CDI

Fire
technology
and Arson
Investigation
(Terms To Know)

By : Christian Jimena Corpuz

 ABC EXTINGUISHER A fire extinguisher that can be used on fires involving ordinary
combustibles, flammable liquids & energized electrical
equipment. It may also be known as a multipurpose
extinguisher.
ACCELERANT It refers to a combustible liquid used to hasten the start of fire.
ACCORDION LOAD It refers to a system of loading hose in the hose bed of a fire
truck.
ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT The medical care provided by paramedics trained to assess a
patient's condition, administer drugs, defibrillate & provide
advanced airway management prior to transportation to the
hospital.
AIRCRAFT SERVICE STATION The portion of an aircraft where flammable liquids are stored
or dispensed and shall include all facilities essential thereto
such as underground tanks from which aircraft fuel and
lubricants maybe drawn through dispensing device
ALARM Any signal indicating the need for emergency fire service
response; also the device that transmits the alarm.
ALCOHOL A flammable liquid that easily burned and by itself gives off
no detectable smoke.
ANTOINE LAVOISIER A French chemist who proved in 1777 that burning is the
result of the rapid union of oxygen with other substances. As
substance burn, heat and light are produced
ARCING It is known as sparking and is produced when a short circuit o
break in an electrical conductor occurs.
ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof by a group of person for civic, political, educational,
travel, religious, social, amusement
AUTO IGNITION POINT The lowest temperature at which a substance will
automatically burn without that application of spark or a
flame.
AUTO IGNITION TEMPERATURE The same as ignition temperature except that no external
ignition source is needed for ignition since the material itself
has been heated to reach ignition temperature. It is the
spontaneous ignition of vapour or gases given off by heated
material.
AUTO-IGNITION POINT OR SELF- It is the lowest temperature at which a substance can be heated
IGNITION POINT to release vapours that will ignite without the application of a
flame or spark. It refers to the temperature at which
spontaneous combustion takes place. Auto-ignition point is
usually much higher than the fire point
AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION It is an integrated system of underground or overhead piping
SYSTEM or both connected to a source of extinguishing agents or
medium and design in accordance with fire protection
engineering standards which when actuated by its automatic
detecting device, suppresses fire within the area protected
BACKDRAFT The explosion caused by the sudden introduction of oxygen in
a fire area when large quantities of superheated fuel under
pressure is contained. It may also occur because of inadequate
or improper ventilation procedures.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN He created the "union fire company" in 1736 in Philadelphia,
the first volunteer fire company in America
BITE BACK A fatal condition that takes place when the fire resists
 extinguishment operation and becomes stronger and bigger
instead
BITING SMOKE It is the act of irritating the nose and throat and causing
lacrymation "tears" and coughing indicates presence of
chlorine.
BLACK SMOKE Indicates burning materials of a product with petroleum base
such as rubber, tar, coal, turpentine, or petroleum.
BLASTING AGENT Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used
to set off explosives.
BOILING POINT It is the constant temperature at which the vapours of the
liquid are equal to the atmospheric pressure.
BONAPARTE He created the first professional fire-fighters known as
SAPEURS-POMPIERS
BRIMSTONE MATCH It is made by dipping thin strips of wood into metal sulphur
CALORIE It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1
gram of water to 1 degrees Celsius
CAPTAIN F. R. DODGE The first chief of the manila fire department
CARBON BLACK It is formed by the incomplete combustion of acetylene or
natural cracking of hydrogen in the absence of air.
CARBON MONOXIDE It is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon. It causes
death by asphyxia.
CARGO TANK A container mounted on a tank vehicle with a capacity of at
least 450 litres used for carrying flammable or combustible
liquids. It does not apply to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle
CELLULOSE It is the component of wood that is pyrolized.
CHARRING PATTERN The rule that heavy burning and deep charring will generally
be greater from where the fire originated is not absolute. There
are other factors to be considered when examining the char
pattern of extensive fires. It is these factors that the
investigator must thoroughly analyze & correctly interpret.
CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION This refers to a vapour of gases distilled during d process of
burning of materials carried into the flame. This vapours
contain unchanged atoms & molecules having electrical
charge which attract or repel other particles.
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS These are sudden release of energy by upsetting the chemical
balance of unstable chemical compounds.
COMBINATION STANDPIPE A pipe line system filled with water connected to a constant
water supply for the use of the fire service and the occupants
of the building solely for the suppression purposes
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER LOOSE An enclosed and isolated structure where loose fibers are
HOUSE worked upon and used as storage for such fibers
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR It quickly, safely and accurately detect all combustible gases
or vapours associated with fuel oils, alcohol, gasoline,
hydrogen
COMBUSTIBLE MEANS
ANYTHING THAT COULD BE
BURNED OR CAPABLE OF Flammable means easily ignited and capable of burning with
IGNITING AND BURNING great rapidity. Therefore it is a highly combustible substance.
COMBUSTION burning is also called
COMBUSTION It is the rapid oxidation of substances accompanied by heat
and light.
COMPRESSED GAS It is one in which all the atmospheric temperature inside its
container exist solely in the gaseous state under pressure.
CONCENTRIC CIRCLE The searcher starts at a central point. As soon as This location
 has been thoroughly combed a new & larger circle is drawn.
CONDUCTION The process of heat transfer by direct contact.
CONFINEMENT This is the activity of restricting the fire at the place where it
started.
CONVECTION It refers to the means by which heat is transferred by a
circulating medium either liquid or gas.
CONVECTION COLUMN It refers to the rising column of heated air or gases above a
continuing heat or fire source. It is also known as thermal
column.
CORROSIVES It is any liquid that will cause fire when put in contact with
combustible materials
CRAZING DUE TO HEAT irregular cracks on glass
CRYOGENIC The 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
CRYOGENIC The descriptive of any liquefied gas by its nature as a result of
its reaction with other elements promotes a rapid drop in
temperature of the immediate surroundings.
CURTAIN BOARD A vertical panel of non-combustible of fire resistive materials
and extending below the bottom chord of the roof trusses to
divide the underside of the roof into separate compartments so
that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent
DAMPER A normally open device installed inside an air duct system
which automatically closes to restrict the passage of smoke or
fire
DEFLAGRATION It is a type of explosion which ordinarily occurs in a relatively
slow "push" manner, with velocities from a few inches per
minute to upward of 1500 feet per second. This is termed as a
low order explosion. A chemical reaction producing vigorous
heat and sparks or flame, moving through the material at less
than the speed of sound. A major difference among explosives
is the speed of the reaction. It can also refer to an intense
burning and is a characteristic of class B explosives.
DENSITY A term used to denote the weight per unit volume of a
substance. The density of any substance is obtained by
dividing the weight by the volume.
DETONATION It is extremely rapid and violent explosion with a practically
instantaneous release of chemical energy.
DIP TANK A tank, vat or container of flammable or combustible liquid in
which articles or materials are immersed for the purpose of
coating, finishing, treating or similar process
DRY CHEMICAL An agent used for class A, B & C fires that extinguishes fire
by interrupting the chemical chain reaction in the combustion
zone.
DRY POWDER The extinguishing agent suitable for use on combustible metal
fires.
DRY STAND PIPE empty tank, the fireman will pump the water
DUCT SYSTEM a continuous passageway for the transmission of air
DUST EXPLOSION These are the burning of the finely divided particles of
combustibles that are suspended in d air. Dust explosions
generally are to explode. A small explosion or shockwave
creates additional dust in an atmosphere causing the second
and larger explosion.
ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS These are changes whereby energy "heat" is absorbed or is
 added before the reaction takes place. This means that the
substances formed by change contain more energy than the
reacting materials.
EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS These are those that release or give off energy, thus they
produce substances with less energy than the reactants.
EXPLOSION This results from a vigorous reaction with sudden release of a
large amount of energy due to the rapid production of gases
and time liberation of heat.
EXPLOSIVE MAGAZINE building, structures or faculties used for the storage of
explosive shells, projectile and ammunition
EXPOSURES Are buildings or structures that are near the structure on fire
and that are placed at risk by the fire. A primary focus of the
responding fire department will be to protect the exposures,
thus reducing the risk of the fire spreading and causing
additional damage to life and property.
FIRE The active principles of burning, characterized by heat and
light
FIRE BEHAVIOUR The manner in which fuel ignites flame, develop heat & the
fire spreads. Sometimes used to refer to the characteristics of a
particular fire.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS The most common device used in plants for fire fighting
purposes.
FIRE GASES It is the vaporized products of combustion.
FIRE GASES It refers to those gases that remain when the products of
combustion are cooled to normal temperature.
FIRE HAZARD The conditions conducive to fire or that is likely to increase
the extent or severity of fire.
FIRE HOSE made up of double-jacketed, rubber-lined cotton in size of 1.5
inch, 2.5, and 3.5. with a standard length of 50feet.
FIRE HYDRANT It is a mechanical device strategically placed in an installation
or street where a fire hose may be connected in cases of fire.
FIRE LANE The portion of a roadway or public highway that should be
kept opened and unobstructed aat all times for the expedient
operations of fire fighting units
FIRE PLUG Another name for fire hydrant
FIRE POINT It is the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a
vapour air mixture that ignites. The minimum and maximum
temperature are referred to as the lower and upper flash point
in air respectively.
FIRE PREVENTION It is the descriptive term of the various methods or safety
measures to stop harmful or destructive fires from starting
FIRE PROTECTION It is the descriptive term referring to the various methods used
to stop, extinguish and control destructive fire from eventual
prevention of loss of life and property
FIRE PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLY An assembly incorporated in a structure designed to prevent
the spread of fire dampers, curtain boards
FIRE PUMP A mechanical contrivance used for supplying water.
FIRE RESISTANCE A relative term referring to the amount of time a material will
resist a normal fire as measured on a standard time-
temperature curve.
FIRE RETARDANT It is a term used to indicate that materials or substances have
been treated to retard ignition or the spread of fire.
FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION It is pre-requisite to grant permit/license by local government
for any particular establishment.
 FIRE TRAP A part of the building that will burn easily
FIRE TRAP It is a finely powdered substance which, when mixed with all
in proper proportion and ignited will cause an explosion.
FIRE TRIANGLE It is the combination of fuel, heat and oxygen at 1 specific
occurrence.
FIRE WALL It is designed to prevent the spread of fire, having a fire
resistance rating of not less than 4 hours with structural
stability to remain standing even if the adjacent construction
collapses under fire condition. Fire walls extend through roofs
and use parapets above the roof to divide large sections of
buildings to prevent the overlapping or spread of fire.
FIRE WHIRLWIND It is a revolving mass of air created by a fire, normally a forest
fire.
FLAME It is the visible luminous body of burning gas which become
hotter & become less luminous when mixed with an increased
amount of oxygen.
FLAME FRONT It is the outermost edge or surface of d flame.
FLAME INTERFACE It refers to the area or surface between the gases or vapours
and the visible flame.
FLAME PROPAGATION RATE The velocity at which combustion travels through a gas or
over the surface of a liquid or solid.
FLAME SAFETY LAMP It is intended solely for the detection of oxygen deficiency in
the atmosphere. detects flammable vapours, but its intentional
use for this purpose is very dangerous particularly in an
atmosphere that may contain acetylene or hydrogen
FLAME SPREAD It is the rate at which flame travels over the surface interior
building materials and finishes with a flame spread rating that
indicates the rate at which flame will spread over the surface
of the material. The lowest rating is zero while a higher
number indicates a faster rate of travel on d material.
FLAMES These are incandescent gases that rapid caused by the rapid
oxidation of a combustible material. The burning gas or
vapour of fire that is visible as light of various colours.
FLAMMABLE It is a term used to refer to combustible material that ignites
easily, burns rapidly, or has a rapid rate of flame spread.
FLASH BACK It is also referred to as back flash. It is the tendency of
flammable liquid fires to re-ignite from a source of ignition
after they have been extinguished. The vapours of a flammable
liquid may serve as a fuse leading from a source of ignition
back to the flammable liquid container.
FLASH FIRE It is also known as dust explosion.
FLASH FIRE This phenomena may occur inside a burning building when
heated air increase the combustion rate to instantaneous
combustion.
FLASH OVER It is the production of fireballs as a result of the ignition
temperature of gases.
FLASH POINT It is the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a
vapour air mixture that ignites. It is also the lowest
temperature at which a combustible substance when heated
takes fire in the air &and continue to burn.
FLASHOVER It is the sudden ignition of accumulated radical gases produced
when there is incomplete combustion of fuels. It is the sudden
burning of accumulated free radicals, which is initiated by a
spark. When so much is accumulated it may throw
 FIREBALLS a hundred yards within a few seconds
FLASHOVER This is the final stage of the process of the fire growth where
in all combustible materials within a compartment are all
ignited. The cause of the flashover is due to the excessive
build up of heat from the fire itself and once all the contents of
the fire area are heated gradually into its ignition temperature
simultaneous ignition occurs and the entire area becomes fully
involved with fire.
FOAM It is a thick, viscous, light and stable material that floats on
almost any liquid.
FORGING A process where in a piece of metal is heated prior to changing
its shape
FREE RADICALS combustible vapours such as Hydrogen gas, Carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide and nitrogen
FREE RADICALS It refers to gases liberated by the heat.
FRICTION It re is the resistance to motion of to moving objects or
surfaces that touch.
FRICTIONAL HEAT The result when mechanical energy is used in overcoming the
resistance to motion when two solids are rubbed together.
FUEL This refers to any material that can be oxidized by a reducing
agent which has a reference to a fuel’s ability to reduce an
oxidizing agent.
FUEL It is anything that will burn when heated with sufficient
oxygen. It is the most important part of the triangle, for fuel is
what burns. The nature and properties of the fuel are essential
in combating fires. It comes in three forms as solid, liquid or
gas.
FUEL GASES These are gases customarily used for burning with air to
produce heat which in turn is utilized as power, process, light
and comfort.
FULMINATE A kind of stable explosive compound which explodes by
percussion
FUMIGANT A gas, fume, or vapour used for the destruction or control of
insects, fungi, rodents
GASOLINE These gasoline vapours are heavier than air and settled in the
floor.
GENERAL ALARM An alarm called because a large fire requires calling additional
fire fighters and equipment.
GREYISH SMOKE This may b caused by flying ashes or soot of loosely packed
substances such as straw or hay.
GRID MAP It is a map of an area overlaid with a grid system of
rectangular coordinates or azimuth bearing "polar coordinates"
that are used to identify ground locations.
GROUND COVER FIRE Any fire involving natural ground cover like grass, brush, or
timber.
GRUDGE AND SPITE FIRES An individual seeking to revenge a wrong may attempt to
injure or to cause the wrong because a fire may inflict both
physical and financial injury.
HAD The heat actuating devices thermostatically controlled and
used to activate fire alarm, equipment or appliances.
HALYARD A rope used to raise or lower something
HAZARDOUS FIRE AREA A land covered with dry grass, cogon, reeds, brush and other
highly combustible growth that fires are likely to occur
HAZARDOUS Any act of manufacturing that uses or produces materials
 OPERATION/PROCESS which are likely to cause fires or explosions
HEAT It is the transfer of energy from one part of a substance to
another or from one body to another by virtue of a difference
in temperature. Heat is energy in transit.
HEAT It is a type of energy and disorder.
HEAT This is the form of energy which is measured in degrees of
temperature to signify its intensity. Heat is the product of
combustion responsible for the spread of fire.
HEAT The source of ignition or any device to start a fire. It can be a
safety match, a lighted candle, or more sophisticated forms
such as chemical, mechanical or electrical contrivance
designed to start a blaze.
HEAT OF COMBUSTION It is the amount of heat released during the complete oxidation
where the organic fuel is converted to carbon dioxide and
water.
HEAT OF DECOMPOSITION It is the heat released by the decomposition of compounds
requiring the addition of heat for their formulation.
HEAT OF FUSION It is the amount of heat necessary to convert solid to liquid.
HEAT OF SOLUTION This refers to heat released when a substance is dissolved in a
liquid.
HEAT OF VAPORIZATION The amount of heat absorbed when a substance is altered from
liquid to gas.
HEAT TRANSFER It is sometimes referred to as heat flow. It is the movement
and dispersion of heat. Heat is transferred by convection,
conduction and radiation.
HIGH RISE BUILDING building 15 months or more
HORIZONTAL CHANNELS Any uninterrupted space between horizontal layers of stored
commodities. such channel maybe formed by pallets, shelving,
racks or other storage arrangements
HORIZONTAL EXIT Passageway from one building to another or through around a
wall in approximately the same floor level
HOSE REEL A cylindrical device turning on an axis around which a fire
hose is wound or connected
HYDRANT It is an upright metal casting connected to a water supply
system and equipped with one or more valve outlets to which a
pump or hose line can be connected. Also it has been given the
name 'plug' or 'catch a plug'. This term comes from the early
fire fighting when water remains where nothing more than one
hollowed out trees, buried in the ground. When a fire company
needed water, they would dig down the log, and open a hole in
the tree for a water supply. After the fire, the hole had to be
plugged in order to stop the flow of water.
HYPERGOLIC FUEL A rocket or liquid propellant, fuel and oxidizers which
spontaneously contacts with each other
IGNITION TEMPERATURE The lowest temperature at which a fuel when heated will ignite
air and continue to burn. The temperature required to cause
ignition of a substance.
INCIPIENT OR BEGINNING Under this phase, the oxygen content in the air has not been
PHASE significantly reduced and the fire is producing water vapour,
CO2, CO, perhaps a small quantity of Sulfur dioxide, & other
cases. The flame temperature s above 1000 degrees
Fahrenheit.
INDUSTRIAL GASES This refers to gases used for manufacturing processes.
INTENTIONAL FIRE This is known as incendiarism or classified as arson.
 JAN VAN DER HEYDEN A Dutch who invented the fire hose in 1672. It was
constructed out of flexible leather andcoupled every 50ft
JOHN WALKER He was an English pharmacist who invented the first match in
1827. The tip of this match was coated by a mixture of
Antimony sulphide and Potassium chlorate that was held on
the wooden matchstick by gum Arabic and starch
LAMP BLACK It is produced by burning of low grade heavy oils or resinous
or tarry materials with sufficient air.
LATENT HEAT The quantity of heat absorbed by a substance when the
substance from a solid to liquid and from a liquid to gas.
LIGHT WATER OR AQUEOUS It is a new synthetic, fill-forming foam liquid, this new agent
FILM FORMING FOAM is replacing the present commonly known foam.
LIGHTNING It refers to the discharge of an electrical charge on a cloud to
an opposite charge to another cloud or on the ground.
LINE BETWEEN CHARRED AND
NOT CHARRED demarcation line
LIQUEFIED GAS It is one in which at normal temperature inside its container
exist partly in liquid and partly in gaseous form under pressure
as long as any liquid remains in the container.
LOI "LIMITING OXYGEN INDEX" A numeral basis for measuring the tendency of the fabric to
continuously burn once the flame is removed is also high.
Fabrics with high ignition temperature are safer for clothing
because they do not ignite easily. Also, They will not continue
burning after the source of heat or flame is removed
LUMINOUS FLAME It is orange red in colour. It will deposit soot at the site of the
vessel heated due to its lower temperature and incomplete
combustion.
MAINLINING A term used by drug users for injecting a drug directly into
veins
MECHANICAL EXPLOSION Any blast or detonation that occurs within a vessel or
container.
MECHANICAL HEAT ENERGY It is released by compression and is responsible for significant
number of fires.
NON-LUMINOUS FLAME It is blue in colour and it represents the complete combustion
of fuel and has a relatively high temperature.
OXIDATION The union of a substance with oxygen as in burning and
rusting.
OXYGEN It is tasteless, odourless, colourless gas which is generally
found within the earth's atmosphere. This natural gas is both
vital to sustain human life and fire.
PASS- PULL, AIM, SQUEEZE AND
SWIPE
PEAT It is a partially decayed plant matter found in swamps called
bogs and used as a fuel chiefly in areas where coal and oil are
scarce.
PLANT The preparation and gathering of materials to start a fire.
PLENUM An air compartment or chamber to which one or more ducts
are connected and which form part of an air distribution
system
POLYMERIZATION The process of joining two or more molecules forming a more
complex molecule.
PRESSURIZED OR FORCED Type of burner where the fuel is subjected to pressure prior to
DRAFT BURNING EQUIPMENT discharge into the combustion chamber and/or which includes
fans and other provisions for the introduction of air at above
 normal atmospheric pressure into the same combustion
chamber.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY BUILDING Any building structure that can accommodate 50 or more
people
PYRA The origin of the word “fire” which means glowing ember.
PYROLYSIS 8 s d thermal decomposition of d combustble matter.
PYROLYSIS The chemical process whereby fire consumes most solids.
PYROPHORIC substances that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air
PYROPHORICS The chemicals that will not ignite or react violently on contact
with air or oxygen. It must be maintained under an inert
atmosphere.
PYROXYLIN Materials that use cellulose nitrate are also called?
RADIATION A mode of heat transfer when energy travels through materials
and space as waves.
RICHARD NEWSHAM He developed the fire engine. It was pulled as a cart to the fire.
SECTOR SEARCH The fire scene is subdivided into areas or sectors; a building
divided into rooms or floors each fireman or officer is then
assigned to a specific search area.
SIZE OF FIRE It is important when correlated with the type of alarm, the time
received and the time of arrival of the first 5 apparatus.
SMOKE It is a visible product of incomplete combustion. It consists of
the mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, finely divided particles of soot and carbon and
other products released from the materials involved.
SMOKE This refers to matter made up of very fine solid particles and
condensed vapour as a result of combustion.
SMOKE MARKS An experienced investigator will determine the volume of
smoke involved at a fire and the character as residue deposited
on walls or elsewhere.
SMOKE MARKS An experienced investigator will determine the volume of
smoke involved and the character as residues deposited on
walls or elsewhere.
SOOT The burning of low grade heavily oils or resinous tarry
materials with sufficient air forms lamp black.
SPARKS It refers to any flash or sparkles of light and may originate
from nearby fires, chimney's, etc. A common type of fire
results from nearby field brush and wood fires which are
frequently caused from sparks and careless burning of trash,
leaves and other debris.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION It is the process of catching fire as a result of heat generated by
internal chemical action.
SPONTANEOUS HEATING The process of increasing the temperature of a material as a
result of slow oxidation.
SPRAYING AREA Any area in which dangerous quantities of flammable vapour
or combustible residues, dusts, deposits are present due to the
operation of spraying devices
STATIC ELECTRICITY It refers to electrical energy at rest or in equilibrium.
STEAM & SMOKE This indicates that humid substances come in contact with
combustible substances evaporate b4 d substance begins to
burn
TECHNOLOGY practical application of knowledge especially in a particular
area
TEMPERATURE It is a measure of the degree of disorder.
THAMAC PROCESS The determination whether the fire has been deliberately
 caused by means of electrical overload using an apparatus
called THAMAC.
THERMAL BALANCE It refers to the normal movement or pattern of fire, smoke and
fire gases.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY The measure of the rate of flow of heat, through unit area of
the material with unit temperature gradient.
THOMAS EDISON He sent an electric current through a carbon filament until the
filament became so hot that it gave off light
TRAILER A device used to spread the fire throughout the structure.
TURBULENT FLAME The incandescent gases having unsteady and irregular whirls.
VANDALISM FIRES These are often set by pairs or group of boys or in the presence
of others from a peer group. The presence of the group
encourages the act.
VAPOUR-AIR EXPLOSION If the container of the gas is not strong enough to withstand
pressure, some parts will suddenly break.
VENTILLATION The systematic removal of smoke from a building. Ventilation
is usually accomplished with one of two methods; positive and
negative pressure ventilation.
WHITE SMOKE Indicates the presence of phosphorous in a particular fire
incident.