FIRE INVESTIGATION
FOUR GENERAL CLASSES OF FIRE
 Fire investigation is by nature the basis for fire
prevention program
 Only in depth analysis of what sequences of
events enable a fire to start, enabled it to spread,
and how and where it was controlled can help
prevent future fires,
 Additionally, fire investigation includes the
observations of everyone involved and at the fires
themselves there are many firefighters will able to
shed light on the nature of the fire, its progress,
and so forth.
 this is the reason that the cause of most fire
cannot be determined without a long and careful
investigation
 firefighters often make, snap judgment at the
scene to the cause of a fire without an adequate
evidence, or sufficient investigation on which to
base their decisions
 apparently, there is hesitation on the part of the
firefighters to admit that they do not really know
the real cause of the listed as “cause known”
 some of the favorite courses listed by firefighters,
when they are not certain of the actual cause, are
faulty wiring, children playing with matches,
spontaneous combustion, Sparks from stove,
burning rubbish, and careless disposal of
smoking materials
 The very general, an indefinite nature of these
causes indicates that in most cases they are
based on assumptions rather than evidences
 No matter how small fire must be investigated
 fire investigation, provide authorities with
information needed to guide fire prevention,
educational programs, help fire inspectors in
spotting and eliminating new or previously
overlook hazards, and develop meaningful
information for training, fire protection personnel
AS FAR AS FIRE INVESTIGATION IS
CONCERNED, THEY MUST BE DEFINED AS:
 CAUSE- that which made the fire start
 REASON - the which led to the cause of a fire
(motive leading to the action)
 Both cause and reason must be established to
satisfactorily complete a fire investigation
 The “cause” explains the existence of fire, or the
WHAT of investigation. While the “reason”
establishes the WHY of the fire and investigation
 NATURAL FIRE
fire caused naturally without human intervention or
aid; such as lightning, spontaneous ignition,
mechanical malfunction of equipment
 ACCIDENTAL FIRE
fire causes where human action is involved directly or
indirectly
a) careless disposal of smoking materials
b) workers using welding cutting equipment
 ARSON
Fire causes, as a result of the willful and criminal action
of some persons also known as incendiary fire
 UNKNOWN FIRE
fires which are not classified as to cause
BASIC STEPS IN FIRE SCENE EXAMINATION
 Search systematically
= make a plan, have in mind what you will look for the
way you will look, and what you will do with each item,
found and collected be thorough, complete and orderly
 Observe
= Use your eyes, ears, nose, and camera if possible to
note the conditions, observe the fire and the spectators
 Take photograph
= The camera records, more details than the naked eye
= Establish visual reference, through numerous
photograph
= Photograph each area several times during the
various phases of investigation
= Infrared photography may prove extremely valuable,
since it is sensitive to differences in heat
AREAS TO CONDUCT FIRE INVESTIGATION
 EXTERIOR
= determine where the fire vested first by comparing
burn char, smoke, and heat patterns around windows,
doors and roof.
= Look for the following:
exterior points of origin;
unusual, burn patterns of flammable liquid;
tools and flammable liquid containers;
footprints and scuff, marks at suspected points of entry
 INTERIOR
= Conduct a cursory examination of general survey of
the entire structure of interior for the extent of the
damage.
= Establish the class of fire duration approximate burn
time by checking the following
Window glass condition;
Depth of wood char, at or in close proximity to the point
of origin;
Penetration of fire restrictive wall coverings by fire
Electric clock that has been stopped by fire damage
STEPS ON HOW TO DETERMINE THE POINT OF
ORIGIN
1. Examine the entire interior of the building and
determine which room or areas have received the
most severe fire damage. Generally, this will be the
area were the fire burned extensively or the longest
and will very likely be where it originated
2. Determine the level of origin within the room by
examining and comparing the bottom side of the
tables, Shelves, and chairs.
3. Examine the ceiling and look for the following
patterns:
a) fire penetration and
b) heaviest fire exposure
4. Examine the light bulbs, within the room. The side of
the bulbs which is initially exposed to heat begin to
swell or bulge and lose shape at about 900F when
exposed to heat for 10 minutes or more actually point
to the area of fire origin.
DEBRIS
Examine the fire debris and the floor in the following
manner;
• Conduct a detailed search of the debris, examining in
layer by layer until the floor is reached;
• Completely clean the floor on all debris and char dust
The floor and floor covering should be clean enough
to observe and photograph the significant burn and
char patterns and should be dry.
• Carefully reconstruct and replace furnishings and
other articles in their original position by using burn
patterns and corresponding protected areas.
SPALLING
 is the breakdown in surface tensile strength of
concrete, masonry, or brick caused by exposure to
high temperatures and rates of healing resulting in
mechanical forces within the material
CLEAN BURN
 is a phenomenon that appears on non-
combustible surfaces when the soot and smoke
condensate that would normally be found adhering to
the surface is burned off
 This produces a clean area adjacent to areas
darkened by products of combustion.
 Produced most commonly by direct flame
contact or intense radiance heat.
 A fire pattern or surfaces where soot has
been burned away.
V SHAPE PATTERNS
 Created by flames, convective, or radiated
heat from hot fire gases, and smoke within the fire
plume,
 Appears as lines of demarcation, defining the
borders of the fire plume and less heated areas
outside the plume.
POINTER
 The difference in height of a series of fire
damaged vertical wood members ranging from high
being the farthest away from a source of heating to
the shortest being closer.
TELL TALE SIGNS OF ARSON
 SEPARATE FIRES
when two or more fire breaks out within a building,
the building is certainly suspicious.
 COLOR OF SMOKE
some fire burn with little or no smoke but there are
exceptions to this. The observation of the smoke must
be made at the start of the fire since once the fire has
consumed a major proportion; the value of the smoke
is lost, because the smoke will not indicate the
material used by the arsonist.
COLOR OF SMOKE
• Steam and smoke- presence of humid substances in
contact with combustible materials
• White smoke - indicates the presence of
phosphorus.
• Grayish smoke- cause by ashes and soot of loosely
packed materials such as straw or hay.
• Black smoke - coming from a material with petroleum if the building or property is insured
base such as rubber, tar, coals, turpentine,substantially
or more than it actual value at the time of the
petroleum gum.
 if during the lifetime of the
COLOR OF FLAME corresponding fire insurance policy, more than
• The color of the flame is a good indicator of the two fires had occurred in the same or other
intensity of the fire, it is an important factor in premises owned and under the control of the
determining incendiarism. offender or insured.
• A reddish glow indicates heat of about 5000°C., a real  if shortly before the fire, a substantial portion
light red about 1000 °C of the stocks insured and stored inside the building
• Red flames indicate presence of petroleum products were withdrawn not connected with the ordinary
• Blue flame indicates use of alcohol as accelerant course of business.
 if a demand for money or other valuable
SIZE OF FIRE considered was made before the fire in exchange for
The size of fire is important when correlated with the the desistance of the offender or for the safety of the
type of alarm, the time received and the time of arrival person or property of the victim.
of the first responder at the fire scene.
Fire makes what might be termed a normal progress. SPECIAL AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF
Such progress can be estimated after an examination ARSON (SEC.
of the material burned in the building, and the normal 4 PD 1613)
ventilation offered to the fire. • Committed with intent to gain.
• committed for the benefits of the others.
INTENSITY • offender is motivated by spite, revenge or hatred
The degree of heat given off by a fire and the color of towards the owner or occupant of the house.
its flame often times indicate that some accelerant has • committed by the syndicate. A syndicate consist of
been added to the material normally present in a three or more persons who planned and carried out
building and the investigator must look further for more the crime.
evidence used of such accelerant.
Difficulty in “extinguishing the fire is often a lead to REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9514
suspect presence of such fluid or liquid as gasoline and • AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE
kerosene. FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING
PRESEDENTIAL DECREE NO.1185 AND FOR
ODOR OTHER PURPOSES
The odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other
flammable liquids which are often used as an SEC.8 PROHIBITED ACTS- THE FOLLOWING ARE
accelerant is a characteristic, and often times an DECLARED AS PROHIBIT ACT AND OMISSION
arsonist is trapped because of this tell tale sign. • Obstructing or blocking the exit ways or across the
Most of fire-setters are inclined to use substances buildings;
which will make the blaze certain and at the same time • Constructing gates, entrances and walkways to
burn up any evidence of their crime. building components and yards and structures on
public ways, which obstruct the orderly and easy
PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF ARSON (PD 1613AND passage of fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
ART.326-B,RPC) • Prevention, interference or obstruction of any
 If the fire started simultaneously in more than operation of the fire service, or of duly organized and
one part of the building or establishment; authorized fire brigades;
 if substantial amount of flammable substances • Obstructing designated fire lanes or access to fire
or materials are stored within the building not hydrants:
necessary on business of the offender or for household • Overcrowding or admission of persons beyond the
use; authorized capacity in movie houses, theaters,
 if after the fire, materials or substances soaked incoliseums, auditoriums or other public assembly
flammable or any mechanical, electrical, chemical, orbuildings
electronic contrivance design to start a fire or ashes or traces
• Locking fire exits during period when people are
of any of the fire going are found. inside the building;
 • Prevention or obstruction of the automatic closure of
fire doors or smoke partitions or dampers;
• Use of fire protective of firefighting equipment of the fire
service other than for firefighting except in other
emergencies where their use is justified;
• Giving false or malicious fire alarms;
• Smoking in prohibited areas as may be determined
by fire service or throwing of cigars, cigarettes,
burning objects in places which may start or cause
fire;
• Abandoning or leaving a building or structure by the
occupant or owner without appropriate safety
measures;
• Removing, destroying, tampering or obliterating any
authorized mark, seal, sign or tag posted or required
by the fire service for fire safety in any building,
structure or processing equipment; and
• Use of jumpers or tampering with electrical wiring or
overloading the electrical system beyond its
designated capacity or such other practices that
would tend to undermine the fire safety features of the
electrical system.