CDI 6

FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

FIRE
o it is a result of rapid chemical reaction between a fuel, heat and oxygen
o The active principle of burning characterized by the heat and light of combustion.
o Burning is also called as combustion.
o Was discovered during a fight of a hero with a dragon. A stone that the hero used as a
weapon missed the monster and struck. (PERSIAN LITERATURE)
o Prometheus was bestowed with godlike powers when he stole the god’s fire to give it to
humanity. (GREEK MYTHOLOGY)
o It has played a central role in religion. It has been used as god (Indo-Iranian Agni) and
recognized as a symbol of home and family (hearth fire) in many cultures.
o It has been a symbol of purification, immortality and renewal; hence, the lighting of
flames of remembrance and the myths of the Phoenix.
o The temple of Vesta (Rome) was an outstanding example of the importance of fire to
the Romans.
o Vesta was originally the goddess of fire and her shrine was in every home.

Methods in Producing Fire

 Friction
 Percussion

 Important Personalities and Their Inventions

1. JOHN WALKER
He was the English Pharmacist who invented the first match in 1827. The tip of this match was
coated a mixture of antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate that was held on the wooden matchstick
by gum Arabic and starch.

2. Antoine Laurent Lavoisier ( Ahn-twan Loh-rahn La-vwa-zyey)

A French Chemist who proved in 1777 that burning is the result of rapid union of oxygen with
other substances. As substances burn, heat and light are produced. He was the Father of Modern
Chemistry. He named both oxygen and hydrogen.

3. Thomas Alva Edison

An American inventor who was able to send an elective current through a carbon filament
became so hot that it gave off light.

 Theories of Combustion

1. FIRE TRIANGLE THEORY- the graphical representation of the three elements of fire.
a. Oxygen
A colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which approximately measuring
21%.
 Composition of Air:
• Oxygen- 21%
• Nitrogen-78%
• Inert gases-1%
b. Heat
A form of energy generated by the transmission of some other form of energy, as in combustion
or burning.
c. Fuel
Any substance, which reacts chemically with oxygen and flames.

 In this Theory, Fire may be extinguished using the three ways:

1. Removal of fuel
2. Cutting off the oxygen
3. Reducing the temperature of the area.

 FIRE TETRAHEDRON THEORY

A four sided representation of causes of fire. The fourth element that is added is the Chemical
reaction. When a fuel is heated , it gives off vapor which if mixed with the correct amount of air, can be
ignited by heat sources (e.g. sparks)

 PROPERTIES OF FIRE

A. Physical Properties
1. Specific Gravity
The ratio of the weight of a solid or substance to the weight of an equal volume of water. The
volume of water in the fuel or the volume of dryness of fuel.
2. Vapor Density
The weight of a volume of pure gas compared to the weight of a volume of dry air at the same
temperature and pressure. The relative weight of a gas or vapor compared to air, which has an
arbitrary value of one. If a gas has a vapor density of less than one it will generally rise in air. If
the vapor density is greater than one the gas will generally sink in air. Examples of vapors which
are lighter than the air are acetylene, methane and oxygen. While on the other hands, examples
of vapors that are heavier than the air are, butane, chlorine and ethane which usually may create
fire and health hazardous.
3. Vapor Pressure
The force exerted by the molecules on the surface of the liquid at equilibrium. It is the
indication of liquid evaporation’s rate. Substances with high vapor pressure are considered as
VOLATILE.
4. Temperature
The measure of thermal degree of agitation of molecules of a given substance; the
measure of molecular activity within a substance.
5. Boiling Point
The constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the atmospheric
pressure.
 Water may reach its boiling point in 100 degree Celsius or 212 degree Fahrenheit.
6. Ignition temperature or Kindling temperature
The minimum temperature to which the substance in the air must be heated in order to initiate
or cause self contained combustion without the addition of heat from outside sources.
7. Fire point
The temperature at which the material will give off ample vapors to keep burning. The highest
temperature. In which the vapor will continue burning even the source of ignition will be removed.
8. Flash point
The temperature at which a material is not hot enough to keep burning, but still gives off
enough vapors to cause a flame to flash across the surface. The lowest temperature. Vapor may cease to
burn when the source of ignition is removed.

B. Chemical Properties
1. Endothermic reaction
These are changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is added before the reaction takes
place. Example is the photosynthesis process in which the plant will absorb heat from the sun to convert
Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Oxide to glucose and oxygen.
2. Exothermic Reaction
Reactions or changes that release or gives off energy thus they produced substances with less
energy than the reactants. Example is the mixing of sodium and chlorine to yield table salt.
3. Oxidation
A chemical change in which combustible material and an oxidizing agent react.
4. Combustion flame
The manifestation of fire when the fire is in its gas-phased combustion. A matter that is
produced by fire.

 PYROLYSIS
It refers to the chemical process whereby fire consumes the most solid part of the fuel. It is the
thermal decomposition of a solid fuel through the action of heat.

PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION
1. FIRE GASES
Are those that remain when other products of combustion cool to its normal temperature. The
fire gases formed depends on :
a.chemical composition of the fuel;
b.the percent of oxygen present;
c.the temperature of the fire.
Carbon Monoxide burns rapidly when combined with the oxygen at high temperature which caused
backdraft explosions. Carbon Monoxide which is also produced by slow oxidation, is found in sewers,
caves, wells, mines, stoves, and automobile exhaust.

TYPES OF POISONOUS GAS

A. Hydrogen Sulfide ( H2S )- a fire gas formed during fires involving organic material containing
sulfurs, such as :
a. Rubber
b. Hair
c. Wood
d. Meat
It is colorless, highly toxic gas with the strong odor of rotten eggs.

B. Hydrogen Cyanide ( HCN ) a toxic fire gas found in oxygen-starved fires involving nitrogen
containing materials such as:

a. Wool
b. Silk
c. Urethane
d. Acrylics
The gas is also used as a fumigant which can pose serious danger to firefighters working in
recently fumigated buildings. It smells like bitter almonds.

C. Hydrogen Chloride ( HCl )

A gas which can be fatal after a few breaths. It is commonly produced in fires involving Chloride
containing plastics. Plastics can be found to electrical insulations, conduit and piping’s.

2. FLAME

It is the luminous body of a burning gas which gets hotter and less luminous when mixed with
more oxygen. Flame fades when carbon burns completely, therefore flame is somewhat a product of
incomplete combustion.

TYPES OF FLAME

A.According to Color and Completeness of Combustion

1. Luminous Flame
A reddish-orange or yellow in color; it deposits soot because it is a product of incomplete
combustion; it has a lower temperature and takes time to heat another objects because it is cooler than
the non-luminous flame. Carbon dioxide is present.
2. Non- luminous flame
Bluish in color; it does not deposit soot because it is a product of complete combustion; it has a
higher temperature than luminous flame. Oxygen is present.

B. Based on the Smoothness

1. Laminar Flame
(Smooth flame) flame is laminar when a particle follows a smooth path through a gaseous flame.
A flame which do not bounce around significantly.
2. Turbulent Flame
(rough flame) those having unsteady, irregular swirls and eddies
3. HEAT
A form of energy measured in degree of temperature. It is a product of combustion that spread
the fire. It causes burns and other injuries such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and respiratory tract
injuries.
4. SMOKE
A visible product of incomplete combustion, usually a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and products that released from the burning material

THE ELEMENTS OF FIRE

A. FUELS ( Combustible Materials)

The 3 groups of combustible materials basing on the three states of matter are:
1. Solid combustible materials
Include organic or 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.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS:

1. Class A Fuels
Ordinary combustible materials that are usually made of organic substances such as wood and
wood-based products; includes some of those synthetic and/or inorganic materials like rubber, leather
and plastics.
2. Class B Fuels
Materials which are in the form of flammable liquids such as alcohol, acidic solutions, oil, and
other chemicals such those liquid petroleum products
3. Class C Fuels
Normally fire resistant materials; these are materials used in electrical wirings and other
electrical appliances.
4. Class D Fuels
Combustible metallic substances such as magnesium. Titanium, zirconium, sodium and
potassium.
SOLID FUELS

BIOMASS

•It is the name given to such replaceable organic matter as wood, garbage, and animal manure that can
be used to produce energy.

•Biomass materials other than wood are used as fuel. For example, heat produced by burning nutshells,
rice and oat hulls, and other by-products of food processing are often used to operate plant equipment.

Factors affecting the combustibility of wood and wood-based products:

1. Physical Form
2. Moisture content- water content
3. Heat Conductivity
4. Rate and Period of Heating
5. Rate of Combustion
6. Ignition Temperature

FABRICS AND TEXTILES

Almost all fibers and textiles are combustible.
1. Fiber
very fine thin strand (thread-like) object
2. Fabric
twisted or woven fibers
3. Textiles
machine woven or knitted fabric

LOI (LIMITING OXYGEN INDEX)

 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 because they do not ignite easily. Also, they will not continue burning after the source
of heat or flame is removed.
PLASTICS
Plastics are included as ordinary fuels under class A except those materials composed of or
containing cellulose nitrate. Cellulose nitrate is a chemical (powder) used in bombs. Materials that use
cellulose nitrate are also called PYROXYLIN.

COAL
Is used to heat buildings and to provide energy for industrial machinery. The forms of coal are:
1. lignite, or brown coal
2. sub- bituminous coal
3. bituminous coal; and
4. anthracite
Bituminous coal
The most plentiful and important coal used by industry. It contains more carbon and produces
more heat than either lignite or sub-bituminous coal. It is also the coal best suited for making coke.
Anthracite is the least plentiful and the hardest coal. It contains more carbon and produces more than
other coals. However, anthracite is difficult to ignite and burns slowly.

PEAT
It is partially decayed plant matter found in swamps called bogs and used as a fuel chiefly in
areas where coal and oil are scarce. In Ireland and Scotland, for example, peat is cut, formed into blocks
and dried. The dried blocks are then burned to heat homes.