Fire and Arson Investigation

By: Harold O. Garao

 Theories of Combustion

1. Fire Triangle Theory

2. Fire Tetrahedron Theory
3. Life Cycle Theory
 Elements of Fire Triangle

1. Heat - a form of energy measured in the degree of temperature, the product of combustion that caused the
spread of fire
2. Fuel- Any substance/combustibles that reacts chemically
with oxygen and produces flames.
Fuel sources:
• solid -molecules are closely packed together
• liquid- molecules are loosely packed
• Gas- molecules are free to move
3. Oxygen - a colorless and odorless gas and one of the compositions of air that supports fire which is approximately
21% by volume
Using the fire triangle theory, there are three ways of extinguishing a fire;
1. Reduce the temperature ( cooling)
2. Cut off the oxygen supply
3. Remove the fuel
 Elements of fire tetrahedron
1. Oxygen (oxidizing agent) – material/ substance yield oxygen or oxidizing gases during
the process of a chemical reaction
2. Fuel (reducing agent) - material or substance being burned in the combustion process
3. heat (temperature) - the energy component of the fire tetrahedron
4. Self-sustained chemical reaction (the 4th element) - a series of events that occur in
sequence with the results of each individual reaction being added to the rest
 Combustion reaction/ process
- causes pyrolysis or vaporization of solid and liquid fuels and the production of ignitable
gases
- provides the energy necessary for ignition
- causes the continuous production and ignition of fuel vapors or gases to continue the
combustion reaction
 Common sources of heat
A. Types of energy
1. Chemical energy - an energy released as a result of a chemical reaction such as combustion
2. Electrical energy – an energy developed when electrons flow through a conductor
3. Nuclear energy – an energy generated when atoms either split apart or combine
4. Mechanical energy - energy created by friction and compression
5. Heat - an energy that is transferred between two objects of differing temperatures such as the
sun and the earth
6. Lights - a visible radiation created at the atomic level such as flame produced during combustion
• Combustion Or burning - is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel
and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either
a glow or flames, appearance of light flickering
• Pyrolysis - 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

The Process of Pyrolysis

1. The fuel is heated until its temperature reaches its fire point
2. Decomposition takes place- moisture in the fuel is converted into vapor
3. Decomposition produces combustible vapors that rise to the surface of the fuel. these
combustible vapors are technically termed as free radicals
4. Free radicals undergo combustion if the proper amount of oxygen is present
 Products of Combustion
1. Fire gases - chemical composition of the fuel, percent of oxygen present, and the temperature of the
fire. Are those that remain when other products of combustion cool to normal temperature
- types of poisonous gases
 hydrogen sulfide - a fire gas formed during fires involving organic material containing sulfur
 hydrogen cyanide - a toxic fire gas found in oxygen-starved fires involving nitrogen containing material
 hydrogen chloride - a gas which can be fatal after only a few breaths, is produced in fires involving
chloride containing plastic
 Products of Combustion
2. Flame - the visible (light-emitting) part of a fire. it is caused by a highly exothermic reaction
- types of flames –
 According to color and completeness of combustions
• luminous flame – reddish-orange in color; it deposits soot because it is a product of incomplete combustion
• non luminous flame - blueish in color; it does not deposit soot because it is a product of complete
combustion; it has a higher temperature than luminous flame
 According to burning fuel and air mixture
• premixed flame- example of a bunsen burner
• diffusion flame - example of flame of the oxyacetylene torch / diffused dispersed; widely spread
 Based on smoothness
• laminar flame- smooth flame; flame is laminar when a particle follows a smooth path through a gaseous
flame
• turbulent flame- rough flame; those having, unsteady regular swirls and eddies
 Products of Combustion
• Heat – a form of energy generated by the transmission of some other form of energy; a form of
energy measured in the degree of temperature, it is the product of combustion that spreads the
fire
• Smoke – visible product of incomplete combustion, a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, and finely divided particles released from the burning material
 PROPERTIES OF FIRE
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 ratio of
the density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure
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
3. Vapor pressure - the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of the liquid at equilibrium
4. Temperature -the measure of the thermal degree of the agitation of molecules of a given substance; the measure of
the 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
6. Ignition temperature Or kindling temperature - the minimum temperature at 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
8. Flashpoint - the temperature at which material is not hot enough to keep burning, but still gives us enough vapors to
cause a flame to flash across the surface.
A.Chemical properties
1. Endothermic reaction - changes were by energy, ( heat) is absorbed or is added
before the reaction takes place
2. Exothermic reaction - reactions or changes that release or give off energy ( heat)
that's they produce substances with less energy than the reactants
3. Oxidation - chemical change in which combustible material (fuel) And oxidizing agent
react
4. Combustion - the manifestation of fire when the fire is in its gas phase combustion

• Vapor density
- The term used to explain the weight of vapors
 Phases of Burning/ Three stages of fire
1. Incipient/beginning phase - the initial stage of fire
2. Free burning phase - the second phase of burning in which materials or
structures are burning in the presence of adequate oxygen
3. Smoldering phase - the final phase of burning wherein flame ceases but
dense smoke and heat completely fill the confined room
• Backdraft
- Any action taken during the firefighting operations that allows air to mix with these hot
gases can result in an explosive ignition
• Flash over
- Occurs when a room or other area is heated enough that flames sweep over the entire
surface
- The point in a fire at which other combustibles within the area ignite, changing the fire
from 1 object on fire to many objects on fire
• Roll over
- the point at which gas is produced by pyrolysis ignites
- It involves only Any gases and is typified by a brief, Sudden ignition in the overhead area
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
A. Based on the cause
1. natural fire
2. accidental fire
3. intentional fire
B. Based on burning fuel
1. Class A - materials involved vegetable fibers, wood, paper straw, grain, and grass
2. Class B - materials including petroleum products such as gasoline, fuel oils, lubricating oils, add greases
3. Class C - involves electrical motors, electrical appliances and apparatus
4. class D- involving combustible metals, alloys, or metal compounds either in a solid, semi solid or liquid state
5. class K - materials involved in the kitchen fires
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

1. Class A Fire Extinguisher

2. Class B Fire Extinguisher
3. Class C Fire Extinguisher
4. Class d Fire Extinguisher
5. Class K Fire Extinguisher