Fire protection and

arson investigation
WHAT IS FIRE?

 Fireis the manifestation of rapid chemical

reaction occurring between fuel and an
oxidizer- typically the oxygen in the air.
Such rapid chemical reaction releases
energy in the form of heat and light.
CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
 Obviously, three things are required for
combustion or fire: FUEL (Combustible materials to
vaporize and burn), OXYGEN (Oxygen in air is the
common oxidizing agent, to combine with fuel
vapor, air contains 21% O, 78 N, 1% inert gas), and
HEAT (to raise the temperature of the fuel vapor to
its ignition temperature). The combinations of
these three elements form the so-called Fire
Triangle.

• The Chemical Properties

Endothermic Reactions – changes

whereby energy (heat)
is absorbed or is added before
the reaction takes place.
Exothermic Reactions – those that
release or give off energy
(heat) thus they produce
substances with less energy than
the reactants.
 Oxidation – a chemical change that
is exothermic, a change in which
combustible material (fuel) and an
oxidizing agent (air), react. Example
of oxidation is combustion which is
the same as actual burning (rapid
oxidation)
 Flames – flames are incandescent (very
bright/glowing with intense heat) gases. It
is a combustion product and
a manifestation of fire when it is in its gas-
phased combustion
Types of Flames:

 Based on Color and Completeness of

Combustibility of Fuel
 Luminous Flame – is orange-red, deposit soot at
the bottom of a vessel being heated due to
incomplete combustion and has a low
temperature.
 Non-Luminous Flame – is blue, there is complete
combustion of fuel and has relatively high
temperature.
Based on Fuel and Air Mixture

 Premixed Flame – is exemplified by a

Bunsen-type laboratory burner where
hydrocarbon (any substance
containing primarily carbon and
hydrogen) is thoroughly mixed with air
before reaching the flame zone.
 DiffusionFlame – is observed when gas
(fuel) alone is forced through a nozzle into
the atmosphere which diffuse in the
surrounding atmosphere in order to form a
flammable mixture. The candle flame is an
example of diffusion flame governed
purely by molecular diffusion, and the
flame of the oxyacetylene torch. (diffused
– dispersed, widely spread)
• Based on Smoothness
 Laminar Flame – when a particle
follows a smooth path through a
gaseous flame.
 Turbulent Flame – are those having
unsteady, irregular flows. As physical
size, gas density or velocity is
increased, all laminar gas flows tend
to become turbulent.
1. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

 a. Specific gravity
 - the ratio of the weight of a solid or
substance to the weight of an equal
volume of water
b. Vapor density
- the weight of volume of pure
gas compared to weight of a
volume of dry air at the same
temperature and pressure
 c. Vapor pressure
 - the force exerted by the molecules
on the surface of the liquid at the
equilibrium
 d. Temperature
 - the measure of the thermal degree
of the agitation of molecules of a
given substance; the measure of the
molecular activity within the
substance
e. Boiling Point
- the constant temperature at
which the vapor pressure of the
liquid is equal to the atmospheric
pressure
g. Fire point
- the temperature at which the
material will give off ample
vapors to keep burning
 h. Flash point
 - the temperature at which the
material is not hot enough to keep
burning, but still gives off enough
vapors to cause a flame across the
surface
 explosion

 If the process is confined with pressure it

 detonation

 Ifcombustion propagates at supersonic

speed
THE FUELS

 fuelis matter and matter exist in three

physical states: solid, liquid and gas.
Solids melt to become liquids, and
these may vaporize and become
gases
Classification of Combustible
Materials
 Class A Fuels – they are ordinary
combustible materials that are usually
made of organic substances such as
wood and wood-based products. It
includes some synthetic or inorganic
materials like rubber, leather, and
plastic products
 ClassB Fuels – materials that are in
the form of flammable liquids such as
alcohol, acidic solutions, oil, liquid
petroleum products, etc.
 Class C Fuels – they are normally fire
resistant materials such as materials
used on electrical wiring and other
electrical appliances.
Class D Fuels – they are
combustible metallic substances
such as magnesium, titanium,
zirconium, sodium and potassium.
General Categories of Fuel
1. Solid Combustible Materials – includes organic
and inorganic, natural or synthetic, and metallic
solid materials.
2. Liquid Combustible Materials – includes all
flammable liquid fuels and chemicals.
3. Gaseous Substances – includes those
toxic/hazardous gases that are capable of
ignition.
 The Solid Fuels
 The most obvious solid fuels are wood,
paper and cloth. Its burning rate depends
on its configuration. For example, solid fuels
in the form of dust will burn faster than
bulky materials
 Ex.
Biomass, fabrics and textile, plastic,
coal, peat
Types of Flammable solid

 a.Pyrolyzable solid fuels – include many

of the ordinary ac. Pyrolyzable solid fuels
cepted combustibles: wood, paper and
so on. The vapors released by their
chemical decomposition support flaming
combustion. This exemplifies a gas-to-gas
reaction: the vapors released mixed with
oxygen in the air to produce a flame.
 b.Non-pyrolyzable solid fuels – solid fuels
that are difficult to ignite. A common
example is charcoal. Chemical
decomposition does not occur because
there are no pyrolyzable elements present.
No vapors are released. The glowing
combustion that results is an example of a
gas-to-solid reaction.
The Liquid Fuels

 Liquidfuels are mainly made from

Petroleum, but some synthetic liquids
are also produced. Petroleum is also
called crude oil. They may be refined
to produce gasoline, diesel oil, and
kerosene
2 General Groups of Liquid Fuels

1. Flammable liquids – they are liquids

having a flash point of 37.8 C (100F)
and a vapor pressure not exceeding
40 psia (2068.6 um) at 37.8 C.
2. Combustible Liquids – these liquids
have flash point at or above 37.8 C
(100F).
 The Gas Fuels
 Gaseous fuels are those in which
molecules are in rapid movement and
random motion. They have no definite
shape or volume, and assume the shape
and volume of their container.
 ex. Natural gas, manufactured gas
According to Physical Properties

 Compressed Gas – gas in which at all

normal temperature inside its container;
exist solely in the gaseous state under
pressure. The pressure depends on the
pressure to which the container is originally
charged and how much gas remains in
the container. However, temperature
affects the volume and pressure of the
gas.
 Liquefied Gas – gas, which, at normal
temperature inside its container, exist
partly in the liquid state and partly in
gaseous state and under pressure as
long as any liquid remains in the
container. The pressure basically
depends on the temperature of the
liquid although the amount of liquid also
affects the pressure under some
condition. A liquefied gas exhibits a
more complicated behavior as the result
of heating
Cryogenic Gas – a liquefied gas which exist
in its container at temperature far below
normal atmospheric temperature, usually
slightly above its boiling point and
correspondingly low to moderate pressure.
Examples of this gas are air, carbon
monoxide, ethylene, fluorine, helium,
hydrogen, methane, nitrogen, and oxygen.
According to Usage
 Fuel Gases
 Most commonly used gases are natural gas and the LPG
(butane and propane).

 Industrial Gases
 This group includes a large number of gases used for
industrial processes as those in welding and cutting

 Medical Gases
 those used for treatment such as anesthesia
THE HEAT ELEMENT

 In
physics, heat is the transfer of
energy from one part of a substance
to another or from one body to
another by virtue of a difference in
temperature.
 Temperature is the measurement of the
degree of thermal agitation of molecules;
the hotness or coldness of something.
Thermometer is the instrument used to
measure temperature and commonly
expressed in C, F, and K.
Specific Heat

 The heat capacity or the measure of the

amount of heat required raising the
temperature of a unit mass of a substance
one-degree. If the heating process occurs
while the substance is maintained at a
constant volume or is subjected to a
constant pressure the measure is referred
to as a specific heat at constant volume.
Latent Heat

 The amount of heat required to

produce a change of phase; the
quantity of heat absorbed by a
substance from solid to liquid, and
from liquid to gas. Conversely, heat is
released during conversion of a gas
to liquid or liquid to solid
 The process of changing from solid to gas is referred
to as SUBLIMATION

 from solid to liquid as MELTING and from liquid to

vapor as VAPORIZATION

 If the pressure is constant, the process occurs at

constant temperature. The amount of heat to
produce a change of phase is called LATENT HEAT
Types of Energy

 1. CHEMICAL ENERGY
 themost common source of heat in
combustion reactions.
 When any combustible is in contact with
oxygen, oxidation occurs. The reaction of
this process results in the production of
heat.
 2. ELECTRICAL ENERGY
 - can generate temperature high
enough to ignite any combustible
material near the heated area.
 3. NUCLEAR ENERGY
 generated when atoms either split apart
(fission) or combine (fusion)
 Ex.
 1. fission heats water to drive steam
turbines and produce electricity
 2. solar energy is a product of a fusion
reaction
4.MECHANICAL ENERGY
an energy created by friction and
compression
Heat of friction - the movement of
two surfaces against each other,
thus producing sparks
Compressed gas – when a gas
is compressed, its molecular
activity is greatly increased
producing heat.sed
Heat Transfer

 The physical methods by which

energy in the form of heat can be
transferred between bodies are
conduction and radiation. A third
method, which also involves the
motion of matter, is called
convection.
Conduction – it is the transfer of
heats by molecular activity with in
a material or medium, usually a
solid. Direct contact is the
underlying factor in conduction.
 Convection – it is the transfer of heat
through a circulating medium, usually air
or liquid. Heat transfer by convection is
chiefly responsible for the spread of fire in
structures.
 RADIATION
- heat transfer by electromagnetic waves.
 Thelast form of heat transfer occurs by
radiation. As we have already seen, heat
energy can be transmitted directly when
molecules collide with one another and
cause the waves of heat energy to travel.
Oxidizing Agent (Oxygen)
 oxygen as defined is a colorless, odorless,
tasteless, gaseous chemical element, the most
abundant of all elements: it occurs free in the
atmosphere, forming one fifth of its volume, and
in combination in water, sandstone, limestone,
etc.; it is very active, being able to combine with
nearly all other elements, and is essential to life
processes and to combustion.
FIRE BEHAVIOR, CAUSES AND
CLASSIFICATION
Thermal Balance refers to the
rising movement or the pattern of
fire, the normal behavior when
the pattern is undisturbed.
Thermal imbalance, on the
other hand is the abnormal
movement of fire due to the
interference of foreign matter
Dangerous Behavior of Fire

 1. Backdraft – it is the sudden and

rapid (violent) burning of heated
gases in a confined area that occurs
in the form of explosion.
 2. Flashover – it is the sudden ignition of
accumulated radical gases produced
when there is incomplete combustion of
fuels. It is the sudden burning of free
radicals, which is initiated by a spark or
flash produced when temperature rises
until flash point is reached.
3. Biteback - a fatal condition
that takes place when the fire
resists extinguishment operations
and become stronger and bigger
instead
 4. Flash Fire – This may happen when the
metal post that is completely covered with
dust is going to be hit by lightning. The dust
particles covering the metal burn
simultaneously thus creating a violent
chemical reaction that produces a very
bright flash followed by an explosion.
 5.Fireball- very intense fire that is
capable of causing flames to jump a
a certain distance in the form of
fireball
The Three Stages of Fire

 Incipient Phase (Initial Stage) – under this

stage, the following characteristics are
observed: normal room temperature, the
temperature at the base of the fire is 400-
800 °F, ceiling temperature is about 200 °F,
the pyrolysis products are mostly water
vapor and carbon dioxide, small
quantities of carbon monoxide and
sulfides maybe present.
 Free Burning Phase – it has the following
characteristics: accelerated pyrolysis
process take place, development of
convection current: formation of thermal
columns as heat rises, temperature is 800-
1000 °F at the base of fire, 1200-1600 °F at
ceiling, pyrolytic decomposition moves
upward on the walls(crawling of the
flame) leaving burnt patterns (fire
fingerprints), occurrence of flashover.
 Smoldering Phase – this stage has the
following characteristics: oxygen content
drops to 13% or below causing the flame
to vanish and heat to develop in layers,
products of incomplete combustion
increase in volume, particularly carbon
monoxide with an ignition temperature of
about 1125 °F, ceiling temperature is 1000-
1300 °F, heat and pressure in the room
builds up, building/room contains large
quantities of superheated fuel under
pressure but little oxygen, when sufficient
supply of oxygen is introduced, backdraft
occurs.
Classification of Fires

 Natural causes
 Spontaneous heating – the automatic
chemical reaction that results to
spontaneous combustion due to auto-
ignition of organic materials, the gradual
rising of heat in a confined space until
ignition temperature is reached.
 Lightning– a form of static electricity;
a natural current with a great
magnitude, producing tremendous
amperage and voltage.
A lightning may be in the form of:
 Hot Bolt – longer in duration; capable only
of igniting combustible materials
 Cold Bolt – shorter in duration, capable of
splintering a property or literally blowing
apart an entire structure, produces
electrical current with tremendous
amperage and very high temperature
 Radiation of Sunlight – when sunlight
hits a concave mirror, concentrating
the light on a combustible material
thereby igniting it.
Accidental Causes

Short Circuit – unusual or

accidental connections
between two points at
different potentials (charge) in
an electrical circuit of
relatively low resistance.
 Arcing – the production of sustained
luminous electrical discharge
between separated electrodes; an
electric hazard that results when
electrical current crosses the gap
between 2 electrical conductors.
 Sparking – production of
incandescent particles when two
different potentials (charged
conductors) come in contact; occurs
during short circuits or welding
operations.
 Over heating of electrical appliances –
the increase or rising of amperage while
electric current is flowing in a transmission
line resulting to the damage or destruction
of insulating materials, maybe gradual or
rapid, internal or external.
 Induced current- increased electrical
energy flow or power voltage, included
current sudden increase of electrical
current resulting to the burning of
insulating materials, explosion of the fuse
box or burning of electrical appliances.
Intentional causes

 If in the burned property, there are

preparations or traces of accelerant,
plants and trailers, then the cause of fire is
intentional.
 Plant – the preparation and or gathering
of combustible materials needed to start
a fire.
 Accelerant- a combustible liquid like
highly flammable chemicals that are used
to facilitate or hasten flame propagation
such as a gasoline paint thinner and
lighter fluid.
 Trailer
 itrefers to device utilized by the
arsonist in order to spread the fire
within the room or throughout the
structure.
FIRE FIGTHING OPERATIONS AND
EXTINGUISHMENT
 Fire fighting is an activity intended to save
lives and property. It is one of the most
important emergency services in a
community. Fire fighters battle fires that
break out in homes, factories, office
buildings, shops, and other places. Fire
fighters risk their lives to save people and
protect property from fires.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

 RA 6975 created the Bureau of Fire

Protection (BFP) to be responsible for
the prevention and suppression of all
destructive fires and to enforce the
laws on fire.
Factor Affecting Fire Protection
and Control
 Fire Hazard is any condition or act
that increases or may cause increase
in the probability that fire will occur or
which may obstruct, delay, hinder or
interfere with fire-fighting operations
and the safeguarding of life and
property
Fire Fighting Operations

 PRE-FIRE PLANNING - this activity involves

developing and defining systematic
course of actions that maybe performed
in order to realize the objectives of fire
protection: involves the process of
establishing the SOP in case fire breaks
out.
 EVALUATION – SIZE – UP (on-the-spot
planning or sizing-up the situation) - this is
the process knowing the emergency
situation. It involves mental evaluation by
the operation officer-in-charge to
determine the appropriate course of
action that provides the highest
probability of success
 EVACUATION – This the activity of
transferring people, livestock, and
property away from the burning area
to minimize damage or destruction
that the fire might incur in case it
propagates to other adjacent
buildings
ENTRY – This is the process of
accessing the burning structure.
Entry maybe done in a forcible
manner.
 RESCUE – This is the operation of
removing (extricating), thus saving,
people and other livestock from the
burning building and other involved
properties, conveying them to a
secure place
 EXPOSURE – also called cover
exposure, this is the activity of
securing other buildings near the
burning structure in order
to prevent the fire from the
extending to another building.
 CONFINEMENT – This is the activity of
restricting the fire at the place (room)
where it started : the process of
preventing fire from extending from
another section or form one section
to another section of the involved
building.
 VENTILATION – This the operation
purposely conducted to displace
toxic gases. It includes the process of
displacing the heated atmosphere
within the involved building with
normal air from outside atmosphere.
Vertical ventilation

 Heated gases and smoke rise to the

highest point and if confined will tend
to mushroom or rise to the highest
point of the building
Horizontal ventilation

 It is use if the smoke and gases have not

reached the highest level or point of the
building, windows are the easiest and generally
most available for the common types of
building.
Mechanical ventilation

 Process of clearing smokes by using

device such as smoke ejector which
utilized to remove faster excessive heat ad
dense smoke in a building.
SALVAGE – The activity of
protecting the properties from
preventable damage other than
the fire.
 EXTINGUISHMENT – This is the process
of putting out the main body of fire
by using the 4 general methods of fire
extinguishments.
Fire extinguishment theory

 To extinguished a fire, interrupt or

eliminate the supply of any or all of
the elements of fire, fire can be
extinguished by reducing/lowering
the temperature, eliminating the fuel
supply or by stopping the chemical
chain reaction.
Cooling

 Temperature reduction
 It
uses an extinguishing agent whose
characteristics is heat absorption.
 The temperature of the substance is
lowered below the burning point by using
an extinguishing agent.
smothering

 Oxygen dilution
 Theoxygen content of air is reduced
below 15% in volume by using chemicals.
 Excludingoxygen from the fuel in such a
way fuel cannot ignite and start ignition
separation

Fuel removal
Elimination of the fuel supply or
source
starvation
Interruption of chemical reaction

 Chemical inhibition
 Interruptthe production of flame resulting
to rapid extinguishment of the fire.
 Thismethod is effective only on burning
gas and liquid fuels as they cannot burn in
smoldering mode of combustion
 OVERHAUL – This is the complete and
detailed check of the structure and all
materials therein to eliminate conditions
that may cause re-flash; involves
complete extinguishments of sparks or
smoldering (glowing) substances (embers)
to prevent possibilities of re-ignition or
rekindling.
 FIRESCENE INVESTIGATION - This is the
final stage of fire suppression
activities. It is an inquiry conducted to
know or determine the origin and
cause of fire.
 Ladder -equipment made of trussed or solid beam where
rungs are connected horizontally to the beam forming ascent
or descent.
• Bed ladder - the lowest section of an extension ladder

• Fly ladder - the top section of an extension ladder

• Butt - the bottom end of a ladder

• Heel - the part of the ladder that touches the ground

• Halyard - a rope or cable used to raise the fly ladder

• Pawl or dog - the mechanism located at the end of the fly

ladder that locks to the bed ladder
• Rung - the cross member of the ladder that is used for
climbing
• Top or tip - it is the top part of the ladder
• Hooks - part of a ladder that is used to hook over a roof
peak, sills, or walls where the heel does not rest on a
foundation. (roof type ladders)
• Stops - made of metal or wood blocks used to prevent
the fly of an extension ladder from extending out further
from the ladder
• Guides - light metal strips of an extension ladder that
guides the fly ladder while it is being raised or lowered
What are the types of Fire
Extinguishers?
Water Fire Extinguisher –
extinguisher filled with water use
of fight Class A and Class B fires
except class C fires.
 LiquefiedFire Extinguisher – those
extinguishers that contain Carbon
Monoxide Gas use to fight class A, B,
and C fires
 DryChemical Extinguisher – those
that contain chemical powder
intended to fight all classes of fires.
 Foam Extinguisher– contains sodium
bicarbonate and a foam-stabilizing agent
in a larger compartment and a solution of
aluminum sulfate in an inner cylinder;
reaction between the two solutions forms
a stabilized foam of carbon dioxide
bubbles.
 Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher –
effective against burning liquids and
fires in live electrical equipment; used
mainly to put out Class C fires
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION

 The Fire Bureau shall have the power to

investigate all causes of fires and, if
necessary, file the proper complaints with
the city or provincial prosecutor who has
jurisdiction over the case.
Section 58. Rank Classification. – For purposes of efficient
administration, supervision and control, the rank classification of the
members of the Fire Bureau shall be as follows:
Director
Chief Superintendent
Senior Superintendent
Superintendent
Chief Inspector
Senior Inspector
Inspector
Senior Fire Officer IV
Senior Fire Officer III
Senior Fire Officer II
Senior Fire Officer I
Fire Officer III
Fire Officer II
Fire Officer I
 Arson is the intentional or malicious
destruction of property by fire.
 Itis the concern of fire investigation to
prove malicious intent of the offender.
Intent must be proved, otherwise, no
crime exist. The law presumes that a fire is
accidental, hence criminal designs must
be shown. Fire cause by accident or
criminal design must be shown. Fire
cause by accident or negligence does
not constitute arson.
Destructive Arson (Sec 2. PD 1613)
The penalty of Reclusion Temporal in its maximum period to
Reclusion Perpetua shall be imposed if the property burned
is any of the following:
Any ammunition factory and other establishment where
explosives, inflammable or combustible materials are
stored.
▪ Any archive, museum, whether public or private, or any
edifice devoted to culture, education or sociaL services.
▪ Any church or place of worship or other building where
people usually assemble.
▪ Any train, airplane or any aircraft, vessel or watercraft, or
conveyance for transportation of persons or property
What are other forms of arson?
 ▪ Any building used as offices of the government
or any of its agencies;
 ▪ Any inhabited house or dwelling;
 ▪ Any industrial establishment, shipyard, oil well or
mine shaft, platform or tunnel;
 ▪ Any plantation, farm, pastureland, growing
crop, grain field, orchard, bamboo grove or
forest;
 ▪ Any rice mill, sugar mill, cane mill or mill central;
and
 ▪ Any railway or bus station, airport, wharf or
warehouse.
Special Aggravating
Circumstances in Arson(Sec 4. PD
1613) The penalty in any case of arson shall be imposed in
its maximum period;
 ▪ If committed with intent to gain;
 ▪ If committed for the benefit of another;
 ▪ If the offender is motivated by spite or hatred
towards the owner or occupant of the property
 burned;
 ▪ If committed by a syndicate.
 ▪ The offense is committed by a syndicate if it is
planned or carried out by a group of three (3) or
more persons.
Prima Facie Evidence of Arson (Sec
6. PD 1613)
-▪ If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of
the building or establishment.
 ▪ If substantial amount of flammable substances or
materials are stored within the building note
 necessary in the business neither of the offender nor for
household us.
 ▪ If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other flammable or
combustible substances or materials soaked
 therewith or containers thereof, or any mechanical,
electrical, chemical, or electronic contrivance
 designed to start a fire, or ashes or traces of any of the
foregoing are found in the ruins or premises of the
burned building or property.
What are basic lines of inquiry in
Arson Investigation?
 The arson investigator must have to inquire
on the following a) point of origin of fire b)
motives of arsonist c) prime suspects d)
the telltale signs of arson.
• 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?
Techniques and factors considered
in determining the point of origin
 Firemen,occupant’s passersby and
others who arrived at the fire scene
during the early stages of the fire may
provide information relating to the
location of the fire in its early stages.
 The obvious presence of “trailers” multiple
separate fires, incendiary devices and other
suspicious articles may immediately reveal the
origin and cause of the fire, especially in those
instances when an attempted arson has failed
because the fire was rapidly extinguished or it
“burned out” because the arsonist failed
to properly ventilate it.
 Another technique related to tracing
the normal path of the fire to its origin,
involves tracing the path of
the burning to its sources by
observing the intensity of the
destruction and charring of the
uprights.
KINDS OF FIRE PATTERNS

 Lines
or Areas of Demarcation - These are
borders defining the differences in certain
heat and smoke effects of the fire upon
various materials. They appear between
the affected area and
adjacent unaffected or less affected
areas.
 Surface Effect - The nature and
material of the surface that contains
the fire pattern will have a bearing on
the shape and nature of the pattern
itself.
FIRE LANGUAGE

 Alligatorring – large scales indicate rapid,

intense heat.
 • Calcinations – refer to the changes that occur
during a fire in either plaster or gypsum wall
surfaces.
 It includes the elimination of water from gypsum
to charring the paper surface off the wall board.
 Clean Burn – refers to a fire pattern on
surfaces where soot has been burned
away.
 • Crazing – refers to the cracking of
glass into smaller segments of
subdivisions in an irregular pattern.
 Depth of char – its value is obtained
by measuring the distance from the
surface of the original dimensional
wood and comparing this with
remaining unburned matter. It
indicates the length of the time that a
wooden structural member was
exposed to flame.
 Charring – It is an exposure of elevated
temperatures in which a material undergoes
chemical decomposition that drives off gases,
water vapor, and various pyrolysis products as
smoke. Char shrinks as it forms, and develops
cracks and blisters.
 Spalling– Is the breakdown in tensile
strength of concrete or brick, usually
accompanied by a color change.
Sometimes it causes chipping.
 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 purposes of intimidation
People without motives

Those who are mentally ill

Pathological fire-setters
Pyros and the Psychos
• Prime Suspects (and the Prima
Facie Evidences)
 Searchof the fire scene for physical
evidence:
Protection of the scene
Mechanics of search
Collection and preservation of evidences
Laboratory aids
 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

 Burned Building – the type of the building

may indicate a set fire under certain
circumstance. A fire of considerable size
at the time the first apparatus arrive at the
scene is suspicious if it is a modern
concrete or semi-concrete building.
Separate fires – when two or more
separate fire breaks out within a
building. The fire is certainly
suspicious.
 Colorof Smoke – some fire burn with little
or no smoke but they are exception. The
observation of the smoke must be made
at the start of the fire since once the fire
has assumed a major proportion, the
value of the smoke is lost, because the
smoke will not indicate the material used
by the arsonist
 Black smoke with deep red flame – petroleum
products, tar, rubber, plastics, etc.
 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 – potassium products
 Greenish-yellow flame – Chloride or Manganese
products
 Bright reddish yellow flame – Calcium products
 Color of flame – The color of the
flame is a good indication of the
intensity of the fire, an important
factor in determining incendiarism.
 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. Fires make what might be
termed a normal progress. Such progress
can be estimated after an examination of
the material burned the building and the
normal ventilation offered of the fire.
 Fire out
 Under Control
 General Alarm – 80 Fire Truck ang kailangan
 Task Force Delta – 36 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Task Force Charlie – 32 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Task Force Bravo – 28 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Task Force Alpha – 24 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Fifth Alarm – 20 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Fourth Alarm – 16 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Third Alarm – 12 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 Second Alarm – 8 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 First Alarm – 4 Fire Trucks ang kailangan
 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. Most
of fire – setters are inclined to use
substance which will make the blaze
certain and at the same time burn up any
evidence of their crime.
FIRE INVESTIGATOR’S RESPONSIBILITY IN ARSON
DETECTION
 . Upon Approaching the Fire-
 Observe elements, person vehicle
Color of smoke, flame
 Upon Arrival at the Fire Scene
Separate fire, intensity and rapidity of spread
Observe odor, required extinguishment
 .Observing condition of building openings at the time of
a fire.
Door window and locks, jimmy marks
Observing owners, occupants and bystanders at the time
of a fire.
 Which of the following will not cause the investigator to
hypothesize that the series of fires are not performed by
a serial arsonist?
 a. There is a significant difference in modus operandi in
all series of fire
 b. There is significant variations as to the time of the
commission of arson
 c. There is a significant similarity in manner of commission
of offense
 d. Similar devices were used to propagate the fire

A
 If the investigator did not found any trace of
incendiarism, which of the following will be the
assumption?
 a. The fire was intentional c. The fire was
providential
 b. The fire was accidental d. The fire was not
accidental
B
 Which of the following shall cause the
investigator to assume that the victim died of
direct contact with flame?
 a. Presence of soot and fire gases at respiratory
tract
 b. Prominence of trauma that is probably
caused by a stab
 c. Intense charring of the whole body C

 d. None of the above

Means employed to pacify the
fire.
a. Fire prevention c. Fire control
b. Fire safety d. Fire suppression

D
 The lowest section of an extension ladder is
 known as:
 a. heel
 b. bed ladder
 c. butt
 d. fly ladder
B
 As the product of combustion rises in a building or flows out of an
opening an equal volume of air replaces them. If during
extinguishments, water is distributed in such a manner as to upset
the thermal balance, a condition will appear known as:

 a. Explosion of steam
 b. Thermostat
 c. Thermal imbalance
 d. Sudden burst of fire
C
 . AFFF means?
 a. Aqueaous Film Forming Foam
 b. Aqueaous filter Forming Foam
 c. Aqeous Filter Foam Forming
 d. Aqueaous Film Forming Forming

A
 . What is a normally open device installed inside
 an air duct system which automatically closes to
 restrict the passage of smoke or fire?
 A. fire exit
 B. damper
 C. fire trap
 D. fire alarm
B
 The primary course of action in case of a fire.


 A. pack up and flee

 B. run for your life
 C. call an ambulance
 D. raise the alarm

D
 A tool employed by an arsonist to delay the start of the fire and
allow him to establish an alibi.
 a. Accelerants
 b. Delaying tactic
 c. timing device
 d. stopper

C
 What is the enclosed space of passage that extends from floor to
floor as well as
 from the base to the top of the building?
 A. vertical shaft
 C. standpipe
 B. sprinkler system
 D. flash point

A
 Which of the following best illustrate arson?
 a. Faulty electric wiring
 b. thick reddish smoke
 c. simultaneous fire
 d. unexplained explosion.

D
 Movement of two surfaces against each other
 a. heat of oxidation
 b. heat of compression
 c. heat of friction
 d. heat of combustion

C
 Which of the following occur when a room is heated enough that
flame sweep over the entire surface?
 a. oxidation
 b. backdraft
 c. flashover
 d. combustion

C
 It refers to any condition or act that increases or may cause
increase in the probability that fire will occur or which may obstruct,
delay, hinder or interfere with fire fighting operations and the
safeguarding of life and property.
 a. Fire trap
 b. Clogged fire way
 c. Fire hazard
 d. Hazardous fire area C
 . A fire hydrant should be carefully opened
when in use in order to: a. reduce vibration of
the hydrant
 b. ensure that the drip valve is all the way closed
 c. prevent water hammer
 d. close the coupling
C
 PUROY already placed gasoline-soaked rags beside the wall of Spa
KOL but was caught by PURONGOY before he could strike the
match to burn the building. PUROY committed arson at what stage?
 A. Frustrated
 B. Attempted
 C. Belated
 D. Consumated B
 a liquefied gas which exists in its container at temperature far below normal
atmospheric temperature, usually slightly above its boiling point and
correspondingly low to moderate pressure.

a. Liquefied Gas

b. Compressed Gas
C
c. Cryogenic Gas

d. Nota
 Which of the following shall cause the investigator to
assume that the victim died of direct contact with
flame?
 a. Presence of soot and fire gases at respiratory tract
 b. Prominence of trauma that is probably caused by a
stab
 c. Intense charring of the whole body
 d. None of the above C