1. The Burning Question: Is it Arson?

2. How can we make fire? Heat + Fuel + Oxygen

3. How can we make fire? Oxidation: combination of oxygen with other substances to produce new substances Combustion: oxidation reaction with the rapid combination of oxygen with another substance accompanied by the production of heat and light

4. How can we make fire? Flash Point: Lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form a mixture with air that will support combustion (gasoline - 50 o F)

5. How can we make fire? Ignition Temperature: The high temperature that is required to “jump start” the reaction between oxygen and a reactant (gasoline 495 o f)

7. Was it arson? Fires can be caused: Naturally Accidentally Intentionally

8. Was it arson? Suspect arson if you find: Accelerants Paper, black powder, kindling wood, gasoline, kerosene, alcohols, paint thinners, natural gas, propane, lighter fluid Incendiary Devices Timing devices, initiators, candles, electronic timers

9. What is arson? Sniffer/Arson Dogs Chemical Detectors (Vapor Trace Analyzer-VTA) screens air for accelerant residues

10. Where did the fire start? Find the point of origin (POO) Fire spreads upward and sideways from the POO V-pattern

11. Where did the fire start? POO has the most damage Location of igniters and accelerants Stairwells & Drafts may pull the fire in one direction Smoke detector Doors & Floors

12. Where did the fire start?

13. How is arson evidence collected & packaged? Package ASAP in nonporous, sealed containers (clean paint cans, glass jars) Effect of water on evidence Collect samples from area of fire and from unburned areas to compare Collect suspect’s clothing

14. What do we do with arson evidence? Extract any possible accelerants from debris Ultra Violet (UV) Spectroscopy Gas Chromatography (GC) - Mass Spectroscopy (MS) Infrared Spectrophotometry (IR)

15. UV Spec

16. GC-MS Spec

17. IR Spec for Gasoline

18. Can we tell when the victim died? Position body was in Burning corpse assumes boxer’s position Carbon monoxide levels in blood and tissue Asphyxia (suffocation) from inhaling smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) CO Intoxication – excessive CO in the bloodstream Toxicity of CO may prevent victim from escaping even if there is enough time Bright cherry red blood Soot in the mouth, throat, lungs, and airways

19. Why arson? Covering their tracks Insurance fraud Psychological reasons Revenge Suicide or murder Terrorism

20. Arson Statistics The US has the highest rate of arson in the world One of the fastest growing crimes $1.5 billion in property loss/year 55% of all arson arrests are children under 18 yoa

21. Arson Statistics Leading cause of fires 50% of arson cases occur outdoors, 30% in structures, 20% in vehicles Cooking fires are the leading cause of fire-related injury, and smoking fires are the leading cause of fire deaths

22. Arson & The Law Felony Arson – Up to $25,000 fine &/or 3-7 years in jail Aggravated Arson (Felony) - Up to $25,000 fine &/or 6-30 years in jail Residential Arson (Felony) - Up to $25,000 fine &/or 4-15 years in jail

23. Who are arsonistis? Gender Race Age # Fires set History with law Intelligence Education Psychological history

24. Who are arsonistis? Family/Relationships Hobbies Occupation Post-fire activity Ego

25. Who are arsonists? Organized Elaborate incendiary devices, less physical evidence, methodical Disorganized Uses materials at hand, more physical evidence is left