Full Description
Knowledge of the science behind fires is critical to understanding a fire's cause and successfully presenting that determination to the authorities or in litigation. Now in its second edition, Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation focuses on the practical application of scientific principles to determine the causes of fires. Uniquely qualified with years of experience in on-site investigations, lab analyses, and courtroom presentation, the author provides a resource that is unparalleled in depth and focus.The book explores:The history of fire investigation and the basic chemistry and physics of fireThe science of fire dynamics-how things burn and how they interact with their surroundings while doing soPractical procedures for conducting fire scene inspectionsLaboratory examination of fire debris to test for the presence of ignitable liquid residues and for potential ignition sourcesRelevant scientific principles as applied to 30 actual firesThe evolution of the mythology of arson investigationThe common root causes of errors in fire investigationThe final chapter discusses the professional practice of fire investigation. It examines quality assurance, business practices, and the fundamentals of being an expert witness, with advice for giving testimony in depositions and at trial. Other highlights of the second edition include new and expanded discussions on novel training methods, first assumptions, computer fire modeling, low voltage ignition sources, the questionable validity of some origin determinations, and recent changes in NFPA 921.Thorough and accessible, this volume not only provides the practical information necessary to conduct an effective inquiry but also offers insight into the science, history, and theory behind what makes fire investigation a multi-faceted profession.John Lentini discusses the book in a video on the CRC Press YouTube Channel.
Contents
Fire and Science Introduction Argument versus Experiment Fire and the Enlightenment Scientific Approach to Fire Investigation Modern Fire Analysis NFPA 921 NFPA 1033 CFITrainer.net Science, Law, and Law Enforcement Chemistry and Physics of Combustion Fire and Energy Basic Chemistry States of Matter Behavior of Gases Stoichiometry and Flammable Limits Behavior of Liquids Behavior of Solids Fire Dynamics and Fire Pattern Development Introduction Ignition Self-Heating and Spontaneous Ignition Chemical Ignition Smoldering Ignition Flames Flammability Compartment Fires Plume Pattern Development Ventilation Pattern Development Penetrations through Floors Horizons, Movement, and Intensity Patterns Clean Burn Electrical Patterns Fire Modeling Fire Investigation Procedures Recognize the Need Presumption of Accidental Cause: The Null Hypothesis Negative Corpus Methodology Planning the Investigation Initial Survey: Safety First Documentation Reconstruction Inventory Avoiding Spoliation Origin Determination Evidence Collection and Preservation Fatal Fires Hypothesis Development and Testing Reporting Procedure Record Keeping Analysis of Ignitable Liquid Residues Evolution of Separation Techniques Evolution of Analytical Techniques Evolution of Standard Methods Isolating the Residue Initial Sample Evaluation ILR Isolation Method Selection Solvent Selection Internal Standards Advantages and Disadvantages of Isolation Methods Analyzing Isolated ILR Criteria for Identification Improving Sensitivity Estimating the Degree of Evaporation Identity of Source Reporting Procedures Record Keeping Quality Assurance Evaluation of Ignition Sources Joint Examinations of Physical Evidence Appliances and Electrical Components Electronic Device Reliability and Failure Modes Kitchen Ranges Coffee Makers Deep Fat Fryers Space Heating Appliances Water Heaters Clothes Dryers Fluorescent Lights Recessed Lights Exhaust Fans Service Panels Oxygen Enrichment Devices Testing of Ignition Scenarios Spontaneous Ignition Tests Following Up Thirty Fire Scene Scenarios Arson Arson Fire #1: The Fictitious Burglar Arson Fire #2: Unexplained Accelerants Arson Fire #3: Unpleasant Neighbors Arson Fire #4: Accidental Causes Eliminated Dryer Fires Dryer Fire #1: Misrouted Power Cord Dryer Fire #2: Cross-Threaded Connection Dryer Fire #3: Spliced Power Cord Dryer Fire #4: Internal Power Wire Comes Loose Electrical Fires Electrical Fire #1: Energized Neutral Electrical Fire #2: Worn-Out Outlet Electrical Fire #3: Makeshift Extension CordElectrical Fire #4: Failed Transformer Electrical Fire #5: Overdriven Staple Fluorescent Light Fires Fluorescent Light Fire #1: Ballast Failure Fluorescent Light Fire #2: Overheated Lamp Holder Gas FiresGas Fire #1: Leak in Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing Line (and Failure to Inspect)Gas Fire #2: Leak at New Flare Fitting Gas Fire #3: Overfilled CylindersGas Fire #4: New Installation, Open LineHeater Fires Heater Fire #1: Combustibles on Floor Furnace Heater Fire #2: Portable Heater Ignites Cardboard Heater Fire #3: Contents Stacked in Front of HeaterIndustrial Fires Industrial Fire #1: Machine Shop Spray Booth Industrial Fire #2: Waste Accumulations on Roof Industrial Fire #3: Design Flaw in Printing Machine Industrial Fire #4: Hydraulic Fluid Fire Industrial Fire #5: Another Chicken Story Lightning Fires Lightning Fire #1 Lightning Fire #2 Water Heaters Water Heater Fire #1 The Mythology of Arson Investigation Development and Promulgation of Myths AlligatoringCrazed Glass Depth and Location of CharLines of Demarcation Sagged Furniture Springs Spalling Fire Load Low Burning and Holes in the FloorAngle of V Time and Temperature Sources of Error in Fire Investigation Introduction Overlooking Critical Data Misinterpreting Critical Data Misinterpreting Irrelevant Data Ignoring Inconsistent Data Two-Dimensional Thinking Poor Communication Faulty Chemistry or Engineering Evaluating Allegations of Arson Is This Arson Call Based Entirely on the Appearance of the Burned Floor in a Fully Involved Compartment? Is This Arson Call Based on "Low Burning," OR Crazed Glass, OR Spalling, OR "Shiny Alligatoring," OR a "Narrow V-Pattern," OR "Melted/Annealed Metal?" Is This Arson Call Based on an Unconfirmed Canine Alert? Is This Arson Call Based on a Fire that "Burned Hotter than Normal" or "Faster than Normal?" Do Neutral Eyewitnesses Place the Origin of the Fire Somewhere Other than Where the Arson Investigator Says It Was Set? Is This Arson Call Based Entirely or Largely on a Mathematical Equation or a Computer Model? Investigations Gone Wrong State of Georgia v. Weldon Wayne Carr Maynard Clark v. Auto Owners Insurance Company Error Analysis United States v. Kenneth and Ricky Daniels and Daniels v. Liberty Mutual, et al. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Louis DiNicola State of Arizona v. Ray Girdler Hanley v. Prudential Insurance Howell Business Forms v. Vik Brothers Insurance Group Eve and Manson Johnson v. Florida Farm Bureau State of Georgia v. John Metcalf and Kimberly Post State of North Carolina v. Jermaine Antoine Smith United States v. Michael Weber Stark County Port Authority v. Railway Properties, Ltd. State of Louisiana v. Amanda Gutweiler The Professional Practice of Fire Investigation Introduction Identifying Your Stakeholders Doing Consistent Work Business Practices Pro Bono Work Serving as Expert Witness Advocacy Discovery Courtroom Testimony Index
