copyright fhfi 2006 fire investigations fire investigations fred herrera, cfi san diego, ca (760)...
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Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
FIRE INVESTIGATIONSFIRE INVESTIGATIONSFred Herrera, CFIFred Herrera, CFI
San Diego, CASan Diego, CA
(760) 805-3842(760) 805-3842
www.fredherrera.com www.fredherrera.com [email protected]@fredherrera.com
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
NATIONWIDE STATSNATIONWIDE STATS
2 million fires reported2 million fires reported 9.4 billion dollars damage9.4 billion dollars damage 5,000 fatalities5,000 fatalities 100 firefighter fatalities100 firefighter fatalities 25,500 injuries25,500 injuries #1 cause of fires: cooking#1 cause of fires: cooking #1 cause of fire deaths: smoking#1 cause of fire deaths: smoking
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
COMBUSTIONCOMBUSTION
HeatHeat FuelFuel OxygenOxygen Uninhibited chemical chain reactionUninhibited chemical chain reaction
FOR FIRE SCENARIOFOR FIRE SCENARIO HEAT, FUEL, OXYGEN & EVENTHEAT, FUEL, OXYGEN & EVENT
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
IGNITION OF SOLIDSIGNITION OF SOLIDS
Material must be pyrolyzed, or chemically Material must be pyrolyzed, or chemically decomposed, by the application of heat.decomposed, by the application of heat.
Density and surface area affect Density and surface area affect ignitability.ignitability.
Heat source must have ability to transfer Heat source must have ability to transfer sufficient heat, for sufficient duration, to sufficient heat, for sufficient duration, to fuel source.fuel source.
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
IGNITION OF LIQUIDSIGNITION OF LIQUIDS
Flammable / Flammable / CombustibleCombustible
Flash point below 100 FFlash point below 100 F Flammable liquidFlammable liquid Gasoline, -44 FGasoline, -44 F
Flash point 100 F or Flash point 100 F or aboveabove Combustible liquidCombustible liquid Kerosene, 100 FKerosene, 100 F
Vapors burn, not Vapors burn, not liquidliquid
Fuel / air mixtureFuel / air mixture LEL – Too leanLEL – Too lean UEL – Too richUEL – Too rich Explosive range – Explosive range –
Bingo!Bingo!
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
FIRE ORIGIN DETERMINATIONFIRE ORIGIN DETERMINATION
EXTERIOR EXAMINATIONEXTERIOR EXAMINATION INTERIOR EXAMINATIONINTERIOR EXAMINATION
Least damage to worstLeast damage to worst Identify area of originIdentify area of origin
RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTION FIRE-SPREAD SCENARIOFIRE-SPREAD SCENARIO
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATIONFIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION
AccidentalAccidental Appliance failureAppliance failure
NaturalNatural LightningLightning
IncendiaryIncendiary FraudFraud
UndeterminedUndetermined Black holesBlack holes
Examine indicatorsExamine indicators Identify possible Identify possible
causescauses Identify heat, fuel & Identify heat, fuel &
eventevent Rule out other causesRule out other causes Determine causeDetermine cause
Render opinionRender opinion
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
SYSTEMATIC APPROACHSYSTEMATIC APPROACHSCIENTIFIC METHODSCIENTIFIC METHOD
Recognize the needRecognize the need Define the problemDefine the problem Collect dataCollect data Analyze the dataAnalyze the data Develop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis Test the hypothesisTest the hypothesis Select final hypothesis (determine Select final hypothesis (determine
cause)cause)
Copyright FHFI 2006Copyright FHFI 2006
ARSON MOTIVESARSON MOTIVES
Crime concealmentCrime concealment Spite / revengeSpite / revenge Fraud / ProfitFraud / Profit ExcitementExcitement ExtremistExtremist VandalismVandalism PyromaniaPyromania