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FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

I. FIRE TECHNOLOGY
- deals with the science and study of the chemistry of fire and mechanics of combustion, to include
the principles and fundamentals of fire protection

FIRE
- An active chemical reaction that takes place between fuel, heat and oxygen in the form of light of
noticeable heat
- rapid oxidation of matter accompanied by heat and light
- product of combustion or burning

COMBUSTION
- the rapid oxidation of substances accompanied by heat and light

OXIDATION
- a chemical process involving physical change (transformation)

FORMS OF OXIDATION
1) slow oxidation
- decaying
- rotting
- aging
- rusting
2) rapid oxidation
- fire
- explosion

ELEMENTS OF FIRE/TRIANGLE OF FIRE

1) FUEL
o anything that is capable of burning
o the most important element of the triangle

2) HEAT
o a form of energy and initiator of fire

3) OXYGEN
o a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas which is vital to sustain fire

THREE PHASES OF FIRE

1) INITIAL PHASE
- the beginning of fire
- the base area of the fire has a temperature of 400 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit
- can be easily controlled and subdued

2) FREE BURNING
- the acceleration of pyrolytic process
- the maximum heat and destructive capabilities of fire develop
- the base temperature of the fire is around 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and ceiling temperature
is up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit

3) SMOLDERING
- the stage where the fire glows and the combustible materials smolder
- flames would not be visible but a large amount of carbon monoxide is produced
- sudden introduction of oxygen with superheated fuel under pressure can cause an explosion

METHODS OF HEAT TRANSFER

1) CONDUCTION
o by direct contact or through a conductor
2) CONVECTION
o through the movement of hot gases or liquid
3) RADIATION
o through medium of space or atmosphere

COMPONENTS OF COMBUSTION (TETRAHEDRON OF FIRE)

1) fuel
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2) source of ignition (heat)
3) air (oxygen)
4) uninhibited chemical chain reaction

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE RATE OF INTENSITY OF HEAT

1) amount of materials available for burning
2) calorific value of burning
3) oxygen supply available
4) surface area of exposure
5) flame length

CLASSES OF FIRE
1) CLASS A
- the fuel is comprised of normal combustible materials such as wood, paper, fiber, draperies and
trash
- requires saturation by water or water fog

2) CLASS B
- the fuel is flammable liquid such as gasoline, kerosene, cleaning fluids, grease and alcohol
- must be smothered to deprive them of oxygen, hence, foam extinguishers and CO2 may be utilized

3) CLASS C
- those which starts with live electrical wires, equipment and electrical appliances
- commonly known as electrical fire
- easily extinguished by a non-conducting agent such as CO2 and dry chemicals

4) CLASS D
- this type of fire is rare, usually occurs in manufacturing facilities
- combustible materials are certain metals
- can be extinguished by using dry powder, ABC chemical, baking soda or sand

FLASH POINT
- the minimum temperature at which vapor starts to rise from any fuel subjected to heat
- temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a vapor air mixture that ignites

IGNITION TEMPERATURE OR KINDLING TEMPERATURE

- the minimum temperature to which the substance in the air must be heated in order to initiate
combustion without the addition of heat from outside sources

NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE – 37.8º Celsius

BOILING POINT OF WATER – 100º Celsius

FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
- any fuel that has a flashpoint at or below normal room temperature

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
- any fuel that has a flashpoint above normal room temperature

IGNITABLE MIXTURE
- combination of vapor and oxygen
- happens when vapor continues to rise and reaches a proportional value to combine with oxygen in
the air

CALORIFIC VALUE
- the amount of heat energy stored within the burning material
- the chemical composition of the object

HOW WILL A FIRE START?

Fire will start when there is an initial source of heat applied to a material, accompanied by the triangle
of fire.

HOW WILL FIRE SPREAD?

Fire will spread through the different ways of heat transfer.

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HOW WILL IT INTENSIFY?

Fire will intensify through the factors that affect the rate of intensity of heat.

II. ARSON INVESTIGATION

ARSON
- the malicious destruction of property by fire

PD 1613 – the law amending the law on arson provided by the RPC

ELEMENTS OF ARSON
1) That the property burned is the exclusive property of the offender
2) That the purpose of the offender in burning is to:
a) to defraud or to cause damage to another
b) prejudice is actually caused
c) the thing burned is a building in an inhabited place

PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF ARSON

1) If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of the building or establishment;
2) If substantial amount of flammable substances or materials are stored within the building not
necessary in the business of the offender nor for household use;
3) If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other flammable or combustible substances or materials, or any
mechanical, electrical, chemical or electronic devises designed to start a fire are found in the ruins
or premises of the burned property;
4) If the building or property is insured for substantially more than its actual value at the time of the
issuance of the policy;
5) If during the lifetime of the corresponding fire insurance policy, more than two fires have occurred in
the same or other premises owned or under the control of the offender and/or insured;
6) If shortly before the fire, a substantial portion of the effects insured and stored in a building had
been withdrawn from the premises except in the ordinary course of business;
7) If a demand for money or other valuable consideration was made were the fire in exchange for the
desistance of the offender or for the safety of the person or property of the victim.

THREE KINDS OF FIRE

1) PROVIDENTIAL
- caused by act of God
- can never be prevented and usually hard to control
- comes in the form of lightning bolts, erupting volcanoes and other forms of natural calamities

2) ACCIDENTAL
- caused by human error and negligence
- such as smoking in bed, defective LPG containers, faulty electrical wiring etc

3) INTENTIONAL
- also called incendiary
- also classified as arson
- caused by a person with malicious intent or purpose

INVESTIGATION
- deals with the two phases of investigation:
a) fire investigation
b) arson investigation

FIRE INVESTIGATION
- conducted to determine the origin, cause and nature of the fire

ORIGIN OF THE FIRE

- the specific place where the fire started

GUIDE IN DETERMINING THE ORIGIN:

- take note of the lowest point of burning
- take note of charring effects made by the fire on wood by observing “alligator skin” pattern on
charred wood
- look for half-moon pattern on concrete walls or observe spalling effects made by the fire on
concrete
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- use reverse technique by starting from the place last reached by the fire and retracing the path
made by the fire to the place of origin

CAUSE OF THE FIRE

- initial source of heat

GUIDE IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE

- secure and cordon the origin
- use layer-checking technique in collecting physical evidence
- consider every possible source of heat which may normally be found at the origin
- analyze each piece of physical evidence collected
- eliminate possibilities

NATURE OF THE FIRE

- manner and circumstances surrounding the fire incident

GUIDE IN DETERMINING THE NATURE

- all fires are presumed to be accidental in nature unless proven otherwise
- look for indications of malicious intent:
a) prima facie evidence of arson
b) preparation made by the perpetrators
c) motives

INCENDIARY DEVICES
1) plant – a device used to start the fire
2) accelerant – a flammable substance used to speed up burning
3) trailer – a device used to direct the path of the fire

FIRE SAFETY
- protection of lives and property from the hazards of fire

PD 1185 - FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

- approved on 26 August 1977

OBJECTIVES OF FIRE PROTECTION

1) to prevent fire from starting
2) to save lives and property
3) to confine the fire in its point of origin
4) to put out the fire

FIRE HAZARD
- any act or condition which increases or may cause an increase in the probability of the occurrence of
fire, or which may delay, obstruct, hinder or interfere with firefighting operations or the safeguarding of life and
property

FACTORS WHICH AFFECT DEGREE OF HAZARD

1) construction materials used
2) combustibility of contents
3) type of occupancy
4) occupant load
5) height from the ground
6) longest travel distance to exit
7) availability of fire protective alarm and warning devices or systems

FIRE SUPPRESSION
- the act of process of putting out the fire

FIRE CONTROL
- the act or process of preventing the fire from spreading and incurring further damages