
rod. This is an example of which mode of heat transfer?
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Flammation

86. A fire in a corner of a room will heat the air directly around it. This is an illustration of which
means of heat transfer?
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Flammation

87. Method of extinguishing the fire by lowering the temperature.

A. Cooling B. Smothering C. Starvation D. Blanketing

88. Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.

A. Smoldering B. Starvation C. Abatement D. Conduction

89. Any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8_C (100_F).

A. Combustible liquid B. Corrosive liquid C. Kerosine D. Turpentine

90. A continuous passageway for the transmission of air.

A. Duct B. Fire exit C. Duct System D. Exhaust system

91. A fire resistive access prescribed for openings in fire separation walls or partitions.
A. Fire exit B. Fire door C. Fire trap D. Fire drill

92. The portion of a roadway or public way that should be kept opened and unobstructed at all
times.
A. Driveway B. Fire exit C. Emergency access D. Fire Lane

93. Any device intended for the protection of buildings or persons that may be put on or worn by
persons to protect themselves during fire.
A. Fire Alarm B. Fire Safety device C. Fire resistant D. Fire protection

94. The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume electrical
current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.
A. Overloading B. Overheating C. Consumption D. Electric meter

95. Automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and heat and delay the spread of
fire.
A. Fire exit door B. Remote control door C. Self closing door D. Duct

96. Fire Safety Inspection Certificate is being issued by the –

A. Local government engineering division
B. Fire Marshall
C. City Mayor
D. Bureau of Fire Protection Officials

97. A rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame,
especially the exothermic oxidation of a combustible substance.
A. Fire B. Heat C. Burning D. Combustion

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98. The prevention of fire is accomplished by –
A. understanding the role of the fire fighter
B. doing something about the factors that cause the fires
C. making rescues and confining and extinguishing the fire
D. rapid extinguishment

99. The process of determining the origin, cause, development, and responsibility as well as the
failure analysis of a fire or explosion.
A. Criminal Investigation C. Fire Investigation
B. Crime Scene Investigation D. Bureau of Fire Investigation

100. Cause of fire which involves all those where the proven cause does not involve a deliberate
human act to ignite or spread fire into an area where the fire should not be.
A. Accidental C. Incendiarism
B. Natural D. Intentional

101. A firefighter who had just arrived at the scene of a visible fire grabbed his tools from the
apparatus, ran to the door of the building, and broke it down. The action of the firefighter was –
A. correct- this allowed the firefighter with the hose to gain entry and extinguish the fire
B. incorrect- the firefighter should have to break the a window first
C. correct-quick, decisive action leads to the rescue of fire victims
D. incorrect- the firefighter should have tried the doorknob first to see whether the door was
locked

102. You are a firefighter doing an inspection of a factory, and you find several infractions.
The building manager does not agree with you. What is the BEST action for you?
A. Disregard the manager’s remarks, and continue with the inspection
B. Go back the next day, and make an even more thorough inspection
C. Call a police officer, and have the manager arrested
D. Forget about the infractions; they are minors

103. Boundary lines around a fire area, called “fire lines,” are normally set up by the police
departments to keep citizens out of the immediate firefighting area. The BEST reason for fire
lines is to prevent –
A. an arsonist from getting away
B. firefighters from talking with local people
C. citizens from interfering with the firefighting operations
D. citizens from seeing firefighters make an error

104. Every fire should be thoroughly investigated to determine how it started. The primary
reason for finding out how the fire started is to –
A. evaluate the firefighting units
B. collect statistics on the number and types of fires
C. reduce the possibilities of future fires
D. prove that the fire was arson

105. A fire that starts by “spontaneous combustion” –

A. is impossible
B. is quickly extinguished
C. is common in cases of arson
D. has started without any outside source of ignition

-END-

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I. TECHNOLOGY AND CAUSES OF FIRE

A. Definition of Terms

Fire- The active principle of burning characterized by the heat and light of combustion.

Abatement – Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.

Combustible, Flammable or Inflammable – Materials that are easily set on fire.

Fire Hazard - Condition or act which increased or may cause an increase in the probability of the occurrence of fire, or
which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with fire fighting operations and the safeguarding of life and property.

Flash Point – Minimum temperature at which any materials gives off vapor in sufficient   concentration to form an ignitable
mixture with air.

Jumper – Piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an electrical system.

Overloading - The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume              electricity beyond
the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.

Pyrophoric – Any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.

Sprinkler System – An integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building structure or are when
outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges water when activated by heat or combustion
products from  a fire.

Arc - A high temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap.

Arson - The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a fire or causing an               explosion.

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Backdraft – An explosion resulting from the sudden introduction of air (I.e. oxygen) into a               confined space
containing oxygen-deficient superheated products of incomplete               combustion.

Bleve – Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion

Flashover – Transition phase in the development of a contained fire in which surfaces  exposed to thermal radiation reach
ignition temperature more or less simultaneously and fire spread rapidly throughout the space.

Fuel – A material that yields heat through combustion.

Heat – A form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules and capable of initiating and             supporting chemical
changes and changes of state.

Ignition – The process of initiating self-sustained combustion.

Self-ignition – ignition resulting from self heating –Synonymous with spontaneous ignition.

Point of origin – the exact physical location where a heat source and fuel come in contact with              each other and a fire
begins.

Pyrolysis – the chemical decomposition of a compound into one or more other substances by              heat alone; pyrolysis
often precedes combustion.

Rekindle – a return to flaming combustion after apparent but incomplete extinguishment.

Short circuit – an abnormal connection of low resistance between normal circuit conductors             where the resistance is
normally much greater, this is an overcurrent situation but it is             not an overload.

Smoke – an airborne particulate product of incomplete combustion suspended in gases,             vapors, or solid and liquid
aerosols.

Smoldering – combustion without flame, usually with incandescent and smoke.

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Spalling - chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces.

Vapor - the gas phase of a substance, particularly of those that are normally liquids or              solids at
ordinary temperature.

Ventilation – l. Circulation of air in any space by natural wind or convection or by fans                blowing air into or
exhausting air our of a building. 2. A fire-fighting                operation of removing smoke and heat from the structure
by opening windows            and doors or making holes in the roof.

Venting - the escape of smoke and heat through openings in a building

FIRE TRIANGLE

The fire triangle is a simple model, from the science of firefighting, for understanding the ingredients necessary for most
fires. It has largely been replaced in the industry by the fire tetrahedron, which provides a more complete model, also
described below.

The “triangle” illustrates the rule that in order to ignite and burn, a fire requires three elements – heat, fuel, and oxygen. The
fire is prevented or extinguished by “removing” any one of them. A fire naturally occurs when the elements are combined in
the right mixture (e.g.,, more heat needed for igniting some fuels, unless there is concentrated oxygen).

When a fire runs out of fuel it will stop. Fuel can be removed naturally, as where

the fire has consumed all the burnable fuel, or manually, by mechanically or      

chemically removing the fuel from the fire. Fuel separation is an important factor

in wildland fire suppression, and is the basis for most major tactics. Other fuels may        also be chemically
altered to prevent them from burning at ordinary temperatures,             perhaps as part of a fire-prevention measure.

Without sufficient heat, a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue. Heat can be removed by dousing some types of
fire with water; the water turns to steam, taking the heat with it. Note that water will actually increase or spread
some other types of fire. Separating burning fuels from each other can also be an effective way to reduce the heat.

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 In forest fires, burning logs are separated and placed into safe areas where there is no other fuel. Scraping embers
from a burning structure also removes the heat source. Turning off the electricity in an electrical fire removes the
heat source, although other fuels may have caught fire and continue burning until the firefighter addresses them
and their fire triangles too.

Oxygen may be removed from a fire by smothering it with an aqueous foam or some inter gas (e.g., carbon dioxide,
Halon), dry chemicals, or enclosing it where the fire will quickly use up all of the available oxygen. A candle snuffer
uses this principle. Oxygen for the fire may also be instantaneously consumed, if only for a moment, by more
‘sophisticated’ means such as using explosives to ‘snuff’ an oil well gas fire. Once the gas fire is out, it is not hot
enough to start again, but workers must be extremely careful not to created sparks! See Red Adair.

Arson – page 3

Fire tetrahedron

The fire tetrahedron.

The fire triangle is a useful teaching tool, but fails to identify the fourth essential element of fire: the sustaining chemical
reaction. This has led to development of the fire tetrahedron: a triangular pyramid having four sides (including the bottom).
In most fires, it does not matter which element gets removed; the fire fails to ignite, or it goes out. However, there are
certain chemical fires where knowing only the “fire triangle” is not good enough.

Combustion is the chemical reaction that feeds a fire more heat and allows it to continue. With most types of fires, the old
fire triangle model works well enough, but when the fire involves burning metals (lithium, magnesium, etc.), it becomes
useful to consider the chemistry of combustion. Putting water on such a fire could result in the fire getting hotter (or even

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exploding) because such metals can react with water in an exothermic reaction to produce flammable hydrogen gas.
Therefore, other specialized chemical must typically be used to break the chain reaction of metallic combustion and stop the
fire.

FACTORS INFLUENCING BURNING:

Most ordinary combustible substances are compounds of carbon and hydrogen, often containing mineral matter
and oxygen. When they burn completely and freely in the air, the carbon reacts with the oxygen to form carbon dioxide; the
hydrogen combines with the oxygen to form water; and the mineral matter remains behind as ash. In the first stages of a
fire the building structure and the materials such as wood and cloth contained in building, are merely heated and give off
gases and vapors. With increased head and exposure to flames, these materials finally reached the ignition point and burst
into flame.

The rate and extent of the spread of fire depends on a number of factors, chief among which are the following:

a. Wind velocity
b. Relative humidity, dryness of the materials and the absence of rain
c. Air temperature
d. Nature and condition of any vegetation surrounding the building
e. Nature of building construction

METHOD OF HEAT TRANSFER

Conduction – heat travel through solids or between solids in contact with each other or through intervening heat conducting
medium.

Convection – heat travels from one molecule to another, but the particles or molecules are themselves in motion. Gases , in
particular, being heated tend to circulate and spread the heat through circulating medium/.

Radiation – heat energy or through intervening space by heat rays or electromagnetic wave without an intervening medium.

Arson – page 4

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

A - Ordinary Combustible Fires (ex. Wood, plastics, etc…)

B - Flammable fires (ex. Gasoline, alcohol)

C - Energized Electrical Fire

D - Combustible Metals (ex. Magnesium, or Sodium)

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METHODS OF ENTINGUISHMENT

1. Cooling – by reducing the heat to below the ignition temperature

2. Blanketing – prevent the oxygen from combining with the fuel
3. Smothering – by expelling oxygen
4. Removing or starving the fire by removing fuel.

FIRE/ARSON INVESTIGATION

Fire Investigation – the process of determining the origin, cause, and development of a fire or explosion.

Nature of Fire Investigation – a fire or explosion investigation is a complex endeavor involving skill, technology, knowledge
and science. The proper methodology of a fire investigation is to first determine the origin(s), then investigate the cause;
circumstances, conditions or agencies that brought the ignition source, fuel, and oxidant together.

SYSTEMATIC APPROACH

The systematic approach recommended is that of the scientific method, which is used in the physical sciences. This
method provides for the organizational and analytical process desirable and necessary in a successful fire investigation.

ARSON INVESTIGATION

By:

Prof. JOSE M. BAGKUS

Arson, defined:

It is the malicious destruction of property by fire. It consist of the willful and malicious burning of all kinds of
buildings and structure including personal property.

Law and Jurisprudence

The law on arson in the Philippines is covered by Articles 320 to 326 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by
PD NO. 1613, PD No. 1744, and RA 6975 Sec. 54 which provides that the fire Bureau shall have the power to investigate all

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cases of fires and, if necessary, file the proper complaint with the City/Provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over arson
cases.

Basis and Extent of Criminal Liability in Arson

1. Kind and character of the building

2. Its location
3. Extent of damage of value
4. Its state of being inhabited or not

Stages in the Commission of Arson

1. Attempted Arson – If a person intended to burn a wooden house, collected rags soaked in gasoline and placed
it inside the wall, but when he was about to light it, he was seen by another who ran after him, the crime is
attempted arson.
2. Frustrated Arson – if the person was able to light the rags but the fire was put       out before any part of the
building was burn.
3. Consummated Arson – if before the fire was put out, part of the building was       burned.

Kinds of Arson

PD 1613 classifies arson into:

1. Destructive Arson (Sec. 2)

2. Other cases of Arson (Sec. 3)

The classification is based on the kind, character and location the property burned, regardless of the value of the
damage caused.

SECTION 2 – Destructive Arson – if the property burned is ny of the following,

1) Any ammunition factory and other establishment where explosives, inflammable or combustible materials are
stored.
2) Any archive, museum, whether public or private, or any edifice devoted to culture, education or social service.
3) Any church or place of worship or other building where people usually

assemble.

4) Any train, airplane or any aircraft, vessel or watercraft, or conveyance for  transportation of persons or
property.

5) Any building where evidence is kept for use in any legislative, judicial,       administrative or other official
proceedings.

6) Any hospital, hotel, dormitory, lodging house, housing tenement, shopping       center, public or private market,
housing or movie house or any similar place       or building.

7) Any building, whether used as a dwelling or not, situated in a populated or congested area.

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SECTION 3 –Other Cases of Arson – if the property burned is any of the following:

1) Any building used as offices of the government or any of its agencies.

2) Any inhabited house or dwelling.
3) Any industrial establishment, shipyard, oil well or mine shaft, platform or tunnel.
4) Any plantation, farm, pastureland, growing crop, grain field, orchard, bamboo grove or forest.
5) Any rice mill, sugar mill, cane mill or mill central.
6) Any railway or bus station, airport, wharf or warehouse.

SECTION 4 – Special Aggravating Circumstances of Arson

1. If committed with intent to gain;

2. If committed for the benefit of another;
3. If the offender is motivated by spite or hatred towards the owner or occupant of the property burned;
4. If committed by a syndicate.

The offense is committed by a syndicate if it is planned or carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons.

SECTION 5 – CONFISCATION OF OBJECT OF ARSON

The building which is the object of arson including the land on which it is situated shall be confiscated and
escheated to the State, unless the owner thereof can prove that he has no participation in nor knowledge of such arson
despite the exercise of due diligence on his part.

SECTION 6 – Prima Facie Evidence of Arson – any of the following circumstances shall constitute prima facie evidence of
arson:

1. If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of the building or establishment.
2. If substantial amount of flammable substance or materials are stored within the building not necessary in the
business of the offender nor for household use.
3. If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other flammable or combustible substances or materials soaked therewith
or containers, thereof or any

       mechanical, electrical, or electronic contrivance designed to start a fire or       ashes or traces or any of the
foregoing are found in the ruins or premises of       the burned building or property.

4. If the building or property is insured for substantially more than its actual value at the time of the issuance of the
policy.
5. If during the lifetime of the corresponding fire insurance policy more than two fires have occurred in the same or
other premises owned or under the control of the offender and/or insured.
6. If shortly before the fire a substantial portion of the effects insured and stored in

Building or property had been withdrawn from the premises except in the ordinary course of business.

7. If a demand for money or other valuable consideration was made before

the fire in exchange for the desistance of the offender for the safety of the person or property of the victim.

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Method of Proof in Arson

Physical evidence in arson are often destroyed. The prove, corpus delicti must be shown and the identity of the
arsonist established.

Corpus delicti – the fact that crime was committed It must be shown by the following.

1. Burning – that there was fire which may be shown by direct testimony of complainant, firemen responding to
the crime, other eyewitness. Burned parts of the building may also indicate location.

2. Criminal design – must shown that it was willfully and intentionally done. The presence of the incendiary
devices, flammables such as gasoline, kerosene, may indicate that the fire was not accidental.

3. Evidence of Intent – when valuables were removed before the fire, ill feeling between the accused and the
occupants of the building burned, absence of effort to put out the fire and such other indicators.

Motives of Arsonists

In criminal prosecution, motive is necessary to identify the accused, thereafter intent can be shown easily. These
are:

1. Economic Gain

a) Insurance Fraud with the assured – benefiting, coupled with the fact that the assured would transfer to another
location

b) Desire to dispose Merchandise – Stocks on hand may have lost market value being out of season, lack of raw
materials, over supply of merchandise.

c) Existing business transaction which the arsonist would like to avoid such as impending liquidation, settlement of
estate, need for cash, prospective business failure, and increase rentals.

2.   Profit by the Perpetrator other than the assured

a) Insurance agents wishing business with the assured

b) Business competitors planning to drive others

c) Persons seeking job as protection personnel such as security agencies

d) Salvagers and contractors wishing to construct another building

3. Concealment of crime – to hide or commit a crime, arson is committed.

4. Punitive measure – to inflict injury to another due to hatred, jealousy or revenge
5. Intimidation or economic disabling – these are saboteurs, strikers and racketeer to intimidate management or
employers.
6. Pyromania – is the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn anything without any motivation. They do not run
away from the fire scene since they love watching fire burning.

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Types of Pyromania

a. Abnormal Youth – such as epilectics, imbeciles and morons

b. Hero type – a person set a building on fire and pretends to discover it, turn in the alarm or make some rescue
works to appear as a “hero”.
c. Drug addicts and alcoholics
d. Sexual deviates and perverts

Factors Affecting Extent of Burning

Burning is complete and free in the presence of air. Most combustible materials are substance with carbon and
hydrogen with mineral matter and oxygen. The spread of fire depend on the following:

a. Wind velocity and direction

b. Relative humidity, dryness of the materials and the absence of rain
c. Air temperature
d. Nature and condition of any vegetation surrounding the building.
e. Nature of the building construction, as presence of wood and drafts.

Some Causes of Fire

a. Carelessly discarded cigarettes

b. Careless disposition of readily combustible materials
c. Poorly managed or defective heating facilities
d. Spontaneous combustion arising from the storage of articles in poorly ventilated place
e. Sun rays focused on glasses which may serve as convex lens
f. Explosion from petroleum products, alcohol and other substances
g. Lightning sparks and electrical defects
h. Overheating

Methods Employed by the Arsonists

1. Introduction of Incendiary Materials such as

a. Liquids in the form of gasoline, either which may not require open flame for ignition, alcohol, kerosene,
turpentine, diesel, gas.
b. Certain gases when mixed with air possess excellent ignition property and when present in enclosed
area can lead to an explosion, such as acetylene, carbon monoxide, natural gas, ethylene, hydrogen
and propane.
c. Solids – when solids exist in finely ground or powder condition they form an excellent combustible
substances. Some substances generate intense heat on contact with water or gives off oxygen on
decomposition. Examples: chlorates, chromates, nitrates

2. Use of “Plants” and other contribances

Plants – are devices which are designed to ignite combustible material sometime

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 after the initiating action. The arsonist therefore will have the opportunity to       escape from the premises.
These are:

a. Heating appliances

like flat iron placed in contact with combustible materials and abandoned until fire starts.

b. Mechanical devices
1. Clock mechanism which can be arranged so that movements starts the fire
2. Altered equipments such as broken pipes on oil burner or sprinkler systems in which
combustible fluid has been placed.

What Constitute Arson?

1. Burning – to constitute burning, there must be some burning or charring, e.g. the

fiber of the wood must be destroyed, its identity changed.

2. Wilfulness – means intentional and implies that the act was done purposely and intentionally.

3. Malice – in its broadest sense, denotes hatred or ill will or a desire for revenge,

whereas in a legal sense, it has much more a narrow meaning.

4. Motive - is the moving cause which induce the commission of a crime.

5. Intent – is the purpose or design within which the act done and involves the will.

Tell Tale Signs

a) Burned Building – the type of the building may indicate a set fire under some circumstances. A fire of
considerable size at the time the first apparatus arrive at the scene if it is a modern concrete or semi-concrete
building.
b) Separate Fires – when two or more separate fires break out within a building the fire is certainly suspicious.
c) Color of smoke – some fires burn with little or no smoke but they are exception. The observation of the smoke
must be made at the start of the fire since once the fire has assumed a major proportion, the value of the
smoke is lost, because the smoke will not indicate the material used by the arsonist.
1. When white smoke appears before the water from the fire hose comes in contact with the fire, it indicates humid
material burning. E.g. – burning hay, vegetable materials.
2. Biting smoke, irritating the nose and throat and causing coughing indicates presence of chlorine.
3. Black smoke indicates lack of air but if accompanied by large flames, it indicates petroleum and petroleum
products and rubber.
4. Color of flame – the color of the flame is a good indication of the intensity of the fire, an important factor in
determining incendiarism.

5. A reddish glow indicates heat of 5000C, a real light about 100C. Red flame indicates presence of petroleum.
Blue flame indicates use of of alcohol as accelerant.
6. Smoke marks – an experience investigator will determine the volume of smoked involved at a fire and the
character as residue deposited on walls or elsewhere. Smoke marks have often been of assistance in
determining the possibility of a fire

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 having more than one place of origin.

e. Size of Fire – this is important when correlated with the type of alarm, the time received and the time of arrival of
the first fire apparatus. Fires make what might be termed a normal progress. Such progress can be estimated after an
examination of the material burned the building and the normal ventilation offered to the fire. The time element and the
degree of headway much by the flames becomes important factors to determine possible incendiarism.

f. Direction of Travel – while it is admitted that no two fires burn in identical fashion, yet is can be shown that fire
make normal progress through various types of building. Considering the type of construction, the building materials,
combustibility of contents, channel of ventilation and circumstances surrounding the sending of alarm, an experienced
investigator can determine whether a fire has spread abnormally fast.

g. Intensity – the degree of heat given off by a fire and the color of its flame oftentimes indicate that some
accelerant has been added to the material normally present in a building and the investigator must look for further evidence
pointing to use of such accelerants. Difficulty in extinguishing the fire is often a lead to suspect presence of such fluid as
gasoline and kerosene.

h. Odor – the odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other inflammable liquids which are often used as accelerant
is characteristic and oftentimes arsonists are trapped because of this tell-tale sign. Most of fire setters are inclined to use
substance which will make the blaze certain and at the same time burn up any evidence of their crime.

i. Condition of Content – persons tending to set their house on fire frequently remove objects of value either
materially or sentimally. Store and other business establishments oftentimes remove a major portion of their content or
replace valuable merchandise without of style article.

j. Doors and windows – locked doors and obstructed entrance and passage ways sometimes point to an attempt
to inspect firm in their fight to put out the fire. Doors and windows showing signs of forced entry may point to arson
preceded by burglary or arson byt someone without a key to the premises.

k. Other suspicious circumstances – interested bystanders, familiar faces and discovery of some objects which
might be part of a mechanical fire-setting device among the debris.

Basic Lines of Inquiry

1. Origin of the fire

2. Motive
3. Identification of prime suspect
4. Identification of fire setter

Point of Origin of the Fire

Initially, the important point to be established is the point of origin of fire – in other words, at what particular place in
the building the fire started. This may be established by an examination of the witness, by inspection of the debris at the fire
scene or by both methods.

FIRE – ARSON INVESTIGATION

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 INTRODUCTION

The value of property destroyed by destructive fires in the Philippines in the past five years reached several billions
of pesos.

Besides the enormous waste of property, careless persons and arsonists caused a number of deaths and serious
physical injuries and also exposed to danger a thousand lives each year. Considering the resulting economic loss, the
danger and the dislocation of humans and terror spread by an arsonist, it is not surprising to learn that the crime of Arson
was considered a heinous crime in 1991 under RA 7659.

(Ref. Fig. 2)

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

RECOGNIZE THE NEED (Identify the problem)

DEFINE THE PROBLEM

COLLECT DATA

ANALYZE THE DATA-(Inductive reasoning)

DEVELOP A HYPOTHESIS

TEST THE HYPOTHESIS – (deductive reasoning)

SELECT FINAL HYPOTHESIS

Recognize the need.

Determine that a problem exist. In this case, a fire or explosion has occurred and the cause of should be determined and
listed so that future, similar incidents can be prevented.

Define the problem.

Define in what matter the problem can be solved. In this case a proper origin and cause investigation should be conducted.
This is done by an examination of the scene and be a combination of other data collection methods, such as the review of
previously conducted investigations of the incident, the interviewing of witnesses or other knowledgeable persons, and the
result of scientific testing.

Collect Data

Facts about the fire incident are now collected. This done by observation, experiment, or other direct data-gathering means.
This is called empirical data because it is based on observation or experience and is capable of being verified.

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Arson – page 5

Analyze the data (Inductive Reasoning)

The total body of the empirical data collected is carefully examined in the light of the investigator'’ knowledge, experience
and training (KET). Subjective or speculative information cannot be included in the analysis, only facts that can be proven
clearly by observation or experiment.

Develop a Hypothesis

Based on the data analysis, the investigator should now produce a hypothesis or group of hypothesis to explain the origin
and cause of the fire or explosion incident. This hypothesis should be based solely on the empirical data that the
investigator has collected.

Test the Hypothesis (Deductive Reasoning)

The investigator compares his or her hypothesis to all known facts. The testing maybe either cognitive or experimental. If
the hypothesis cannot withstand an examination by deductive reasoning, it should be discarded as not probable and a new
hypothesis should be tested. It may include the collection of new data. This process needs to be continued until all feasible
hypothesis have been tested. Otherwise the fire cause should be listed as “undetermined.”

INVESTIGATION DURING THE FIRE

1. Observation during the fire

2. Color of smoke
3. Color of flame
4. Direction of fire travel
5. Location of flames
6. Odors

EXAMINATION DURING THE DIRE

Exterior Openings

1. Preliminary Examination of the scene

2. Photography
3. Observation of the spectators

INVESTIGATION OF SCENE AFTER THE FIRE

1. Safeguarding the scene 14. Interior Arrangement

2. Order of search 15. Witnesses
3. Locating the point of origin 16. Persons first arriving at the scene
4. Examination of the point of origin 17. Watchmen
5. Traces of accelerants 18. Occupants

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6. Altered protective device 19. Owners
7. The physical evidence an its collection 20. Photography and sketching
8. Container s 21. Packaging and Forwarding of evidence
9. Ashes and debris 22. Sources of information
10. Fingerprint and Impressions 23. Material files
11. Stoves and fireplaces 24. Central index
12. Tools 25. Insurance Companies files
13. Documents 26. Check list

                                          CAUSES OF FIRE

1. Accidental fire cause – involve all those where the proven cause does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite or
spread into an area where the fire should not be.
2. Natural fire cause – it involve fires cause without direct human intervention, such as lighting etc….
3. Incendiary fire cause – is one deliberately set under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should not
be set.
4. Undetermined fire cause – whenever the cause cannot be proven, the proper classification is undetermined.

Arson – page 6

CRIMINAL (ARSON) STAGE OF INVESTIGATION

Criminal burning has always treated as a serious offense. The old Roman Law of “incendium” though broader in scope than
common law arson, included willful burning which endangered another’s property, setting fire to cities, and causing
conflagration by rioting. The penalty for this crime at one time required that the offender be burned alive. Today we find,
depending on the jurisdiction, degrees of arson carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison or even life imprisonment.
Under RA 7659 (Death Penalty Law) – If death result as a consequence of arson the mandatory penalty of death shall be
imposed. The method of investigation of the arson fire is not basically different in any respect from that of the fire that
results accidentally. Lacking any real basis for decision the two, every fire should be investigated as though it could be the
result of arson.

The determination that a fire has been intentionally set is central to all fire investigation and is one of the more difficult
phases of that investigation.
Arson – is the criminal burning of property. (Nolledo)

Arson – The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly starting a fire or causing an explosion. (NFPA 921)

Arson – A crime committed by a person who burns or sets fire to the property of another, or who sets fire to his own
property under circumstances which expose to danger the life or property of another. – Sec. 1 PD 1613.

A criminal investigator is a person who collects facts to accomplish a threefold aim – Phases of Investigation:

1. Identify the criminal or guilty party – the identity of the criminal is discovered in one or more of the following ways:
confession; eyewitness testimony, or circumstantial evidence.
2. Locate the criminal or guilty party – commonly the answer to the question of the criminal’s whereabouts falls easily out
of the solution of the problem of his identity.

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3. Provide evidence of his guilt for court presentation – the most difficult phase of investigation, namely: gathering the facts
necessary in the trial to prove the guilt of accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Exigent or Emergency Circumstance:

A search conducted under exigent or emergency circumstance deals with a warrantless search based on the fact
that the time needed to obtain a warrant is not possible or practicable.
For fire investigators, exigent or emergency circumstances involve a landmark decision in the US Supreme Court
entitled Michigan v Tyler (436 US 499, 56 L Ed. 2 nd 286) in 1978. This decision supports a warrantless entry by fire fighters
for suppression activities and redefines the fire investigator’s activities in the subsequent investigation as to the origin and
cause of the fire.

SC Conclusion:
We hold that an entry to fight a fire requires no warrant, and that once in the building, officials may remain there for a
reasonable time to investigate the cause of the blaze. Therefore, additional entries to investigate the cause of the fire must
be pursuant to a warrant procedure governing administrative searches. Evidence discovered in the course of such
investigation is admissible at trial, but if the investigating officials find probable cause to believe that arson has occurred and
require further access to gather evidence for a possible prosecution they may obtain a warrant only upon a traditional
showing of probable cause applicable to searches for evidence of crime. (436 US 512,56 L ed 2 nd 500)
Arson – page 7
STAGES IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY
Consummated
A felony is consummated when all the elements necessary for its execution and accomplishment are present.
Example: At a little past midnight Miguel noticed that the thatched roof of his house was on fire. When looking at the
window, he saw the culprit beside the house carrying a stick burning at its end. Miguel shouted for help and succeeded in
extinguishing the fire after a small part of the roof was burned. The SC held: That the crime was consummated arson – “the
consummation of the crime does not depend upon the extent of the damage caused. “ (People vs. Hernandez, 54 Phil. 122)

Frustrated
It is frustrated when the offender performs all the acts of execution which would produce the felony as a consequence but
which, nevertheless, do not produce it by reason of causes independent of the will of the perpetrator. Example: Luke
prepares a kerosene-soaked rag and places it in the combustible portion of Peter’s house with intent to burn the latter.
Luke lights the rag and while the latter is burning he runs away (Performs all acts of execution). Before the fire emitting
from the rag consumes any part of the house, Peter, the owner discovers the fire and puts it out (The felony is not produced
due to the timely intervention of the owner independent of the will of the culprit Luke). Attempted
There is an attempt when the offender commences the commission of a felony, directly by overt acts, and does not perform
all the acts of execution which should produce the felony by reason of some cause or accident other than his own
spontaneous desistance (No voluntary desistance).
Example:
Juan gets a rag and soaks it with kerosene with intent to burn the house of Pedro. Juan puts the rag in a combustible
portion of Pedro’s house and while in the act of striking his match in order to burn the rag soaked with kerosene, Juan is
arrested by a policeman who happens to pass by. Preparatory acts, like buying a match does not constitute attempted
arson. There is only an attempted arson if the overt act is begun, that is, a direct movement to do the act is executed.
Malice. There must be a malicious intent to burn otherwise no crime of arson exists. Malice is the intent to do injury to
another. Fires caused by negligence or accident do not constitute arson. The intent must be inferred from the facts. The
condition surrounding the act such as threats, quarrels, expressions of dislike, application for fire insurance, and so forth,
may supply a basis for inferring intent. The prosecution must show that a burning was accomplished with criminal design.
The law presumes that a fire is accidental in origin; hence the criminal design must be beyond reasonable doubt.

Methods of Proof

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 The investigation of arson often presents a complex problem because the methods employed by incendiaries and
the manner in which they operate are far greater in number and more varied in aspect than those employed by most other
types of criminal. Proof of the commission of the offense is rendered more difficult because the physical evidence, normally
providing material assistance in an investigation, is often destroyed by the criminal act itself. The same basic elements of
all criminal investigations, however, are required of arson inquiries, namely, the establishment of the corpus delicti and the
identification of the perpetrator.
Corpus delicti – Body or substance of the offense or in the accepted legal sense means merely the fact that a crime has
been committed. Since in law every fire is presumed to be accidental
Arson – page 8
origin until proved otherwise, his presumption must be overcome an arson charge can be established. Evidence must be
adduced to show the corpus delicti of the offense, that is, the existence of the essential facts demonstrating that the offense
had been committed. It must be emphasized that the unsupported confession of a person with respect to the burning is
insufficient and inadmissible in the absence of a substantial and independent showing of the corpus delicti.
To establish the corpus delicti the following two facts must be established:
1. Burning
2. Criminal design

What constitutes burning?

A structure is not burn within the meaning of an accusation of arson by heat. Any appreciable burning is sufficient. It is not
necessary that there be a flame of that the structure be consumed or materially injured. The ignition satisfies the
requirement of burning.
Fire patterns – are the visible or measurable physical effects that remain after a fire. These include thermal effects on
materials, such as charring, oxidation, consumption of combustibles, smoke and soot deposits, distortions, melting, color
changes, changes in the character of materials, structural collapse, and other effects.
Burn Pattern –
a. Char Blisters – Convex segments of carbonized material separated by cracks or crevasses that form on the surface of
char, forming on materials as wood as the result of pyrolysis or burning.
b. Spalling – Chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces.

Pyrolysis – The chemical decomposition of a compound into one or more other substances by heat alone; pyrolysis often
precedes combustion. Further, in a fire there are both combustion and pyrolysis occurring and it is proceeding in layers
below the surface of fuel where there’s nearly total deprivation of oxygen.
Role of Pyrolysis:
The greatest part of the flaming fires is the flame itself in which the combustion reaction is taking place solely
between gases. This remains true even though the fuel that feeds the flames is solid, e.g. wood, cloth, paper, plastic, or
even coal. How then does the solid fuel maintain a gaseous reaction in the flames that burn around it? The answer lies
primarily in the phenomenon of pyrolysis or heat decomposition reactions, which occurs within the solid fuel as a result of
being strongly heated by the surrounding flames.
Other Evidence – once the corpus delicti is established, any legal and sufficient evidence, direct or circumstantial, may be
introduced to show that the act was committed by the accused and that it was done with criminal intent. In arson cases
direct evidence is ordinarily lacking with respect to the connection of the offender with the crime and the great reliance must
be placed on circumstantial evidence. The following general types of evidence will usually be encountered in addition to
those already discussed.
Evidence Associating the Suspect with the Scene. Clue materials such as tools, matches and articles of clothing may be
found at the scene and sometimes traced to the suspect. Similarly, the suspect may have carried on his person or clothing
traces which link him to the crime scene.

Evidence showing intent. The actions of the suspect can frequently offer evidence of criminal intent. Example, anticipating
of a fire may be shown by such circumstances as the removal of valuable articles or the substitution of inferior articles. Ill
feeling or unfriendly relations between the accused and the occupants of the burned building may be shown. The absence
of any effort to extinguish the fire or to turn in the alarm in the presence of opportunity is significant. The flight of the
suspect may be incriminating.

70

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Arson – page 9

MOTIVES OF ARSON

The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime has identified the six motive classifications as the most effective in
identifying offender characteristics for fire setting behavior, as follows:
Vandalism – is defined as mischievous or malicious fire setting that results in damage to property. Common targets
include educational facilities and abandoned structures, but also include trash fires and grass fires.
Vandalism fire setting includes the following:
a. Willful and Malicious mischief
b. Peer or group pressure

These are fires that are often attributed to juveniles or adolescents.

Excitement – the excitement-motivated firesetter may enjoy the excitement that is provided by actual firesetting or the
activities surrounding the fire suppression efforts, or may have a psychological need for attention. The offender is often a
serial firesetter, he will generally remain at the scene during the fire and will often get in position to respond to, or view the
fire and the surrounding activities.

It includes the following:

a. Thrill seeking
b. Attention seeking
c. Recognition – hero or vanity firesetter
d. Sexual gratification or perversion

Revenge - the revenge motivated firesetter retaliates for some real or perceived injustice. The event or circumstance that
is perceived may have occurred months or years before the fire setting activity. It is well planned, one-time event or may
represent serial fire setting, with little or no pre-planning. Serial offenders may direct their retaliation at individuals,
institutions or society in general.

It includes the following:

a. Personal retaliation
b. Societal retaliation
c. Institutional retaliation
d. Group retaliation

Crime Concealment – this category involves fire setting that is secondary or a collateral criminal activity, perpetrated for the
purpose of concealing the primary criminal activity. In some cases, however, the fire may actually be part of the intended
crime, such as revenge. Many people erroneously believe that a fire will destroy all physical evidence at the crime scene.

It includes the following:

a. Murder concealment
b. Burglary concealment
c. Destruction of records or documents

Profit – Fires set for profit involve those set for material or monetary gain, either directly or indirectly. The direct gain may
come from insurance fraud, eliminating or intimidating business competition, extortion, removing unwanted structures to
increase property values, or from escaping financial obligation.
Subcategory of profit motive category:
a. Fraud-motivated fires may include commercial or residential properties
b. Fraud to collect insurance

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Arson – page 10

c. Fraud to liquidate property

d. Fraud to dissolve a business
e. Fraud to conceal a loss or liquidate inventory

Extremist – motivated firesetting is committed to further a social, political, or religious cause. Fires have been used as a
weapon of social protest since revolutions first began. Extremist firesetters may work in groups or as individuals. Also, due
to planning aspects and the selections of their targets, extremist firesetters generally have a great degree of organization,
as reflected in their use of more elaborate ignition or incendiary devices.
a. Terrorism – the targets set by terrorists may appear to be at random; however, target locations are generally
selected with some degree of political or economic significance. Fires or explosions become a means of
creating confusion, fear or anarchy. The terrorist may include fire as but one of a variety of weapons, along
with explosives, used in furthering his or her goal.
b. Riot/Civil disturbance

METHODS OF THE ARSONIST

a. Incendiary materials
b. Liquid
c. Gases
d. Solids
e. “Plants” and other contrivances

Heating appliances
a. Heaters
b. Sparkers

Mechanical devices
a. Clock mechanism
b. Altered equipment
c. Trailers
d. Inflammable gases
e. Chemical devices
f. Explosives

Fire Scene Reconstruction – The process of recreating the physical scene during fire scene analysis through the removal of
debris and the replacement of contents or structural elements in their pre-fire positions.

Fire Damage Assessment – Investigators will be making assessments of fire spread throughout the examination of the
scene. These assessments include recognizing and documenting heat movement and intensity patterns and analyzing the
important and direction of each pattern found.

Origin determination – Determination of the origin of the fire will frequently involve the coordination of information derived
from:
a. The physical marks (fire pattern) left by the fire;
b. The observations reported by person who witnessed the fire or were aware of conditions present at the time of
the fire;
c. The analysis of the physics and chemistry of fire initiation, development, and growth as an instrument to related
known or hypothesized fire conditions capable of producing those conditions.

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File name – arson-acm-32407

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