Analysis and Interpretation of Fire Scene Evidence

Cover
Preface
The Editors
Contributors
Contents
1
Fire Dynamics
1.1 What Did the Witness See?
1.2 Fire
1.2.1 Flame Types
1.2.2 Thermochemistry
1.2.3 Heat Release Rate
1.2.3.1 Measuring Heat Release Rate
1.2.3.2 Predicting Heat Release Rate
1.3 Enclosure Fires
1.4 Ignition
1.4.1 Gaseous Ignition
1.4.2 Liquid Ignition
1.4.3 Ignition of Solids
1.4.4 Flame Height
1.5 Fire Plume
1.6 Ceiling Jet
1.7 Heat Transfer
1.7.1 Radiation
1.7.2 Conduction
1.7.3 Convection
1.8 Smoke and Visibility
1.9 Recommended References
Notes
2
Fire Scene Investigation: An Introduction for Chemists
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Fire Investigation Issues
2.2.1 The Fire Problem
2.2.2 What Is Arson?
2.2.3 The Role of the Fire Department
2.2.4 Why Investigate Fires?
2.2.5 Who Conducts Fire Scene Investigations?
2.2.6 Fire Investigator Certification Programs
2.2.7 Fire Scene Safety
2.2.8 Legal Considerations
2.2.9 Scientific Method
2.3 Fire Scene Examination
2.3.1 Witness Interviews
2.3.2 Exterior Fire Scene Examination
2.3.3 Interior Fire Scene Examination
2.3.4 Fire Patterns or Fire Indicators
2.3.4.1 V and Hourglass Patterns
2.3.4.2 Lines of Demarcation
2.3.4.3 Low Burns and Penetrations
2.3.4.4 Charring
2.3.4.5 Clean Burn
2.3.4.6 Trailers and Pour Patterns
2.3.4.7 Scene Documentation
2.3.5 Forensic Analysis
2.3.6 Fire Cause Classification
2.3.6.1 Accidental
2.3.6.2 Natural
2.3.6.3 Incendiary
2.4 Collection and Preservation of Evidence
2.4.1 Cross-Contamination Issues
2.4.2 Collection Procedures
2.5 Summary
References
3
Detection of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Scenes: Accelerant Detection Canine (ADC) Teams and Other Field Tests
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Visual Inspection of Fire Scene
3.3 Accelerant Detection Canines (ADC)
3.4 Instrumental Field Tests
3.5 Comparison of Techniques
3.6 The Future
References
4
Essential Tools for the Analytical Laboratory: Facilities, Equipment, and Standard Operating Procedures
4.1 Facilities and Equipment
4.1.1 Design
4.1.2 Key Factors
4.1.3 Technical
4.1.4 Discipline
4.1.5 Equipment
4.1.6 Instrumentation
4.1.7 Hazardous Materials
4.1.8 Evidence Flow and Security
4.1.9 Personnel
4.1.10 Safety
4.1.11 Adaptability
4.2 Sample Analysis
4.2.1 Equipment
4.2.2 Sample Preparation
4.2.3 Techniques
4.2.4 Fume Hoods (All Methods)
4.2.5 Heat Sources (E1385, E1388, E1412, E1413, and E2154)
4.2.6 Adsorbents
4.2.7 Desorption
4.2.8 Standards
4.2.9 Miscellaneous
4.2.10 Analysis of the Sample
4.2.11 The Nature of the Analyte
4.2.12 Historical Notes
4.2.13 Chromatography
4.2.14 Detectors
4.2.15 Alternative Methods
4.3 Standard Operating Procedures
4.3.1 Historical Development
4.3.2 Congress and the National Bureau of Standards
4.3.3 The International Association of Arson Investigators
4.3.4 American Society for Testing and Materials
4.3.5 Technical Working Group for Fire and Explosions
4.3.6 The Need for Standard Operating Procedures
4.3.7 Minimum Standards
References
5
Analytical Methods for the Detection and Characterization of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Gas Chromatography
5.2.1 Column Selection
5.2.2 Temperature Conditions
5.2.3 GC Detectors
5.2.4 Pattern Recognition
5.3 Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
5.3.1 Fundamental Theory of Mass Spectrometry
5.3.2 Fragmentation of Classes of Compounds Significant to Fire Debris Analysis
5.4 Approaches to GC/MS Data Analysis
5.4.1 Target Compound Chromatography
5.4.2 Extracted Ion Profiling
5.4.3 Library Searches
5.4.4 Summary
5.5 Criteria for Identification of Ignitable Liquids and Their Residues
5.5.1 Gasoline
5.5.2 Distillates and Dearomatized Distillates
5.5.3 Isoparaffinic Products, Normal Alkane Products, and Aromatic Products
5.5.4 Naphthenic/Paraffinic Products
5.5.5 Oxygenated Products
5.5.6 Summary
5.6 Recent Advances in Instrumental Techniques
5.7 Conclusion
References
6
ASTM Approach to Fire Debris Analysis
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Evidence Handling Standards
6.2.1 ASTM E1492-90 (Reapproved 1999) Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory4
6.2.2 ASTM E1459-92 Standard Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation5
6.3 Standard Practices for the Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris
6.3.1 ASTM E1412-00 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal6
6.3.2 ASTM E1413-00 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration11
6.3.3 ASTM 1388-00 Standard Practice for Sampling of Headspace Vapors from Fire Debris Samples12
6.3.4 ASTM E1386-00 Standard Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction15
6.3.5 ASTM E2154-01 Standard Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)16
6.3.6 ASTM E1385-00 Standard Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Steam Distillation18
6.4 Standard Test Methods for the Analysis of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts
6.4.1 ASTM E1387-01 Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography20
6.4.2 ASTM E1618-01 Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry14
6.5 ASTM Ignitable Liquid Classification
6.6 Conclusion
References
7
The Interpretation of Data Generated from Fire Debris Examination: Report Writing and Testimony
7.1 Interpretation
7.2 Reports
7.2.1 Case Folder
7.2.2 Archival
7.3 Definitions
7.4 Additional Background
7.5 Testimony
7.6 Spelling List
8
New Developments and Quality Assurance in Fire Debris Analysis
8.1 Introduction
8.2 New Developments in Extraction Methods
8.3 Matrix and Background Considerations in Fire Debris Evidence
8.4 New Developments in Analytical Methods
8.5 New Developments in Data Analysis
8.6 Quality Assurance
8.7 Conclusions
References
Index