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Preface | p. xvii |
Acknowledgments | p. xix |
Introduction | p. 1 |
The Fire Problem | p. 1 |
The Detection of Incendiary Fires | p. 3 |
Analytical Fire Investigation | p. 5 |
The Scientific Method | p. 7 |
The Elementary Chemistry of Combustion | p. 11 |
Atoms, Elements, and Compounds | p. 11 |
The Oxidation Reaction | p. 12 |
Carbon Compounds | p. 13 |
Other Elements | p. 14 |
Organic Compounds | p. 14 |
Hydrocarbons | p. 14 |
Petroleum Products | p. 17 |
Carbohydrates | p. 18 |
Pyrolysis of Organics | p. 19 |
Conclusion | p. 19 |
State of the Fuel | p. 20 |
Summary | p. 21 |
The Nature and Behavior of Fire | p. 23 |
Basic Combustion | p. 23 |
Flaming Fire | p. 24 |
Structure of Flames | p. 26 |
Smoldering Fire | p. 27 |
Explosive Combustion | p. 32 |
Heat | p. 33 |
Heat and the Rate of Reaction | p. 33 |
Heat and Temperature | p. 34 |
Heat Release Rate | p. 35 |
Heat Transfer and Heat Flux | p. 35 |
Direct Flame Impingement | p. 41 |
Flame Plume | p. 42 |
Sequence of a Room Fire | p. 45 |
Beginning or Incipient Stage | p. 46 |
Free-Burning Stage | p. 46 |
Post-flashover Stage | p. 53 |
Decay Stage | p. 54 |
Flow of Hot Gases | p. 55 |
Effects of Environmental Conditions | p. 58 |
Temperature | p. 58 |
Humidity | p. 59 |
Wetness of Fuel (Fuel Moisture Content) | p. 60 |
Wind | p. 61 |
Oxygen Content | p. 61 |
Summary | p. 62 |
Combustion Properties of Liquid and Gaseous Fuels | p. 65 |
Types of Fuel | p. 65 |
Gases | p. 65 |
Liquids and Their Vapors | p. 66 |
Solids | p. 66 |
Physical Properties of Fuels | p. 66 |
Vapor Pressure | p. 66 |
Flammability (Explosive) Limits | p. 67 |
Flash Point | p. 73 |
Flame Point/Fire Point | p. 75 |
Ignition Temperature | p. 75 |
Ignition Energy | p. 76 |
Boiling Points | p. 77 |
Vapor Density | p. 78 |
Heat of Combustion | p. 83 |
Hydrocarbon Fuels | p. 85 |
Nonhydrocarbon Liquid Fuels | p. 87 |
Combustion of Liquid Fuels | p. 88 |
Pyrolysis and Decomposition of Liquids | p. 90 |
Fuel Gas Sources | p. 91 |
Gas Lines | p. 91 |
Natural Gas | p. 91 |
LP Gas | p. 95 |
Summary | p. 99 |
Combustion Properties of Solid Fuels | p. 102 |
Pyrolysis | p. 102 |
Combustion Properties of Wood | p. 105 |
Components of Wood | p. 105 |
Ignition and Combustion of Wood | p. 105 |
"Low Temperature" Ignition | p. 109 |
Wood Products | p. 116 |
Paper | p. 119 |
Plastics | p. 121 |
Paint | p. 133 |
Metals | p. 134 |
Coal | p. 135 |
Dust Explosions | p. 136 |
Fire Behavior | p. 136 |
Flame Color | p. 136 |
Smoke Production | p. 138 |
Summary | p. 139 |
Sources of Ignition | p. 143 |
Primary Ignitors | p. 144 |
Matches | p. 144 |
Lighters | p. 146 |
Torches | p. 147 |
Candles | p. 147 |
Secondary Sources | p. 148 |
Sparks/Arcs | p. 148 |
Hot Objects/Hot Surfaces | p. 149 |
Friction | p. 151 |
Radiant Heat | p. 152 |
Chemical Reaction | p. 153 |
The Role of Services and Appliances in Starting Fires | p. 154 |
Gas Appliances as Ignition Sources | p. 154 |
Electric Appliances | p. 161 |
Kerosene Heaters | p. 161 |
Oil Storage | p. 162 |
Electricity | p. 162 |
The Role of Hot and Burning Fragments in Kindling Fires | p. 162 |
Wind-Blown Sparks | p. 162 |
Fireplaces and Chimneys | p. 163 |
Long-Term Heating "Low-Temperature" Ignition | p. 165 |
Trash Burners and Bonfires | p. 168 |
Hot Coals | p. 169 |
Hot Metals | p. 169 |
Mechanical Sparks | p. 170 |
Firearms Residues | p. 171 |
Smoking as a Fire Origin | p. 172 |
The Role of Animals in Igniting Fires | p. 176 |
Miscellaneous Sources of Ignition | p. 178 |
Lightning | p. 178 |
Spontaneous Combustion (Self-Heating) | p. 181 |
Ignition by Electric Lighting | p. 188 |
Ignition from Discarded Batteries | p. 190 |
Summary | p. 191 |
Structure Fires and Their Investigation | p. 197 |
Beginning the Investigation | p. 198 |
Investigative Information During Suppression | p. 200 |
Responsibility of the Firefighters | p. 201 |
Minimizing Post-Fire Damage | p. 203 |
Documentation | p. 204 |
Elements of Building Construction | p. 205 |
Structural Shell | p. 206 |
Fire-Resistance Ratings | p. 208 |
Internal Structure | p. 209 |
General Principles of Fire Behavior | p. 218 |
Reconstructing the Starting Conditions | p. 218 |
Fire Patterns | p. 220 |
Tracing the Course of the Fire | p. 220 |
Implications | p. 222 |
Examination of a Structure Fire Scene | p. 222 |
Survey and Assessment | p. 222 |
Interviews with Firefighters | p. 223 |
Interviews with Witnesses | p. 224 |
Search Patterns | p. 225 |
Fire Behavior Indicators | p. 228 |
Other Investigative Considerations | p. 276 |
Testing of Hands | p. 282 |
Testing of Clothing | p. 282 |
Protected Areas | p. 282 |
Elimination of Ignition Sources | p. 287 |
Detection Systems | p. 288 |
Arc Mapping | p. 289 |
Appliance Condition | p. 289 |
Interior Fires from Exterior Sources | p. 290 |
Roof and Attic Fires | p. 290 |
Myths and Misconceptions | p. 291 |
Documenting the Fire Scene | p. 293 |
Photography | p. 293 |
Sketching | p. 297 |
Collection of Evidence | p. 299 |
Debris Containing Suspected Volatiles | p. 301 |
Other Solid Evidence | p. 302 |
Liquids | p. 303 |
Chain of Evidence | p. 303 |
Time Lines | p. 305 |
Conclusions About the Fire | p. 305 |
Summary | p. 306 |
Grass and Wildland Fires and Their Investigation | p. 312 |
Fuels | p. 313 |
Fire Behavior | p. 314 |
Determination of Origin | p. 316 |
Investigation Methodology | p. 316 |
First Evaluation | p. 317 |
Other Sources of Information | p. 317 |
The Scene Search | p. 317 |
Burn Indicators | p. 319 |
Documentation | p. 326 |
Sources of Ignition | p. 327 |
Power Lines | p. 328 |
Lightning | p. 328 |
Burning or Hot Fragments | p. 329 |
Campfires | p. 329 |
Cigarettes | p. 330 |
Incendiary Fires | p. 330 |
Modeling | p. 335 |
Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence | p. 335 |
Summary | p. 336 |
Automobile, Motor Vehicle, and Ship Fires | p. 340 |
Automobiles and Motor Vehicles | p. 340 |
Fuel Systems | p. 340 |
Electrical Systems | p. 345 |
Miscellaneous Causes | p. 347 |
Combustible Materials | p. 350 |
Vehicle Arson | p. 351 |
Vehicle Examination | p. 351 |
Motorhomes and Recreational Vehicles | p. 362 |
Mobile Homes (Manufactured Housing) | p. 365 |
Boats and Ships | p. 368 |
Motives for Vehicle Arson | p. 369 |
Summary | p. 370 |
Electrical Causes of Fire | p. 373 |
Basic Electricity | p. 374 |
Static Electricity | p. 374 |
Current Electricity | p. 375 |
Direct and Alternating Current (DC and AC) | p. 378 |
Electrical Units | p. 378 |
Electrical Calculations | p. 379 |
Wiring Systems | p. 383 |
Conductors and Insulators | p. 383 |
Current-Carrying Capability (Ampacity) | p. 385 |
Protection-Overcurrent and Short Circuit | p. 386 |
Fuses | p. 387 |
Breakers | p. 388 |
Solid-State Protectors | p. 389 |
Overcurrent Devices and Fire Investigation | p. 389 |
Ground Fault Interrupters | p. 390 |
Service Entrance | p. 392 |
Ignition by Electrical Means | p. 393 |
Conduction Heating | p. 393 |
Overheating by Excessive Current | p. 394 |
Overheating by Poor Connection | p. 394 |
Insulation Breakdown (Degradation)-Carbon Tracking | p. 397 |
Arcs and Sparks | p. 402 |
Aluminum Wiring | p. 404 |
Electric Motors and Transformers | p. 405 |
Fixed Heaters | p. 408 |
Appliances | p. 408 |
Extension Cords | p. 411 |
Heat Tapes | p. 411 |
Investigation of Electricity-Related Fires | p. 411 |
Post-fire Indicators | p. 413 |
Mapping of Arc Faults | p. 413 |
Arcing Through Char | p. 418 |
Laboratory Examination | p. 420 |
Summary | p. 427 |
Clothing and Fabric Fires | p. 431 |
Types of Cloth | p. 431 |
Natural Fibers | p. 432 |
Synthetic Fibers | p. 432 |
Fire Hazards | p. 434 |
Regulation on Flammable Fabrics | p. 435 |
Flammability of Mattresses and Upholstered Furniture | p. 435 |
Furniture Testing | p. 437 |
Flammability Testing | p. 440 |
General Observations | p. 443 |
Summary | p. 444 |
Explosions and Explosive Combustion | p. 447 |
Explosive Combustion | p. 448 |
Diffuse-Phase Explosions | p. 450 |
Gases | p. 450 |
Vapors | p. 460 |
Dust Suspensions | p. 465 |
Ignition | p. 466 |
Dense-Phase Explosions | p. 467 |
Chemical and Physical Properties | p. 468 |
Explosive Types | p. 470 |
High Order/Low Order | p. 473 |
Investigation of Explosions | p. 474 |
The Scene Search | p. 474 |
Mechanical Explosions | p. 478 |
Speed and Force of Reaction | p. 480 |
Explosion Debris | p. 483 |
Scene Examination | p. 489 |
Evidence Recovery | p. 491 |
Laboratory Analysis | p. 491 |
Incident Analysis | p. 493 |
Summary | p. 494 |
Chemical Fires and Hazardous Materials | p. 498 |
Gases | p. 499 |
Hydrocarbons | p. 500 |
Others | p. 500 |
Liquids | p. 501 |
Solvents | p. 501 |
Others | p. 504 |
Solids | p. 504 |
Incendiary Mixtures | p. 504 |
Oxidizing Salts | p. 506 |
Reactive Metals | p. 506 |
Clandestine Drug Laboratories | p. 507 |
Marijuana Cultivation | p. 512 |
Warnings | p. 512 |
Summary | p. 514 |
Laboratory Services | p. 516 |
Availability of Laboratory Services | p. 516 |
Fire Testing Laboratories | p. 517 |
General Fire Evidence | p. 518 |
Identification of Charred or Burned Materials | p. 518 |
Burned Documents | p. 519 |
Failure Analysis-Forensic Engineers | p. 521 |
Evaluation of Appliances and Wiring | p. 521 |
Miscellaneous Laboratory Tests | p. 522 |
Spoliation | p. 527 |
Identification of Volatile Accelerants | p. 527 |
Gas Chromatography | p. 528 |
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) | p. 530 |
Sample Handling and Isolation of Volatile Residues | p. 532 |
Identification of Volatile Residues | p. 536 |
Interpretation of GC Results | p. 542 |
Chemical Incendiaries | p. 545 |
Non-Fire-Related Criminal Evidence | p. 547 |
Fingerprints | p. 547 |
Blood | p. 553 |
Impression Evidence | p. 554 |
Physical Matches | p. 556 |
Trace Evidence | p. 558 |
Summary | p. 559 |
Fire-Related Deaths and Injuries | p. 565 |
The Team Effort | p. 565 |
Pathological and Toxicological Examination | p. 570 |
Destruction of the Body | p. 573 |
Effects of Fire | p. 578 |
Other Pathological Findings | p. 582 |
Carbon Monoxide Asphyxiation | p. 584 |
Sources of Carbon Monoxide | p. 589 |
Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Asphyxiations | p. 592 |
Other Toxic Gases | p. 593 |
Other Mechanism | p. 594 |
Injuries | p. 595 |
Manner of Death | p. 599 |
Summary | p. 599 |
Arson as a Crime | p. 605 |
The Crime of Arson | p. 606 |
Motive | p. 607 |
Profit | p. 607 |
Vandalism | p. 610 |
Excitement and Thrill Seeking | p. 610 |
Revenge, Retaliation, or Spite | p. 611 |
Concealment of Another Crime | p. 613 |
Extremism (Social Protest and Terrorism) | p. 614 |
Juvenile Fire Setting ("Curiosity" or "Fire Play" Fire Setting) | p. 615 |
Mixed Motives | p. 616 |
Irrational Fire Setting | p. 616 |
The Arson Set | p. 617 |
Arranging the Fire-Location | p. 618 |
Fuels | p. 619 |
Ignitable Liquids | p. 620 |
Type of Accelerant | p. 625 |
Method of Initiation | p. 626 |
Deductions from the Interpretation of Evidence | p. 632 |
Criminal Analysis or Profiling | p. 632 |
Analytical Reasoning | p. 632 |
Elimination of Accidental and Natural Causes | p. 633 |
Summary | p. 634 |
Other Investigative Topics | p. 638 |
Safety | p. 638 |
Fire Modeling | p. 641 |
What Should We Ask About Any Model We Use? | p. 642 |
Assessment | p. 643 |
Testing Complex Computer Models | p. 646 |
Arson Law | p. 648 |
Elements of Proof | p. 648 |
Direct and Circumstantial Evidence | p. 649 |
Search and Seizure | p. 650 |
Search and Seizure Court Decisions | p. 652 |
Sources of Information | p. 655 |
Spoliation | p. 657 |
Chain of Evidence | p. 660 |
Report Writing | p. 661 |
Summary | p. 662 |
The Scene | p. 662 |
The Investigation | p. 662 |
Conclusions | p. 662 |
Courtroom Testimony | p. 663 |
The Expert Witness | p. 663 |
Scientific Method | p. 667 |
Pretrial Preparation | p. 670 |
Testimony | p. 670 |
Epilogue | p. 673 |
Summary | p. 675 |
Natural Elements | p. 680 |
Nomenclature | p. 683 |
Melting Points and Thermal Conductivities of Common Materials | p. 686 |
The Evidence Collection Kit | p. 687 |
The Model Arson Law | p. 689 |
Sketching Fire Scenes | p. 690 |
List of Explosive Materials, 2004 | p. 700 |
Field Interview and Incident Report Forms | p. 708 |
Log Sheets | p. 726 |
Data for Fire Modeling and Reconstruction | p. 730 |
Critical Incident Radiant Heat Fluxes for Some Common Fuels | p. 732 |
Sample Task Force Agreement | p. 734 |
Web Sites | p. 738 |
Conversions of Units | p. 741 |
Suggested Reading List | p. 743 |
Glossary | p. 747 |
Index | p. 753 |
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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.