NCJ Number
53972
Date Published
1979
Length
464 pages
Annotation
THIS TEXTBOOK SHOWS FIRE AND ARSON INVESTIGATORS HOW TO ELIMINATE SUSPECTED FIRE CAUSES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE TRUE CAUSE 'BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT' AS REQUIRED FOR THE CONVICTION OF ARSONISTS.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH THE BASIC DETERMINATION OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED TO THE FINAL PRESENTATION OF PHYSICAL AND OPINION EVIDENCE IN COURT, THE TEXT PROVIDES STEP-BY-STEP DETAILS OF ALL TYPES OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES, WITH EMPHASIS ON RECOGNIZING, IDENTIFYING, AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE. CHAPTER TOPICS INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS FOR A FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THE PHYSICS OF FIRE, THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF FIRES, INCENDIARY FIRES, ELECTRICAL FIRES, GAS FIRES, EXPLOSIONS, APPLIANCE MALFUNCTION MOTOR VEHICLE FIRES, SPONTANEOUS IGNITION, MISCELLANEOUS FIRE CAUSES, FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY, THE TYPES AND USE OF EVIDENCE, THE INVESTIGATOR AS AN EXPERT WITNESS, AND REPORTS AND COURT APPEARANCE. PHOTOGRAPHS, A SAMPLE REPORT FORM, DIAGRAMS, TABULAR DATA AND GRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. AN INDEX IS INCLUDED. (KBL)