Arson Evidence Review Puzzle Template (2024)

FAQs

How do you analyze arson evidence? ›

Clues the investigator can evaluate to determine the fire's cause include smoke color, flame color, and odors present at the fire scene. Field chemical tests can be employed to analyze physical evidence from the fire scene.

Intentional fires are those fires that are deliberately set and include fires that result from deliberate misuse of a heat source, fires of an incendiary nature (arson), as well as con- trolled burn fires, such as crop clearing, that required fire service intervention.

Many accelerants are hydrocarbon-based fuels such as gasoline (petroleum), diesel fuel, kerosene, turpentine, butane, and various other flammable solvents collectively known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Hair found at the scene should be placed in a paper packet and then placed in an envelope. If a microscopic examination is required, then 15-20 representative hairs from the suspect must be submitted to the lab for comparison.

During the scene examination, investigators may find evidence such as accelerants, tampered utilities, and specific burn patterns, which may indicate criminal activity.

Possible Motives for Committing Arson

This paper identifies six possible motives for arson, namely: • profit; • animosity; • vandalism; • crime concealment; • political objectives; and • psychopathological factors.

For police purposes, acts of arson are divided into three occasionally overlapping categories: vandalism, pyromania, and arson for profit. An estimated 35 to 50 percent of all arson is committed by juveniles.

Unless there is a direct admission of guilt, a definitive photograph or video tape showing the crime, or irrefutable eyewitness testimony, it is difficult to convict an arsonist.

Some other interesting arson facts are that most arsonists are male (86%), and about half of intentional fires are set by children. Matches and lighters are the most common ignition sources. Arson is the cause of 33% of dormitory fires and 15% of residential fires.

What are three telltale signs of arson? ›

Evidence submitted for arson testing must be properly packaged in a coated aluminum can. Size of the can should be proportional to the size of the sample. Cans should be sealed with the lid, and then sealed with evidence tape (initial/date over tape).

Dry all wet or bloody items over clean paper prior to packaging. Once dry place paper and items in a paper bag or box. Information concerning a case should be submitted with the evidence.

When evaluating the scene, investigators take visual note of any evidence, such as blood and the origin of the fire. After investigators have completed with their evaluation of the scene, the guide denotes “Documenting the scene” as the next step in the investigative process.

The five steps recommended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for collecting and preserving evidence are (1) obtaining it legally; (2) describing the evidence in detailed notes; (3) identifying it accurately and positively; (4) packaging it properly for identification, storage, or shipment to the laboratory; and (5 ...

Evidence Handling

The fire investigation procedure includes various steps, including scene examination, evidence collection, and analysis. Evidence may comprise burn patterns, debris, and witness statements.

Once collected the most common method for identifying the accelerants at a fire is by the use of a GC (Gas Chromatograph) or GCMS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer). The gas chromatograph is the most sensitive and reliable instrument for detecting and characterizing flammable residues.

Accelerant Detection

Today, the field of arson investigation can benefit from techniques like GC-MS, which stands for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This process can identify even trace amounts of accelerants and ignitable fluids so that they can be analyzed as part of a fire investigation.

Arson is by its very nature a clandestine offense, often committed under cover of darkness and almost always away from any eyewitnesses in order to minimize the chance of detection. The evidence is almost entirely circ*mstantial by definition.