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Heat Sources:
1. Open flame
4. Hot surfaces
2. Electrical circuit 5. Friction
3. Sparks
2. Oxygen - a colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which is approximately 21% by volume.
Oxygen Sources:
1. 21 % of normal oxygen
2. 78 % of nitrogen
3. 1 % of other gases
Oxygen Requirements
1. 12 % - no fire
2. 14 % - flash point
3. 21 % - fire point
3. Fuel - any substance which reacts chemically with oxygen and produces flames. The most important element of fire.
Fuel Sources:
Causes pyrolysis or vaporization of solid and liquid fuels and the production of ignitable vapors
or gases;
Provides the energy necessary for ignition;
Causes the continuous production and ignition of fuel vapors or gases to continue the combustion reaction.
Types of Energy: (Common Sources of Heat)
1. Chemical Energy
It is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions. When any combustibles are in contact with oxygen
oxidation occurs. The reaction of this process results in the production of heat. Examples: Heat generated from a burning
match, Self-heating (spontaneous heating).
2. Electrical Energy
Electrical energy can generate temperatures high enough to ignite any combustible materials near the heated area.
3. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear heat energy is generated when atoms either split apart (fission) or combine (fusion). Examples:
produce electricity.
Heat of Friction - is the movement of two surfaces against each other. This movement
produced sparks being generated.
Heat of Compression - heat is generated when a gas is compressed in a container or cylinder.
Self-Sustained Chemical Reaction (the fourth element)
Combustion is a complex reaction that it requires a fuel (gaseous or vapor state), an oxidizer, and heat to combine in a
very specific way. Once flaming starts, it can only continue when enough heat or energy is produced to cause the
continued chain reaction. Chain reaction is a series of events that occur in sequence with the results of each individual
reaction being added to the rest.
Combustion
Fire and combustion are terms that are often used interchangeably. Technically speaking, fire is a form of combustion.
Combustion is a self-sustaining chemical reaction producing energy or products that cause more reactions of the same
kind. Combustion is an exothermic reaction. Fire is a rapid, self-sustaining oxidization process accompanied by the
release of heat and light of different intensities. The time it takes a reaction to occur determines the type of reaction that is
observed.
Products of Combustion
Four (4) Categories of products of combustion:
1. Fire gases
Most fires will involve incomplete combustion, producing CO and carbon particles along with
heat, water vapor, and CO2.
A fire involving material other than hydrocarbons and oxygen will produce combustion products composed of the
atoms and molecules forming the material together with the oxidizer used for the support of the combustion. This is the
reason a poisonous fuel may give off poisonous fumes and smoke.
3. Heat
A form of energy measured in degree of temperature, it is the product of combustion that spread the fire. It causes burns
and other injuries such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and respiratory tract injuries. Heat, oxygen depletion, and carbon
monoxide formation are the primary hazards in fires.
a.
Regular or ordinary (sodium and potassium bicarbonate respectively used only Class B or Class C fires.
b.
Multi-purpose dry chemicals (ammonium phosphate) used on Class A, Class B, and Class C.
Dry chemicals inhibit the chain reaction and, to a certain degree, cool and smother the fire. These agents are chemically
treated with a substance to keep them water resistant and free flowing. This also helps prevent packing of the chemical
while stored inside the extinguisher. These dry chemical extinguishers may be found in sizes which range from 2 to 30
pounds.
2. Carbon Dioxide
- used on Class B and Class C fires. CO 2 extinguishes fire by smothering, reducing the oxygen level, below that which
supports combustion. Under certain conditions, the coldness of the gas also helps put out the fire. It is an inert gas. When
CO2 is stored under pressure in a cylinder or tank such a fire extinguisher, it changes from a vapor to a liquid. When it
passes through the discharge valve of a fire extinguisher, it changes from a liquid to a gas and the expansion chills it to
low temperatures so that approximate 30% of the liquid CO 2 is converted into a solid dioxide snow or dry ice. The
the purpose or design with which the act is done and involves the will to do the act
His identity;
What attracted his attention;
The time of observation;
His position in relation to the fire at the time of his observation;
Exact location of the blaze;
The rapidity or the speed of spread of the fire;
Color of flame and odor if he/she is in position to observe this;
Size and intensity;
In determining motive, the arson investigator concentrates on the three (3) Major Factors
namely:
1. Point of Origin
2. Modus Operandi
3. Beneficiaries
What are the common motives of arsonist?
1. Economic Gain
Insurance fraud - benefits
Desire to dispose merchandise - loss of market value being out of season, lack of raw materials, over supply of
merchandise.
3. Concealment of Crime
when the purpose of hiding a crime or committing a crime, arson was used as a means.
4. Pyromania
the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn anything without any motivation.
Abnormal youth - epileptics, imbeciles and morons
Hero type - a person responsible setting a building on fire and pretends to discover it, turn the
alarm or make some rescue works to appear as hero.
Drug Addicts and Alcoholics
Sexual Deviates and Perverts
Development of Prime Suspects
This identification results from the full development of leads, clues and traces, the testimony of persons particularly
eyewitnesses and the development of expert testimony.
When white smoke appears before the water from the fire hose comes in contact with the fire,
it indicates humid materials burning. Examples: hay, vegetables, phosphorous with garlic odor.
Biting smoke indicates lack of air but if accompanied large flames it indicates petroleum
products and rubber.
Reddish-brown smoke indicates nitrocellulose. SI,
H2, SO4, HNO3, HCl.
Indication of Color of Smoke and Fire
Color of Smoke
Black smoke with deep red flame
Heavy brown with bright red flame
White smoke with bright flame
Black smoke with red and blue green
flame
Purple-violet flame
Greenish-yellow flame
Bright reddish-yellow flame
4. Smoke Marks
Material/Substance
Petroleum products such as tar,
rubber,
plastics, etc.
Nitrogen products
Magnesium products
Asphalt
Potassium products
Chloride and manganese products
Calcium products
an experienced investigator will determine the volume of smoke involved at a fire and the character as residue deposited
on walls or elsewhere. Smoke marks have often been of assistance in determining the possibility of a fire having more
than one place of origin.
5. Color of Flame
The color of the flame is a good indicator of the intensity of the fire, it is an important factor in
determining incendiarism.
A reddish glow indicates heat of about 5000 C., a real light red about 1000 C
Red flames indicate presence of petroleum products
Blue flame indicates use of alcohol as accelerant
6. Size of fire
The size of fire is important when correlated with the type of alarm, the time received and the time of arrival of the first
responder at the fire scene. Fire makes what might be termed a normal progress. Such progress can be estimated after
an examination of the material burned in the building, and the normal ventilation offered to the fire. The time element and
the degree of headway much by the flames became important factors to determine possible incendiarism.
7. Direction of Travel
While it is admitted that no two fires burn in identical fashion, yet it can be shown that the fire makes normal progress
through various types of building. Considering the type of construction, the building materials, combustibility of contents,
channel of ventilation and circumstances surrounding the sending of alarm, an experienced investigator can determine
whether a fire has spread abnormally fast.
8. Intensity
The degree of heat given off by a fire and the color of its flame often times indicate that some accelerant has been added
to the material normally present in a building and the investigator must look further for more evidence used of such
accelerant. Difficulty in extinguishing the fire is often a lead to suspect presence of such fluid or liquid as gasoline and
kerosene.
9. Odor
The odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other flammable liquids which are often used as an accelerant is a
characteristics, and often times an arsonists is trapped because of this tell tale sign. Most of fire-setters are inclined to use
substances which will make the blaze certain and at the same time burn up any evidence of their crime.
10. Condition of Content
Arson
It is the intentional or malicious destruction of property by fire.
2.
The law presumes that a fire is accidental, hence criminal designs must be shown.
3.
4.
1. Any arsenal, shipyard, storehouse, military installation, powder or firework factory, ordinance,
storehouse, archives or general museum of the government;
2. Any passenger train or motor vehicle in motion, or vessel out of ports;
3. In an inhabited place, any storehouse or factory of inflammable or explosive materials; and
4. Any theatre, church, cockpit arena, or other buildings where meetings are held, when occupied by numerous
assemblage.
Other forms of Arson
Setting fires to any buildings, farmhouse, warehouse, hut shelter, or vessel in port, knowing it to be occupied at the time
by one or more person/s;
Building burned is a public and purpose is to destroy evidence kept therein to be used in legislative, judicial or
administrative proceedings, irrespective of the damage, if the evidence is to be used against the dependant of any crime
punishable under existing law;
Burned building is a public and the purpose is to destroy evidence kept therein to be used in instituting prosecution for
punishment of violators of law, irrespective of the amount of damage.
Arson of Property of Small Value (Art. 323, RPC)
Elements
1. Burning of any uninhabited hut, storehouse, barn, shed, or any other property;
2. Value of property does not exceed twenty five pesos (25.00).
3. Under circumstances clearly excluding all danger of the fire spreading.
Crimes involving Destruction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
explosion;
discharge of electric current;
inundation, sinking or stranding of a vessel;
taking up the rails from a railway, track;
malicious changing of railway signals for the safety of moving train;
by using any other agency or means of destruction;
7. destroying telegraph wires and telegraph post or those other communication system.
Article 325, RPC
Burning of ones own property as a means of committing Arson. This article punishes the burning of ones, own property
for the purpose of committing arson or great destruction of property.
Article 326, RPC
Setting fire to property exclusively owned by the offender. This article provides the purpose of the offender to:
1. External/Outside Survey
2. Internal/Inside Survey
enter the building to correlate the same with the outside survey of the structure in question
3. Locate the point of origin of fire, the ceiling area must checked first.
Look for Prima Facie Evidence of Arson
1. Entering the Building: When entering the building, the investigator should observe the
following:
2. Look for mark on doors and windows not burned for possible indication of forcible entry.
3. Notice whether the intruder has discarded tools used for forcible entry.
4. Notice unusual arrangement of the building content.
5. Stocks or substitution of stocks, new expensive stocks have been removed, substituted by second hand or old stocks
Guidelines in the Investigation of Arson:
Observation
Planning
Sifting of the Debris
Location of the point of origin o(the fire
General Rules/SOPs
Collecting and Preserving of Evidence
Photography
Sketching
Assistance .of Qualified Experts
Handling of Physical Evidence