1. Forensic Support in Fire Investigation Dr. Tom Hannigan Forensic Science Laboratory, Garda H.Q., Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland.

2. Forensic Science Laboratory Agency of Dept of Justice, Equality & law Reform Approximately 70 staff (all civil servants) 4 sections; Biology, Chemistry, DNA, Drugs Fires dealt with in Chemistry Section Housed in Garda Technical Bureau with whom we work closely

3. Services to criminal investigation Identification of substances e.g. controlled drugs, explosives, accelerants in fire debris Linking individuals and/or scenes to one another through – Biological – Impression or – Trace Evidence

4. How forensic science may link individuals/scenes Biological – biological fluid e.g. blood or cigarette butt at scene – DNA profile extracted– compared with profile of suspect. Impression – fingerprints, footwear impressions, tyretracks, toolmarks. Trace Evidence – anything that can be transferred e.g. fibres, paint, glass, firearm residue etc.

5. Example Man wearing woolly jumper breaks into home of elderly person. Breaks window, having first attempted to force open window with tool. During violent assault, victim suffocates and dies. Attempts to light fire but fire fails to take hold.

6. Examination of crime scene Window frame checked for fingerprints & fibres Control samples paint & glass taken Cast made of toolmark Clothing of victim taken at post-mortem. Suspect arrested – clothing taken for examination for glass & fibres Tool in his possession examined for paint Marks made with tool compared with scene marks

7. Scene Preservation Trace evidence lost with passage of time Forensic evidence usually delicate – avoid disturbing Importance of preserving scene & limiting access Fire suspected to be malicious is a potential crime scene DNA & Fingerprints can sometimes survive extreme heat

8. Role of FSL in fire investigation Mainly to assist in determining whether or not fire malicious Done by analysing debris samples for hydrocarbon fire accelerants Sanples must be taken from seat of fire Finding of accelerants, when unaccounted for, an indicator of arson Must be interpreted in conjunction with other indicators Many other ways in which a malicious fire can be started

9. Hydrocarbon Fire Accelerants Main Classes: PetrolWhite Spirit Paraffin OilDiesel Oil All complex mixtures of hydrocarbons Flammable & Volatile If used to start fire, good chance that some of the heavier hydrocarbons will survive fire, perhaps by seeping into carpet & floorboards.

10. Packaging of debris samples Proper packaging essential Debris samples should never be packed in paper or plastic bags/containers (contamination) We recommend nylon bags for packaging debris samples. Knotted or sealed & appropriately labelled Garda Scenes of Crime examiners have supplies nylon bags

11. Analysis of hydrocarbon fire accelerants Analysed using Gas Chromatography (GC) A technique for separating chemical mixtures Debris sample is heated at 110C for 40 mins to drive any accelerant residue into the vapour phase Sample of vapour from the bag drawn through a glass tube containing Tenax, a polymer which adsorbs hydrocarbons Tube placed in injection port of GC (325C) – hrdrocarbons driven off onto column and separated into individual components Printout is a pattern of peaks characteristic of mixture

12. Fires: Gas Chromatography Flame ionisation detector Temperature ramping 30 minute run Tenax adsorbant

13. INPUT SYSTEM SEPARATION SYSTEM DETECTION SYSTEM CHROMATOGRAPHY

14. FLOW TIME

20. Diesel oil Debris from scene

21. Other services (1) Cans/continers liquid found near fire scenes– liquid analysed for accelerants–can sent for fingerprinting Petrol Bombs (Molotov cocktails)-glass bottle petrol+wick; wick may provide forensic link e.g. with torn clothing in suspect’s house Clothing & footwear persons suspected of handling acclerants-pack in nylon bags-avoid contamination-vapour lost rapidly

22. Other Services (2) Unburnt or partially burnt materials-basic flammability tests to determine whether or not material burns, how rapidly it burns Electrical items – difficult to judge without visit to scene or access to comprehensive record of scene incl. photos. Can comment on signs of electrical activity in cable (arcing, fuse blown) or if device plugged in when fire started (smake pattern on plug).

23. Conclusion Fire investigation is a multi-disciplinary exercise. I hope this presentation has been helpful in clarifying the contribution of the Forensic Science Laboratory to the process. Thank you for your attention.