CDI 303

GROUP 6
Members:
Catubig, Jessa
Mandalones, Joralyn
Lobetos, Yonila
Lindayao,John Ira
Mallosa, Daniel
 What constitutes Arson?
1. Burning–to constitute burning, pyrolysis must takes
place. In other words, there must be burning or
changing, i.e. the fiber of the wood must be
destroyed, its identity change.

2. Willfulness – means intentional, and implies that

the act was done purposely and intentionally.

3. Malice – it denotes hatred or a desire for revenge.

Catubig
4. Motive – is the moving cause that induces the
commission of the crime.

5. Intent – is the purpose or design with which

the act is done and involves the will.
METHODS OF PROOF IN ARSON
Physical evidences in arson are often destroyed. To prove arson
was committed, Corpus Delicti must be shown and identify of the
arsonist must be establish. Corpus Delicti (body of the crime) is the fact
of that crime was committed.
1. Burning – that there was fire that may be shown
by direct testimony of complaint, firemen
responding to the crime, other eyewitness. Burned
parts of the building may also indicate location.

2. Criminal Design – must show that it was

willfully and intentionally done. The presence of
incendiary devices, flammables such as gasoline
and kerosene may indicate that the fire is not
accidental.
3. Evidence of Intent – when valuables were
remove from the building before the fire, ill-
feeling between the accused and the
occupants of the building burned, absence of
effect to put off fire and such other
indications.

Catubig
What are basic lines of
inquiry in Arson
investigation?

Mandalones
 Point of origin of 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 an inspection of
the debris at the fire scene and by studying the
fingerprint of fire.
Witnesses must be questioned as to:
1. His identity
2. What attracted his attention
3. Time of observation
4. His position in relation to the fire at the time of
observation
5. Exact location of the blaze
6. Size and intensity
7. Rapidity of spread
8. Color of flame and odor if he is in a position this
9. Any other person in the vicinity beside the witness
Note fire setting mechanism

1. Matches
2. Candles
3. Electrical system
4. Mechanical means
5. Chemical methods
Motive of Arsonist
to understand the motives of arsonist, the arson
investigator have to note the following that fires are set by:

Persons with motives

 those with desire to defraud the insurer

 Employees or such other person who have a
grievance (fire revenge)
 Those with desire to conceal evidence of a crime
 Those who set fire for purpose of intimidation
Persons without motive
 Those who are mentally ill
 Pathological fire-setters
 Pyros and the psychos

Mandalones
Motives of Arsonist
1. Economic gain
a. Insurance fraud – benefiting
b. Desire to dispose merchandise – lost of market value being
out of season, lack of raw materials, over supply of
merchandise can be a big reason for arson.
c. Existing business transaction that the arsonist would like to
avoid such as impending liquidation, settlement of estate, need
for cash, prospective business failure, and increase rentals.

Lobetos
d. Profit by the perpetrator other than the assured like
insurance agents wishing business with the assured,
business competitors planning to drive others, person
seeking job as personnel protection, salvagers and
contractors wishing to contact another building.

2.Concealment of crime – when the purpose of hiding a

crime, arson was used as means.

3. Punitive Measure – committing arson to inflict injury

to another due to hatred, jealousy and revenge.
4. Intimidation or Economic disabling –
Arsonist as saboteurs, strikers and racketeers
to intimidate management or employer.

5. Pyromania
-a pyromaniac having the uncontrollable
impulse to burn anything without any
motivation. They do not run away from the fire
scene since they love watching fire burning.
Types of Pyromaniac
a. Abnormal Youth – epileptics, imbeciles and
morons
b. Hero type – a person set a building on fire
and pretends to discover it, turn on the alarm
or make some rescue works to appear as
“hero”
c. Drug addicts and alcoholics
d. Sexual deviates and perverts.

Lobetos
 Prime Suspects (and the Prima Facie Evidences)
The development of prime suspects - this
involves identification results from the full
development of leads, clues and traces, the
testimony particularly and the development
eyewitnesses of expert testimony, The
following technique may serve the
investigation:

Mallosa
1. Search of the fire scene for physical evidence:

a. Protection of the scene

b. Mechanics of search
c. Collection and preservation of evidences
2. Background study of policyholders, occupants
of premises, owner of building or other person
having major interest in the fire.
3. Interviews and interrogations of persons who
discovered the fire, and the one who turned the
first alarm, firemen, and eyewitnesses.
4. Surveillance
The Tell Tale Signs of Arson
These signs maybe obvious that the first
fireman at the scene will suspect arson or they
maybe so well concealed that most of patient
investigation to show that it is set off will be
required.
1. Burned Building - the type of the building
may indicate a set fire under certain
circumstance.
2. Separate fires - when two or more separate
fire breaks out within a building. The fire is
certainly suspicious.
3. Color of Smoke - some fire burn with little or
no smoke but they are exception.

Mallosa
a.) When white smoke appears before the water from the fire
hose comes in contact with the fire, it indicates humid
material burning.

b.) Biting smoke, irritating the nose and throat and causing
lacrymation and coughing indicates presence of chlorine.

c.) Black smoke indicates lack of air if accompanied by large

flames it indicates petroleum products and rubber.

d.) Reddish-brown smoke indicates nitrocellulose, S1, H2,

S04, HNO3, ог HCI.
Lindayao
e.) Meaning of color of Smoke and Fire:

• Black smoke with deep red flame - petroleum products, tar, rubber,
• Heavy brown with bright red flame - nitrogen products

• White smoke with bright flame - magnesium products

• Black smoke with red and blue green flame - asphalt

• Purple-violet flame - products potassium

• Greenish-yellow flame - Chloride or Manganese products

• Bright reddish yellow flame - calcium products

8. Color of flame The color of the flame is a
good indication of the intensity of the fire, an
important factor in determining incendiarism.

9. Amount of Heat A reddish glow indicates

heat of 5000 degrees centigrade, a real bright
read about 100 degrees centigrade. Red flames
indicate of petroleum. Blue flame indicates use
of alcohol as accelerant.
10. Smoke Marks - An experience investigation will determine the
volume of smoke involved at a fire and the character as residue
deposited on walls or elsewhere.

11. 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.

12. Direction of Travel - While it is admitted that no two fires burn

in identical fashion, yet it can be shown that fire makes normal
progress through various types of building materials,
combustibility of contents, channel of ventilation and
circumstances surrounding the sending of alarm, an experienced
investigator can determine whether a fire spread abnormally fast.
13. 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 accelerant.

14. Odor - The odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other

inflammable liquids which are often used as accelerant is
characteristics and oftentimes arsonist are trapped because of
this telltale sign.

15. Condition of Content - Persons tending to set their house on

fire frequently remove objects of value either materially or
sentimentally
Lindayao