Weitere ähnliche Inhalte Mehr von Josh Moulin, MSISA,CISSP (8) Kürzlich hochgeladen (20) Josh Moulin: Basic Fire Investigation for Law Enforcement2. Instructor Background
8 years of Fire/EMS experience
Left the fire service as a Lieutenant / Fire
Prevention Officer when hired as a Police
Officer
Certified Fire Code Inspector
Multiple NFPA Certifications
Graduated from the National Fire Academy
Fire/Arson School in Emmitsburg Maryland
Conducted multiple Fire/Arson investigations
January 2003 © Josh Moulin 2
3. Objectives
Develop a basic understanding of scientific
principles of fire behavior
Relationship between local fire agencies and
law enforcement
Terminology used in fire investigation
Role law enforcement plays in fire
investigation
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4. Objectives
Identify common fire patterns and how they
relate to fire behavior
What makes a fire scene suspicious
Properly document a fire scene
Evidence collection principles for fire scene
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5. Objectives
Case law involving the investigation of fire
scenes
Motives of a fire setter
Courtroom testimony for fire investigation
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7. Expectations of this Course
What resources are needed for a proper fire
investigation
What should you do if you are assigned to a
fire investigation
How do you contact resources you may need
Where does the fire department’s authority
stop and yours begin
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8. Legal Aspects of Fire Investigations
Oregon Revised Statue gives local fire
agencies statutory authority to conduct an
“origin and cause” investigation
No warrant needed and no consent needed
Investigation must occur “within a
reasonable amount of time”
Fire department must remain on scene
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9. Legal Aspects of Fire Investigation
DA’s office interpretation
Consent forms
Civil litigation
NFPA 921 – Systematic approach to fire
Investigation
Exigent Circumstances
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10. Administrative Search Warrants
Primary objective must be a neutral plan based on
specific criteria
Must show a fire of undetermined origin has occurred
on the premises
Cannot unnecessarily intrude on victim’s privacy
Evidence found in plain view may be seized in
administrative search warrant
Cannot “roam freely” through fire victim’s private
residence
Handout
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11. Additional Information
Firefighters may make forceful, unannounced,
nonconsensual, warrantless entry into building
Firefighters have the right to remain on premises,
not only until fire is extinguished and no danger of
rekindling exists, but also to investigate
After origin and cause determined, additional
search of premises may be conducted only
pursuant to valid warrant
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12. Fourth Amendment Applied to Fire
Scenes
Exigent circumstances allow firefighters to enter to
fight a fire (Michigan v. Clifford 464 U.S. 287, 294 &
Michigan v. Tyler, 436 U.S. 499
Post fire searches are admissible when conducted
within a reasonable time
Additional entries, after a reasonable time has
passed, must be made pursuant to the warrant
procedure
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13. Fourth Amendment Applied to
Fire Scenes
Additional investigation after fire is
extinguished and firefighters and police have
left generally must be made pursuant to a
warrant or new exigency.
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14. Oregon Fire Laws
Arson I
Arson II
Reckless burning
Criminal mischief
Reckless endangering
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15. Motivations of Fire Setting
Spite / revenge
Pyromania
Crime concealment
Arson for profit
Civil disorder
Vanity
Gangs
Cults
Serial arsonist
Drugs
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16. Profile of Serial Arsonist
Single white male
20 to 27 years old
Unstable family environment
High school educated
Considered an under-achiever
Sloppy and unkept appearance
Poorly adjusted socially and sexually
If married, usually has periods of separation
Feels sense of satisfaction after the fire
If arrested, shows no remorse
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17. Resources Available
Local fire department / district
Regional Fire Investigation Team
Local law enforcement
Local insurance companies
IAAI
UL / www.CPSC.gov
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18. Basic Fire Behavior
What is fire?
Rapid, self-sustained oxidation process
with the evolution of heat and light in
varying intensities
Fire must have four things to survive
Heat
Oxygen
Fuel
Chemical Chain Reaction
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20. Steps of Fire Process
Input heat
Fuel
Oxygen
Mixing
Proportioning
Ignition continuity
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21. Classes of Fire
Class A – Ordinary combustibles
Class B – Flammable / combustible liquids
Class C – Energized electrical equipment
Class D – Combustible metals
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22. Stages of Fire
Incipient stage (growth)
Free burning stage (development)
Smoldering (decay)
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23. Oxygen Needed for Combustion
Atmosphere has 20.8 % oxygen content
Open flaming combustion will stop at 15 – 16
%
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24. Fire Phenomena
Flashover
Backdraft – dangerous to police and
bystanders especially
Signs of backdraft
Fire gases, superheated gases, soot, smoke
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25. Signs of Fire
Physical effects that can be seen or measured
Lines of demarcation – borders defining heat and
smoke
Movement patterns
Intensity patterns
Spalling
Clean burn
Calcination
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26. Char
Depth of char as indicator
Consider ventilation
Shows duration
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27. Temperatures
Aluminum melts at 1220 F
Copper melts at 1981 F
Glass melts at 1100 – 2600 F
Cigarette 550 F at end, 1250 in center
Collapsed springs at 750 F
Hardwood – 595-740 F
Gasoline – 853 F
Average house fire – 1300 F
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28. Fire Patterns
Fire will usually go up and out – path of least resistance
Shadowing
Protection
“V” patterns
Inverted “V” patterns
“U” patterns
Light bulbs
Arrow patterns
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33. Incendiary Fire
Deliberately set fire
Suspect knows fire
should not been set
Mindset of suspect
Never call a fire
“suspicious”
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34. Signs of Incendiary Fire
Must first eliminate ALL possible accidental causes
Multiple fires
Trailers
Presence of accelerants
Low level burning
Splash patterns
Odors
Flashback
Containers
Removal of household contents
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35. Signs of Incendiary Fire, Cont.
Absence of personal papers and items
Location of the fire
Evidence of other crimes
Unnatural fire spread
Previous fires in same structure or with same people
Injuries to occupants or others
Time of day
Limited / blocked entrance or view
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36. Certainty of Opinions
Conclusive
All reasonable alternatives to hypothesis are
considered and eliminated
Probable
More likely than not
Possible
Hypothesis can be demonstrated to be feasible but
cannot be declared probable
Suspected
Hypothesis may be true, but insufficient data to draw
a conclusion to the exclusion of other reasonable
conclusions
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37. Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office
Required to be notified anytime a fire fatality
occurs
Has additional resources
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38. Fire Fatalities
Team of fire department, OSFM, local L.E.,
medical examiner
Two individual investigations
Origin and cause
Death investigation
Considerations about moving the body
Additional damage
OSFM and ME approval
Photography
Fire debris around the body
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39. Fire Fatalities Cont.
Why didn’t the person get out?
Obstacles
Locks
Past history of people and buildings
Fire and life insurance coverage
Cause of death
Thermal injury v. CO asphyxiation
If unknown remains exists, consider everything
human remains
Typical injuries and conditions found
Lividity
Eviscerations
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40. There’s a Fire…Now What?
Evaluate scene for
safety
Secure scene
perimeter
Use “team” approach
Consider respiratory
hazards
Always talk with IC
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41. There’s a Fire…Now What? Cont.,
Solicit information about fire suppression
Difficulties
Flashback
Unusual findings
Forcible entry
Time and method of alarm
Weather conditions
Color of flames and smoke
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42. There’s a Fire…Now What?
Cont.,
Scene evaluation “backwards theory”
Reconstruction of fire scene
Debris removal
Determine fire origin
Determine fire cause
Document
Field notes
Photograph
Sketch
Report
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43. Evidence Collection
Follow standard chain of custody
Realize fire department is usually not well versed in
evidence and may need your help
Contamination
Specialized containers
Samples taken at scene
Trace evidence
Accelerant detection K-9’s
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44. Common Law Enforcement Role
Assist with interviews, interrogations,
neighborhood canvassing
Assist with evidence collection
Criminal checks on suspects
Investigation may be “handed” off to you if
suspect is developed or fire is determined to
be incendiary
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45. Vehicle Fires
Damage from accidental v. incendiary
Look for signs of theft or damage
Two scene investigations
Overall scene & vehicle interior
Gas caps and filler tube
Shoeprints, fingerprints, skid marks
Soil samples
Tire pads
Interior vehicle examination – combustibles or flammable
liquids
Ashtrays
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46. Vehicle Fires, Cont.
Window position
Door positions
Attempts taken to extinguish
Presence of personal items
Engine compartment
Vin number and license plates
Fire objectives
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47. Vehicle Fire Objectives
Identify point of origin
Usually lowest point and greatest damage
Find the heat source
Energy which ignited fire
Determine fuel source
Material ignited by heat source
Determine the event of the fire
How did heat source and fuel combine to start fire
Determine category of fire
Must accomplish 1 – 4 first.
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48. Motives of Vehicle Arson
Mechanical problems
Vehicle is lemon, cannot afford needed
mechanical work
Owner’s financial problems
Conduct financial check
Status on car payments
Witnesses
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49. Terrorism Related
Fires / Explosions
ELF / ALF
Use of common devices
ATF notification
Use of tagging
Websites – Anarchist’s
cook book
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55. View of SE corner
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