CDI 6- FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

Centro Colegio de Tarlac

College of Criminal Justice Education
Metro Bamban, Anupul Subd., Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac
Tel. No. (45) 493- 0145 Email: centro.colegio@gmail.com

Course Subject: Fire Technology and Arson Investigation

Course Code: CDI 6
Modules # 1
CHAPTER 1
THE TECNOLOGY OF FIRE

Every Human used fire to warm themselves, cook food, and frighten away predators.
Sitting around a fire may have helped unite and strengthen family groups and speech
the evolution of early society. Fire enabled our human ancestors to travel our human,
equatorial regions and, eventually spread throughout the world. But fire also posed
great risks and challenges of controlling fire, the greater challenge of starting a fire, and
the threat of wildfires.
As early civilizations developed, people discovered more uses of fire. They used fire to
provide light, to make better tools, and as weapon in times of war. Early regions often
included fire as part of their rituals, reflecting its importance to society. Early myths
focused on fire’s power.
In ancient Greece and later, fire considered one of the four basic elements, a substance
from which all things were composed. It’s great importance of humans, the mystery of
its powers, and its seeming capriciousness has made fire divine or sacred to many
people. Fire as god is a characteristic feature of “Zoroastrianism”, in which as in many
sun-worshipping religions, fire is considered the earthly representative or type of the
sun.

EARLY FIRE MAKING TECHNIQUES

1. Rubbing together pieces of flint that could produce sparks that would set fire to
wood shavings.
2. Rubbing together 2 pieces of wood until the wood produced
hot powder that could light kindling
3. Adaption of the bow and drill which consisted of a block of wood and a stick that
was fixed in the looped string of a small, curved bow.
4. Used of fire piston to compress air inside the bamboo tube that contained wood
shavings. Compressed air became increasingly hotter, eventually igniting the
shavings.
5. Glassmaking among the Greeks used to focus sunlight on, the hereby ignite
bundles of dry sticks.
6. Use of tinderbox- moisture- proof, metal carrying case held tinder, usually
charred cotton or linen cloth, and pieces of steel and flint. Striking the steel and
flint together produced a spark that lighted the tinder.
7. Tinderbox that operate like a present day cigarette lighter in which the rotary
motion of a metal wheel against a flint set off sparks in tinder.
8. Development of phosphorus match. (mid-19th century)

A. IMPORTANT DATES
1. 1.4 million years – The earliest use of fire by humans may have occurred this age;
evidence for this was found in KENYA.
2. 1777 – It was discovered that burning is the result of rapid combination of Fuel with
other gases to form combustion.

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3. 1879 - American inventor Thomas Edison developed the incandescent lamp, or light.
4. 1901 – Establishment of the first Fire Department in the Philippines – the Manila Fire
Department.
5. 1977 - The Fire Code of the Philippines enacted into law to serve as a yardstick to
determine the suitability of an establishment for people’s occupancy.
6. 1990 – Establishment of the BFP of the Philippines through RA 6975.
B. PERSONALITIES
1. HOMO ERECTUS – They were the first to use fire on a regular basis.
2. PROMETHEUS – In Greek mythology, he was bestowed godlike powers when he
stole the gods’ fire to give it to humanity.
3. VESTA – The Roman goddess of the earth. To honor Vesta, the high priest of the
Roman religion periodically chose six priestesses, called Vestal Virgins, to keep a fire
going in a community hearth.
4. AUGUSTUS - The Roman emperor who is credited of instituting a corps of fire
brigade - vigiles (“watchmen”) in 24 BC. Regulations for checking and preventing fires
were made.
5. JAN VAN DER HEYDEN - A dutch who invented the fire hose in 1672. Constructed
of flexible leather and coupled every 50 feet (15 m).
6. RICHARD NEWSHAM – Develop the “fire engine” in 1725. Pulled as a cart to the
fire, these manual pumps were manned by teams of men.
7. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - Created the “Union Fire Company” in 1736 in Philadelphia,
the first volunteer fire company in America.
8. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE - Created the first professional firefighters in 1810,
known as “Sapeurs-Pompiers”, from the French Army.
9. ANTOINE LAVOISIER - A French Chemist who proved that burning is the result of
the rapid union of oxygen with other substances.
10. THOMAS ALVA EDISON - An American inventor who was able to sent current to a
filament that simultaneously burns because it became so hot.
11. John Walker – British Chemist who invented in 1827 a match made of phosphorus
and ignited by friction. Brimstone match - made by dipping thin strips of wood into
melted sulfur.
12. Capt. F.R. Dodge – The first Chief of the Manila Fire Department. (1901)
C. RELATED LAWS
1. RA 6975 (Art. VIII, Sec. 49) – Created the Bureau of Fire Protection of the
Philippines.
2. RA 1185 – known as the “FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”
3.PD 1096 – the “BUILDING CODE of the Philippines
FIRE – is 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:

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FUEL (Combustible materials to vaporize and burn), OXYGEN (Oxygen in air is the
common oxidizing agent, to combine with the fuel vapour, air contains 21% O, 78 N, 1%
inert gas), and HEAT (to raise the temperature of the fuel vapour to its ignition
temperature). The combination of these three elements forms the so-called Fire
Triangle.
PYROLYSIS (also known as thermal decomposition) is defined as the “chemical
decomposition of matter through the action of heat”. In this case, the decomposition
causes a change from a solid state to vapour state. Of the vapour mixes sufficiently with
air and heated to high temperature, combustion results.
The combustion process is better represented by the fire tetrahedron: 1) Fuel, 2) Heat,
3) Oxygen and 4) Uninhibited Chain Reaction.
PROPERTIES OF FIRE
A. The Physical properties
1. Specific Gravity – the ratio of the weight of a solid or liquid substance to the weight
of an equal volume of water.
2. Vapor density – the weight of a volume of pure gas composed to the volume of dry
air at the same temperature and pressure.
3. Vapor Pressure - the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of a liquid.
4. Temperature – the measure of the degree of thermal agitation of molecules.
5. Boiling Point – the constant temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid
is equal to the atmospheric pressure
. 6. Ignition/Kindling temperature – the minimum temperature at which the substance
must be heated in order to initiate combustion.
7. Fire point – the lowest temperature of a liquid in an open container at which vapors
are evolved fast enough to support combustion.
8. Flash point – the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a vapor- air mixture
that ignites (mixture with in the explosive range).
B. The Chemical Properties
1. Endothermic reactions – changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is added
before the reaction takes place.
2. Exothermic reactions – those that release or give off energy (heat) thus they
produce substances with less energy than reactants.
3. 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 dame as actual burning (rapid oxidation)
4. 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:
1. Based on Color and Completeness of Combustibility of Fuel
a. Luminous Flame – is orange-red, deposit soot at the bottom of a vessel being
heated due to incomplete combustion and has a low temperature.

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b. Non-Luminous Flame – is blue, there is complete combustion of fuel and has

relatively high temperature.
2. Based on Fuel and Air Mixture
a. 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. b. Diffusion Flame – is observed when
gas (fuel) alone is force through a nozzle into the atmosphere which diffuses 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)
3. Based on Smoothness
a. Laminar Flame – when a particle follows smooth through a gaseous flame.
b. Turbulent Flame – are those having unsteady, irregular flows. As physical size, gas
density or velocity is increases all laminar gas flows tend to become turbulent.

FIRE ELEMENTS
THE FUELS (Combustible Materials)
Classification of Combustible Materials
1. 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.
2. Class B Fuels – materials that are in the form of flammable liquids such as alcohol
acidic solutions, oil, liquid petroleum products, etc.
3. Class C Fuels – they are normally fire resistant materials such as materials used on
electrical wiring and other electrical appliances.
4. 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
a. Pyrolyzable solid fuels – include many of the ordinary accepted 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 because there are no
pyrolyzable elements present. No vapors are released. The glowing combustion that
results is an examples of gas-to-gas- solid reaction.

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The following are group of solid fuels:

1. Biomass – it is the name given to such replaceable organic matters like wood,
garbage and animal manure that can be use to produce energy. For example, heat
produced by burning nutshells, rice and cat hulls, and other by-products of food
processing. They are often used to operate plant equipment.
Factors affecting the combustibility of wood and wood based products
a. Physical form – the smaller the piece of wood the easier it is to burn. b. Moisture
content (water content) – the freshly cut wood is more difficult to ignite and burn than
dry wood.
c. Heat conductivity – a poor conductor of heat takes a longer time to ignite than
those materials that are good conductors of heat.
d. Rate and period of heating – less flammable materials don’t easily ignite and
needs direct contact with flame than highly combustible materials.
e. Rate of combustion – with an unlimited supply of oxygen, the rate of burns
increases more heat s produced and fuels is consumed more completely.
f. Ignition temperature – the higher the temperature, the faster it reaches ignition point
and it varies depending on the other factors above.
2. Fabrics and Textiles – almost all fibers and textiles are combustible. A fiber is a very
fine thinking thin strand or thread like object. Fabrics are twisted or woven fibers. And
textiles are machine woven or knitted fabric.
Classification of Fibers:
a. Natural fibers – they come from plants (Coir – coconut fiber, Cotton – seed fiber,
pulp – wood fiber), from animals (wool, silk, protein fibers – leather), from minerals
(asbestos)
b. Synthetic/Artificial Fibers – organic fibers, cellulose fibers, cellulose acetate, non-
cellulose, and inorganic fibers like fiber glass, steel
Factors affecting the combustibility of fibers
a. Chemical composition – natural and synthetic organic fibers are generally highly
combustible materials especially if they are dry. Mineral fibers and synthetic inorganic
fibers are normally fire resistant materials.
b. Fiber finish or coating – fiber coating combined with organic fibers are supportive
to continued burning of fabric.
c. Fabric weight – the heavier the fabric, the greater its resistance to ignition, thus
delaying its ignition.
d. Tightness of weave – the closer the fiber are woven, the smaller the space it
contains, thus it takes a longer period to ignite it.
e. Flame retardant treatment – fabric treated with flame retardant have higher
resistance to ignition.
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) – is a numerical basis of measuring the tendency of a
fabric to continuously burn once source of ignition is removed. If the LOI of a fabric is
high, the probability that it will cease to burn once the flame is removed is also high.
Fabrics with high LOI and high ignition temperature are safer for clothing and furnishing

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because they do not ignite easily. Also, they do not continue burning after the source of
heat is flame is removed.
3. Plastics – plastics are included as ordinary fuels under class A except those
materials of or containing cellulose nitrate. Cellulose Nitrate is a chemical powder used
in bombs, they are also called pyroxylin
4. Coal – a black, combustible, mineral solid resulting from the partial decomposition of
matter under varying degrees of temperature. They are used as fuels in the production
of coal gas, water, and many compounds. They are also used to heat buildings and to
provide energy for industrial machinery.
5. Peat – it is partially decayed plant matter found in swamps called bags and used as
a fuel chiefly in areas where coal and oil are scarce. In Ireland and Scotland, for
example, peat is cut formed in blocks, and dried; the dried blocks are then burned to
heat homes.

THE LIQUID FUELS

Liquid fuels are mainly 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.
General Characteristics of Liquids
1. They are matters with definite volume but no definite shape.
2. They assume the shape of their vessel because there is free movement of
molecules. 3. They are slightly compressible. They are capable of indefinite expansion,
unlike gas.
General Groups of Liquid Fuels
1. Flammable liquids – they are liquids having a flash point of 37.80C (1000F) and a
vapour pressure not exceeding 40 psia (2068.6 um) at 37.80C
2. Combustible Liquids – these liquids have flash point at or above 37.80C (1000F).
LATENT HEAT – is the quality of heat absorbed by a substance from a solid to a liquid
and from a liquid to gas. Conversely, heat is released during conversion of a gas to
liquid or liquid to a solid.
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.
Classification of Gases:
1. Based on Source
a. Natural Gas – the gas used to heat buildings, cook food, and provides energy for
industries. It consists chiefly of methane, a colorless and odourless gas. Natural gas is
usually mixed with compounds of foul-smelling elements like sulphur so gas leaks can
be detected.

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b. Manufactured Gas – this gas like synthetic liquid fuels is used chiefly where certain
fuels are abundant and others are scarce. Coal, petroleum, and biomass can all be
converted to gas through heating and various chemical procedures.
2. According to Physical Properties
a. 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 pressursse of the gas.
b. Liquefied Gas – gas, which, at normal temperature inside its container, exists partly
in the liquid state and partly in gaseous state and 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.
c. 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.
3. According to Usage
a. Fuel Gases – flammable gases usually used for burning with air to produce heat,
utilize as power, light, comfort, and process. Most commonly used gases are natural
gas and the LPG (butane and propane) b. Industrial Gases – this group includes a large
number of gases used for industrial processes as those in welding and cutting (oxygen,
acetylene); refrigeration (Freon, ammonia, sulfur dioxide); chemical processing
(hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, chlorine); water treatment (chlorine, fluorine). c. Medical
Gas – those used for treatment such as anesthesia (chloroform, nitrous oxide);
respiratory therapy (oxygen).

Prepared by:

Ms. Hazel Faith D. Carreon

Criminology Instructor

Noted by:
Rommel K. Manwong, Ph.D.
Dean-Criminology Department