Accident or Arson

Accident or Arson? Accidental Fires Heating System Electrical equipment Children playing with matches Smoking Cooking Non-Accidental Fire Clues Obvious odors (Ex. Gas, kerosene) Lack of personal objects and valuables Check debris for clothing such as buttons, zippers Windows and doors are locked and blocked More than 1 point of origin Inverted v-patterns (sign of an accelerant) Charred floors –Can indicate use of an accelerant Suspicious Circumstances The presence of: Combustible to aid in the increase the rate of combustion These are frequently detected by canines trained to detect ignitable liquids by smelling the fire debris. Investigators can also detect the presence of these liquids from pour patterns that remain on the burnt substrate after the fire. Motives for Arson Crime concealment: To conceal another crime such as murder or burglary Revenge or spite: To get back at someone for a perceived injustice. Monetary Gain: Burn an object in order to gain profit from the fire.. The profit can be from insurance coverage on the property, or from putting a competitor out of business. Malicious Vandalism: Fire set to someone’s property, just to destroy it. This is the largest percentage of arson fires, which are typically set by juveniles. Mentally Disturbed: Some persons have been found to have an irresistible impulse to set fires Pour Patterns Pour patterns often are characterized by intermixed light, medium, and heavy burning in a puddle shape that corresponds to the shape of the original pool of the ignitable liquid. Indicators of Flammable Liquid Use Unnatural flame movement (downward or too fast) gapping of wood or floor seams (caused by pooling of liquid) No identifiable point of origin of the fire Flooring underneath appliances and furniture is burned Typically these objects would shield flames Inverted cone shaped burn patterns on vertical surfaces V-Burn Patterns Classic V shape is the normal burn pattern Inverted V or Cone indicates an accident or use of an accelerant Burn Patterns With Accelerant Alligatoring (scales): possible accelerant use Spalling (breaking away layers): possible accelerant use Streamers (trail): accelerant used to spread Pool or plant (puddle): poured accelerant Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZmmTmvQUtFZfVOHxNXfDtiJ6ElQysVU7/view?usp=sharing *Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Upper Limbs" can be viewed at... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_b2eBg9Garp8S2syZhOz3vnWXHxiFwx5/view?usp=sharing