NCJ Number
73598
Editor(s)
F L Brannigan,
R G Bright,
N H Jason
Date Published
1980
Length
196 pages
Annotation
The handbook is a reference tool for beginning or experienced fire investigators, covering fire ground procedures, postfire interviews, the building and its makeup, ignition sources, the chemistry and physics of fire, and sources of information.
Abstract
Fire investigation includes the examination of all circumstances surrounding the growth and extension of the fire. Procedures for determining the origin and cause of a fire and for gathering, marking, and safeguarding the evidence are outlined and explained, and the role of the firefighter is discussed. Instructions are given on developing information from eyewitnesses and interviewing techniques, with attention to legal issues involved in arson investigations. A discussion of the building and its makeup includes information on general construction principles, the effect of fire and high temperature on all types of building materials, and utility systems. Ignition sources outlined include flaming ignition, smoldering combustion, spontaneous ignitions, electricity, and explosions. A case study of an electrical fire is presented. Also discussed are the chemical behavior of gases, liquids, and solids in fires; heat transfer in fires through convection, conduction, and radiation; and factors involved in the severity and duration of a fire. Finally, a list of Federal and private organizations offering information on fire investigations is presented. Chapter references, illustrations, photographs, an index, and tables are presented. The appendixes have sections on how to organize an arson task force, the expert witness, and independent testing laboratories; 18 references and a list of contributors are included.