FSINSP RODOLFO B ALOCELJA MSCRIM.

INVESTIGATION- is the act of gathering and

collecting information and evidence to
establish the fact in issue.

FIRE INVESTIGATION- is the systematic process

of gathering, identifying, preserving and
evaluating information and evidences to
determine the origin and cause of fire.
ARSON – is a malicious destruction of property
by means of fire. (Art.320-326)

ARSON INVESTIGATION- is the process of

finding the cause and origin of fire and the
extent of damage thereto for the purpose
of determining if the perpetrator is guilty or
not of the crime of arson.
 Elements of Arson

1. Actual burning took place

2. Actual burning is done with malicious intent.
3. The actual burning is done by person(s) legally and
criminally liable.
* Actual Burning took place;

- That there was a fire which maybe shown by direct

testimony of the complainant, fireman responding to the
fire scene and eyewitnesses.
* Actual burning is done with malicious intent;

- Criminal design must shown that it was willfully and

intentionally done. The presence of the incendiary
devices, flammables such as gasoline, kerosene may
indicate that the fire was not accidental.
*The actual burning is done by person(s)
legally and criminally liable.
 MOTIVES OF ARSON
a. Insurance Fraud- This offense normally involves
burning of one’s own property to wrongfully
collect (defraud) insurance money for the loss, by
fire, of the insured property.

b. Grudge and Spite Fires – an individual seeking to

revenge a wrong, either real or fancied, may
attempt to injure or to cause hardship to the
person who caused the wrong. Because a fire
may inflict both physical and financial injury, it may
be used as a medium for revenge.
c. Fires to Cause Public Disturbances –
an offender may resort to arson as
means of causing a public
disturbance. A fire attracts people, is
destructive, causes confusion, and
give attendant problems that divert
police attention.

d. Sabotage Fires - Arson is one of

saboteur’s most effective weapons.
e. Fires to Conceal other Crimes - A criminal
may attempt to cover another crime with a
fire; he may reason that the burning will
appear accidentally and will destroy the
evidence of the original crime. A murderer
may burn both the scene and the victim in
the hope that the corpse will be destroyed
or the cause of death obliterated. A Burglar
may use fire to cover burglary.
f. Fires by Pyromaniacs - Because Pyromaniacs
commits the crime of arson to satisfy an
overpowering impulse , he usually done not
seek any insurance indemnity or other
material gain.

g. Fires by Vandals - Vandalism, as used in the

discussion, is a general term denoting
intentional burning to destroy property.
 Prima Facie Evidence of
Arson
 If the fire started simultaneously in more than one part of
the building or establishment.

 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.
 If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other flammable or
combustible substances or materials soaked therewith or
containers, thereof, or any mechanical electrical, chemical
or electronic contrivance designed to start a fire, or ashes
or traces of any foregoing are found in the ruins or
premises of the burned building or property.
 If the building or property is insured for substantially more
than its actual value at the time of the issuance of policy.

 If during the lifetime of the corresponding fire insurance

policy more than two fire have occurred in the same or
other premises owned or under the control of the offender
and/or insured.
 If shortly before the fire a substantial of the effects and
stored in building or property had been withdrawn from
the premises except in the ordinary course of business.

 If a demand for money or other valuable consideration

was made before the fire in exchange for the distance of
the offender or for the safety of the person or property of
the victim.
Incendiary Devices. An incendiary device is a
manufactured or improvised device used to ignite,
spread or accelerate an incendiary fire. Variations in
design and functioning of incendiary devices are
limited only by the imagination of the arsonist. They
can highly complex devices or simple improvisation
created from everyday household items found in the
garage, kitchen and medicine cabinet.
An incendiary device is usually employed to
cause a delayed ignition permitting the
arsonist to depart the scene and establish
his alibi for the time the fire started.
Incendiary devices are also used to spread
the fire from one area to another and thus
facilitate a complete burning and rapid
destruction of structure. Some common
incendiary devices and techniques are
described below
A “trailer” is a trail of flammable liquid or other
highly flammable substances leading the fire
from the source of ignition to one or more
rooms or areas and even up or downstairs to
other levels or floors in the building. The
intensity of the fire may also indicate the
location of the most severe burning, which may
be indicative of the point of fire origin.
DETERMINATION OF FIRE PATTERN
The nature and material of the
surface that contains the fire pattern
will have a bearing on the shape
and nature of the pattern itself.
Sample:
Alligatory pattern
Deep of Charring
Spalling
Clean Burn
Rate of Charring
Smoke and Soot
Burn pattern with fire from above and below.
Burn pattern with fire from
Saddle burn in a floor joist.
above and below.
Spalling on ceiling.
Clean burn on wall surface.
Development of U-shaped pattern. Truncated cone pattern.
Wood wall studs showing decreasing damage as distance from fire increases.

Typical V pattern showing wall and wood stud damage.

 Charring of wooden structural elements by heat
conduction through wall surface material.
An LP-Gas cylinder that suffered a
BLEVE as a result of exposure to
an external fire.
A typical “pulled” bulb showing that the
heating was from the right side.
THREE (3) FOLD AIMS OF INVESTIGATION

1. To Identify the suspect

2. To locate the suspect

3. To provide Evidence of his/her guilt

SIX (6) CARDINALS OF INVESTIGATION

1. What

2. Who

3. Where

4. When

5. Why, and

6. How
TOOLS OF INVESTIGATOR IN GATHERING FACTS
THREE (3) I’S OR TOOLS OF INVESTIGATION

1. Information

2. Interview and Interrogation

3. Instrumentation
A.INFORMATION – is a knowledge which an
investigator acquires or gathered from
records or persons.

Classification of Information according to

sources:
a. Regular Sources - records, file from gov’t
& non-government agencies, quad media,
stored computer data.
b. Cultivated Sources – Information furnished
informants or informer.
c. Grapevines Sources – Information
coming from the underworld characters
such as convicts.
B.INTERVIEW and INTERROGATION – Is the process of
obtaining information from person.

INTERVIEW – is the process of acquiring information from witness.

- is the questioning of a person believed to possess

knowledge that is of official interest to the
investigator.

INTERROGATION – is the skillfull questioning of hostile witnesses

and suspects.

C. INSTRUMENTATION – is the application of instruments and

methods of physical science in investigation.