FIRE TECHNOLOGY WITH ARSON

INVESTIGATION

PREPARED BY: PERSHALYN M. ALMEROL

 WHAT IS FIRE?

- a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other

material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat,
and flame.
 Burning is the result of the rapid union of oxygen with other
substances. (Antoine Lavoisier, French Chemist, 1777)
- A chemical reaction involves the evolution of light and energy in a
sufficient amount to be perceptible. (Quintiere, 1998)
 THE THREE (3) ELEMENTS OF
FIRE
1.Fuel- are any materials 2. Heat- It is described as a condition of 3. Oxidizing Agent- Oxygen
or substance capable of matter in motion caused by the movement
burning. of molecules. All matter contains some  A source of oxygen
heat regardless of how low the is needed.
 For a fire to start there temperature because molecules are always
must be something to moving. When a body of matters is Approximately
burn. The physical state heated, the speed of molecules increases, 16% is required.
of the fuel may be gases and thus the temperature increases.
(natural gas, propane,  For a fire to start there must be a source  Normal air contains
butane, hydrogen, etc.); of ignition, usually heat or a spark. 21% oxygen.
liquids (gasoline,  Heat sources include: open flame, hot
kerosene, turpentine, surfaces, sparks and arcs, friction-  Some fuels contain
alcohol, paint, varnish, chemical action, electrical energy and enough oxygen
lacquer, etc.) or solid compression of gases
within their make-
(coal, wood, paper, cloth,  Ignition Temperature
grease, etc.) up to support
 Combustible Material burning.
THEORIES OF FIRE
1. Fire Triangle Theory- 3 sides representing fuel,
Heat/temperature, and oxygen

 The fire triangle theory solely represents the existence

of the three elements of fire to support combustion,
specifically the glowing combustion.
 This state of burning does not last long as the fire is
expected to die eventually once the supply of any of
the three elements runs out.
 An example of this is when we try to light a match
and let it burn itself until it dies down.
 When its fuel (the stick itself) is consumed, then the
fire dies.
THEORIES OF FIRE
2. Fire Tetrahedron- a 4 sided figure with the sides
representing fuel, temperature, oxygen, and uninhibited
chemical reaction.

 On the other hand, the fire tetrahedron theory introduces

one new key element: the CHEMICAL CHAIN
REACTION.
 This element is the one that is present when a fire
continues to burn.
 This only means that there is already a continuous supply
of the three elements of fire. Thus fire is sustained.
 For example, the burning of a building is a result of this
chemical chain reaction because there is already the
sustained and continuous acceleration of fire.
PROPERTIES OF FIRE
  
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
1. Specific gravity
- it is the weight of a substance compared with an equal volume of
water. The higher the specific gravity of a substance, the greater the
amount of heat necessary to decompose it. Most flammable liquids have a
specific gravity of less than that of water.

 Point to understand:
- an object that floats above water means it has lower specific gravity
than water. These objects can quickly burn. While objects that sink
underwater implies that they have higher specific gravity than water,
these are the objects that usually takes time to cook.
  
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
2. Boiling Point
- the constant temperature at which the liquid's vapor pressure is equal or
above to the atmospheric pressure.
3. Fire Point
- the temperature at which fuel continues to burn after it was ignited that
even if the source of ignition has been removed, it continues to burn.
- the lowest temperature at which vapors of the material will catch fire and
continue burning even after the ignition source is removed.

* Flashpoint of substance is usually a few degrees lower than the fire point.
  
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
4. Flash Point
- the lowest temperature at which a substance gives off a vapor that burns
momentarily (when flame or spark is applied).

Note: If a fuel's temperature has reached its flashpoint, then it can be instantly ignited thus,
producing a momentary fire. If its temperature still increases, such that it continuously releases
combustible vapors, the condition results in sustained burning (combustion). Hence, the fuel is
deemed to have reached its fire point.

5. Auto-ignition point/ self-ignition/kindling temperature

- the lowest temperature at which a substance can be heated to release vapors that
will ignite without the application of a flame or spark. The auto-ignition point is
usually much higher (temperature) than the fire point, and the substance
automatically burns without human or mechanical intervention.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE

1. Endothermic reaction
- changes whereby energy or heat
is absorbed or is added before the
reaction takes place.
2. Exothermic reaction
- those that release or give off
energy; thus, they produce substances
with less power than the reactants.
 Difference Between Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions

ENDOTHERMIC REACTION EXOTHERMIC REACTION

A reaction that the system absorbs energy from A reaction that releases energy from the system
its surrounding in the form of heat. in the form of heat.

The energy is absorbed from the surround into The energy is released from the system to its
the reaction. environment.

The energy in the form of heat Energy is released as heat, electricity, light, or
sound.

Melting ice, evaporation, cooking, gas Rusting iron, settling, chemical bonds, explosions,
molecules, photosynthesis is a few examples. nuclear fission are a few examples.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
3. Flame
- it is composed of incandescent gases. It
is the manifestation of fire when the fire is in
its gas-phase combustion to be sustained. It
should maintain a high temperature and a
concentration of short-lived intermediate
chemical reactions between fuel and oxidizer.
CATEGORIES OF FLAME
 1. BASED ON COLOR AND COMPLETENESS OF
COMBUSTIBILITY OF THE FUEL

a. Luminous flame
- is orange-red, It will deposit soot
at the bottom of a vessel being heated
due to incomplete combustion of fuel
and a lower temperature.
b. Non-luminous flame
- is bluish color, will not deposit
soot due to almost complete
combustion of the fuel, and has a
relatively high temperature
 2.BASED ON FUEL AND AIR MIXTURE

a. A premixed flame
- is exemplified by the Bunsen type
laboratory burner where the hydrocarbon
is thoroughly mixed with air before
reaching the flame zone
b. Diffusion Flame
-is observed when gas (fuel) alone is
forced through the nozzle into the
atmosphere, diffusing, in the surrounding
atmosphere, to form a flammable mixture.
The rate at which the fuel and the oxidizer
are brought together determines the
characteristics of a diffusion flame.
 2.BASED ON SMOOTHNESS
a. Laminar flame
- are flames that follow a smooth path
through a gaseous flame.
b. Turbulent flame
- are those having unsteady, irregular
swirls and eddy. As the physical size, gas
density, or velocity is increased, all
laminar gas flows tend to become
turbulent.
ELEMENTS OF FIRE
 FUEL
CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL
a. Solid Fuels
-the principal component is carbon. The most apparent solid fuels are woods,
fibers, and plastics.

 PYROLYSIS
- is generally defined as the chemical decomposition of matter by the action of
heat or the chemical process whereby fire consumes the most solid part of the fuel.
Pyrolysis Process:
1. FUEL is heated until its temperature reaches its FIRE POINT
2.decomposition takes place – moisture in the fuel is converted to vapor
Note: Decomposition here means that the fire is consuming the solid fuel.
Ex. The wood is being burned is slowly turning into charcoal, meaning the wood is
being decomposed.

3. decomposition produces combustible vapors that rise to the surface of the fuel
(free radicals)
4. FREE RADICALS undergo combustion.
Simply put into perspective, when a SOLID fuel is burned and produces charcoal or ashes, it means
it underwent the pyrolysis process. During the burning process, we notice that there are particles that
are going up in the atmosphere; they are what we call the combustible vapors, sometimes called the
free radicals.

Note: in a case where a solid burning fuel was put off immediately and wasn't consumed by the fire, no
Pyrolysis process took place. Further, these pyrolysis process of burning is generally observed in Solid
Fuels only.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL
b. Liquid Fuels
-the principal component is a hydrocarbon
-the most common liquid fuels are kerosene, gasoline, etc.
Classification of Liquid Fuels
1.Flammable liquids
- it refers to any liquid having a flashpoint below 37.8*C. Flammable means easily
lighted and capable of burning with great rapidity. A flammable substance, therefore, is a
highly combustible substance.
2. Combustible Liquids
-it refers to any liquid having a flashpoint above 37.8*

*Technically speaking, flammable and combustible liquids do not cause a fire. It is the vapors they produce that burn or
explode when exposed to air under the influence of heat.
 
CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL
c. Gaseous Fuels
- the principal component is a hydrocarbon.
-gaseous fuels are either natural or manufactured flammable gases. They
have no definite shape or volume and assumes the form and volume of their
containers.
- examples are Hydrogen carbon monoxide, methane, etc.
 
 HEAT

- It is described as a condition of matter in motion

caused by the movement of molecules. All matter
contains some heat regardless of how low the
temperature because molecules are constantly moving.
When a body of matters is heated, the speed of
molecules increases, and thus the temperature
increases.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

1. Chemical heat energy

- chemically produced heat
is the result of rapid
oxidation. This source of heat
is generated from a chemical
reaction.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

2.Mechanical Heat Energy

- is the product of friction. Our
ancestors rubbed sticks together
to generate heat to start a fire.
- Internal metal components
of machinery can overheat due
to lubricant breakdown.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

 These generally refer to the heat energy that is produced by machines.

 Sometimes, these machines that produce heat, if not managed properly,
can be sources of the fire.
 Once an engine overheats because of excessive use, this heat once
combined with fuel and enough presence of oxygen in the air, fire can
eventually start.
Chemical heat energy is also produced through a combination of solutions or
elements. Experiences in the laboratory during experiments show that some
elements, when combined, can cause an explosion.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

3. Electrical Heat Energy

- is the product of arcing, shorting, or
another electrical malfunction. Poor
wire connections, too much resistance,
loose ground, and too much current
flowing through an improperly sized
wire are other sources of electrical heat.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

4.Nuclear Heat Energy

- is the product of the splitting or fusing of
atomic particles. (fission or fusion respectively).
The tremendous heat energy in a nuclear power
plant produces steam to turn steam turbines.
Uranium is the most common source of nuclear
heat energy.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

a. Nuclear fission
- the nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei and, at the
same time, releases a tremendous amount of energy in
the form of the kinetic energy of the fission fragments.
b. Nuclear fusion
- includes all nuclear reactions in which two light
nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus with the
emission of other particles or gamma rays.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

These are heat energy present in nuclear power plants, as well as what we know as atomic
weapons. Take note that "nuclear" as a term is not at all bad. It only becomes dangerous
once it is used for illegal advancement because having a nuclear plant can also be
beneficial to our everyday life.
 SOURCES OF HEAT ENERGY

5. Solar Heat Energy

- is the energy transmitted
from the SUN in the form
of electromagnetic
radiation.
 HEAT TRANSFER

A. Conduction
– this requires physical contact between bodies or the proportion
of bodies exchanging heat.
B. Radiation
- does not require contact or the presence of any matter between
the bodies.
C. Convection
- occurs when a liquid or gas is in contact with a solid body at a
different temperature and is always accompanied by liquid or gas
motion.
HEAT TRANSFER
 OXIDIZING AGENT
-The common oxidizing agent is oxygen.
Air is composed of;
1. Oxygen- 21%
2. Nitrogen- 78%
3. Inert gases- 1%

% of oxygen needed to produce fire;

a. 21%- normal oxygen
b. 16-21% can support fire point
c. 4-15%- can support flashpoint
d. 12%- insufficient to produce fire
Take note:
 There will be no fire that will start if there is no sufficient
oxygen present.
 To a certain extent, fire may only begin to but eventually die if
there is oxygen but not enough to sustain the fire.
 This situation can be likened to human beings when there is not
enough oxygen present in our environment; eventually, we will
die.
 For us to continue living, there must be a sufficient supply of
oxygen, which we readily inhale.
 CHAIN REACTION

The final requirement for fire is a chemical chain reaction. The

heat of the ignition source starts the reaction, and the heat from
the fire's flame continues the reaction. The flame needs to heat the
fuel and makes it release enough flammable gases to support the
chemical reaction continuously.