QUEST REVIEW CENTER

1550 Espana Blvd. Cor. Lacson Ave., Sampaloc, Manila

NOTES ON CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION

CDI-6: FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

FIRE
- a rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process accompanied by the evolution of heat and light
of varying intensity
- an active chemical reaction that takes place between fuel, heat and oxygen in the form
of light and noticeable heat
- a chemical reaction; the rapid oxidation of a fuel producing heat and light
- an oxidation taking place with a rate rapid enough to produce heat and light

TECHNOLOGY
- the branch of knowledge that deals with industrial arts and sciences
- the application of such knowledge that is used to produce the material necessity of
society

ELEMENTS OF FIRE OR TRIANGLE OF FIRE

FUEL
- anything that will burn when heated with sufficient oxygen

OXYGEN
- aids in combustion; comes from the atmosphere we breath; the atmosphere contains:
21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% impurities
HEAT
- source of ignition

TRIANGLE OF FIRE
For many years, the fire triangle (oxygen, fuel and heat) was taught as the components
of fire. While this simple example is useful, it is NOT technically correct.

TETRAHEDRON OF FIRE
- a geometric representation of what is required for fire to exist, namely, fuel, an oxidizing
agent, heat, and an uninhibited chemical reaction

FIRE TETRAHEDRON

- Oxygen (oxidizing agent)

- Fuel
- Heat
- Self-sustained chemical reaction
 Each component of the tetrahedron must be in place for combustion to occur.
Remove one of the four components and combustion will not occur. If ignition has
already occurred, the fire is extinguished when one of the components is removed from
the reaction.

OXYGEN (Oxidizing Agent)

- a colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which is approximately 21%
percent by volume
-
Oxygen sources: Oxygen requirements:
1. 21% of normal oxygen 1. 12% no fire
2. 78% nitrogen 2. 14% flash point
3. 1% other gases 3. 21% fire point

FUEL
- the material or substance being oxidized or burned in the combustion process.

Fuel sources
1. Solid
- molecules are closely packed together
2. Liquid
- molecules are loosely packed
3. Gas
- molecules are free to move

HEAT
- the energy component of the fire tetrahedron
- when heat comes into contact with a fuel, the energy supports the combustion reaction
- heat energy is measured in units of Joules (J), however it can also be measured in
Calories (1 Calorie = 4.184 J) and BTU's (1 BTU = 1055 J)

TEMPERATURE
- a measure of the degree of molecular activity of a material compared to a reference
point
- a measure of the degree of molecular activity of a material compared to a reference
point
- measured in degrees Farenheit or degrees Celsius

C F Response
37 98.6 Normal human oral/body temperature
44 111 Human skin begins to feel pain
48 118 Human skin receives a first degree burn injury
55 131 Human skin receives a second degree burn injury
62 140 A phase where burned human tissue becomes numb
72 162 Human skin is instantly destroyed
100 212 Water boils and produces steam
140 284 Glass transition temperature of polycarbonate
230 446 Melting temperature of polycarbonate
250 482 Charring of natural cotton begins
300 572 Charring of modern protective clothing fabrics begins
600 1112 Temperatures inside a post-flashover room fire
Types of Energy (common sources of heat)
1. Chemical Energy
2. Electrical Energy
3. Nuclear Energy
4. Mechanical Energy

CHEMICAL ENERGY
- the most common source of heat in combustion reactions

When any combustible is in contact with oxygen, oxidation occurs. The reaction
of this process results in the production of heat.
ex. Heat generated from burning match, self heating (spontaneous heating)

ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- can generate temperature high enough to ignite any combustible material near the
heated area

Examples:
1. over current or overload
2. arcing
3. sparking
4. static
5. lightning

NUCLEAR ENERGY
- generated when atoms either split apart (fission) or combine (fusion)
Ex.
1. fission heats water to drive steam turbines and produce electricity
2. solar energy is a product of a fusion reaction

MECHANICAL ENERGY
- an energy created by friction and compression

1) Heat of friction - the movement of two surfaces against each other, thus producing
sparks
2) Heat of compression - heat is generated when a gas is compressed in a container or
cylinder

SELF-SUSTAINED CHEMICAL REACTION

Combustion is a complex reaction that requires a fuel (in the gaseous or vapor state), an
oxidizer, and heat energy to come together in a very specific way. Once flaming combustion or
fire occurs, it can only continue when enough heat energy is produced to cause the continued
development of fuel vapors or gases. Scientists call this type of reaction a chain reaction.
A chain reaction is a series of reactions that occur in sequence with the result of each
individual reaction being added to the rest.

FIRE DEVELOPMENT
 When the four components of the fire tetrahedron come together, ignition occurs. For a
fire to grow beyond the first material ignited, heat must be transmitted beyond the first material
to additional fuel packages.

Stages of Fire
- Ignition
- Growth
- Flashover
- Fully-developed
- Decay

IGNITION
- describes the period when the four elements of the fire tetrahedron come together and
combustion begins

GROWTH
- shortly after ignition, a fire plume begins to form above the burning fuel. As the plume
develops, it begins to draw or entrain air from the surrounding space into the column.

FLASHOVER
- the transition between the growth and the fully developed fire stages and is not a specific
event such as ignition. During flashover, conditions in the compartment change very
rapidly as the fire changes from one that is dominated by the burning of the materials
first ignited to one that involves all of the exposed combustible surfaces within the
compartment.

FULLY-DEVELOPED
- occurs when all combustible materials in the compartment are involved in the fire

DECAY
- as the fire consumes the available fuel in the compartment, the rate of heat released
begins to decline.

THREE (3) STAGES OF FIRE

1. Incipient phase
2. Free burning phase
3. Smoldering

1. INCIPIENT STAGE
- initial stage of fire

Characteristics
- normal room temperature
- oxygen plentiful
- thermal updraft rise accumulates at higher point
- temperature at 1000 F
- Producing C02, CO, SO2, water and other gases

2. FREE BURNING PHASE

- a phase of burning in which materials or structures are burning in the presence of
adequate oxygen
Characteristics
- fire has involved more fuel
- oxygen supply has depleted
- heat accumulates at upper area
- temperature exceeds 1,330 F
- area is fully involved

3. SMOLDERING PHASE
- final phase of burning wherein flame ceases but dense smoke and heat
completely fill the confined room
MODES OF HEAT TRANSFER

Heat is by-product of combustion that is of significant importance to the firefighter. It is

heat that causes fire to sustain its combustion and, more important, to extend. When heat given
off as a product of combustion is exposed to an unheated substance, certain changes occur that
can make the new substance a contributing factor in extending a fire.

CONDUCTION
- heat transfer within solids or between contacting solids

When a hot object transfers its heat, conduction has taken place. The transfer could be
to another object or to another portion of the same object. As we have discovered and will be
constantly reinforced about, combustion occurs on the molecular level. When an object heats
up, the atoms become agitated and begin to collide with one another. A chain reaction of
molecules and atoms, like wave energy, occurs and causes the agitated molecules to pass the
heat energy to areas of non-heat.

CONVECTION
- heat transfer by the movement of liquids or gasses

Air that is hotter than its surroundings rises. Air that is cooler than its surroundings sinks.
Air is made up of many molecules floating about freely. Even so, it still has weight. Some
molecules are made up of the same element. For example, oxygen in its natural state will
combine with another oxygen atom to form a stable oxygen molecule. In a given volume, air at a
given temperature will have the same density. When heated, as in conduction theory, the
molecules become agitated and begin to collide with one another. In the process, the molecules
are demanding more space to accommodate the vibrations and they push into one another as
they seek that space. When that happens, the density of a given volume is reduced and it
weighs less. Because it weighs less, it rises until it reaches equilibrium-the level at which the
weight is the same as the surrounding atmosphere.

RADIATION
- heat transfer by electromagnetic waves

The last form of heat transfer occurs by radiation. As we have already seen, heat energy
can be transmitted directly when molecules collide with one another and cause the waves of
heat energy to travel.

FLAME CONTACT
 - heat may be conducted from one body to another by direct flame contact

PROPERTIES OF FIRE
1. Physical properties
2. Chemical Properties

1. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
a. Specific gravity
- the ratio of the weight of a solid or substance to the weight of an equal volume of
water
b. Vapor density
- the weight of volume of pure gas compared to weight of a volume of dry air at the
same temperature and pressure
c. Vapor pressure
- the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of the liquid at the equilibrium
d. Temperature
- the measure of the thermal degree of the agitation of molecules of a given
substance; the measure of the molecular activity within the substance
e. Boiling Point
- the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the
atmospheric pressure
f. Ignition temperature
- the minimum temperature to which the substance in the air must be heated in
order to initiate or cause self-contained combustion without addition of heat from
outside sources
g. Fire point
- the temperature at which the material will give off ample vapors to keep burning
h. Flash point
- the temperature at which the material is not hot enough to keep burning, but still
gives off enough vapors to cause a flame across the surface
2. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
a. Endothermic reaction
- are changes whereby energy is absorbed or is added before the reaction takes
place
b. Exothermic reaction
- reactions or changes that releases or give off energy
c. Oxidation
- a chemical change in which combustible material and an oxidizing material react
d. Combustion or flame
- the manifestation of fire is in its gas-phased combustion; matter that is produced
by fire.

Material Ignition Temperature

F C
Gasoline 536 280
Kerosene 410 210
Turpentine 488 253
Paper 842 450
Wood 489 254
Coal 750 400
CLASSIFICATIONS OF FIRE

I. BASED ON CAUSE
a. Natural fire/ providential
b. Accidental fire
c. Intentional Fire/Incendiary
d. Undetermined

A. NATURAL FIRE
- involves fires without direct human intervention
Examples:
- Earthquake
- Typhoon
- Lightning
- Spontaneous combustion arising from the storage of combustible materials in
poorly ventilated places
- Explosion from petroleum products, alcohol and other substances
- Sun rays focused on glasses which may serve as a convex lens

B. ACCIDENTAL FIRE
- Carelessly discarded cigarettes
- Careless disposition of readily combustible materials
- Poorly managed or defective heating facilities
- Overheating, spark and electrical defects
- Overload electric circuits/ Octopus connections
- Children playing matches
- Use of candles

C. INCENDIARY FIRE
- is one deliberately set under circumstances in which the person knows that the
fire should not be set

D. UNDETERMINED FIRE CAUSE

- whenever the cause cannot be proven, the proper classification is undetermined

II. BASED ON BURNING FUEL

CLASS A
- ordinary solid materials such as wood, paper, fabrics, etc.
- this will be indicated by deep cited fire, leaves ashes and embers (glowing coals) after
burning

CLASS B
- flammable liquids such as gasoline, lube oil, kerosene, paint thinner, etc.

CLASS C
- electrical appliances; causes electric shock

CLASS D
- metal fire such as magnesium (white element burning with dazzling light), sodium (a
silver white metallic element), etc.; creates violent reaction
CLASS E
- flammable gases such as LPG, LNG, etc.; also creates violent reaction

Fire Classes in the United Kingdom and Europe

A ordinary combustibles
B flammable or flammable liquids
C flammable gasses
D combustible metals
E (this class is no longer existing in Europe)
F cooking oils and fats

Fire Classes in Australia and Asia

A everyday combustibles
B combustible or combustible liquids
C combustible gasses
D combustible metals
E electrical equipment
F cooking fats and oils

Fire Classes in the U.S.A. (NFPA)

A regular combustibles
B flammable liquids and gasses
C electrical appliances
D combustible metals
K cooking oils and fats

FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT

EXTINGUISHING AGENT
1. Class A water (all agents)
2. Class B foam/carbon dioxide (all agents)
3. Class C carbon dioxide/powder (never use water, soda acid and foam)
4. Class D special powder
5. Class E all agents

METHODS OF EXTINGUISHMENT
1. COOLING heat absorption.
2. SEPARATION the removal of the fuel.
3. SMOTHERING by expelling oxygen
4. Inhibition or the interruption of chemical chain reaction

Strategies Used in Firefighting:

1. Locate the fire
2. Confine the fire
3. Extinguish the fire
4. Exposures

Factors to Consider in Extinguishment:

1. Time
 2. Weather (temperature, humidity, wind)
3. Fire ( ex. Extent, location, bldg construction, contents involved)
4. Occupancy
5. Ventilation (used for clearing the bldg of smoke and gases)

Types of Ventilation:
a. Vertical ventilation - must be worked from the top to bottom
b. Cross or horizontal ventilation - used if gases have not reached the higher level through
the opening of windows
c. Mechanical force ventilation - a method whereby a device such as smoke ejector is
utilized to remove faster excessive heat and dense smoke

Factors to determine the location for the opening:

1. Location of intensity of fire
2. Highest point on the roof
3. Direction of wind
4. Existing exposure
5. Extent of fire
6. Obstruction

ADDITIONAL BASIC TACTICS USED IN EXTINGUISHING FIRE

1. RESCUE - any action taken by the firefighters to remove occupants/ persons from
building/ hazards to a safety place
2. OVERHAUL - a complete and detailed checked of the structures and materials involved
in the fire to make sure that every spark and ember has been extinguished and to have
assurance against re-ignition
3. SALVAGE - an action taken by the firefighters in preventing excessive damage by fire,
water with the use of salvage cover or by removing materials out from the burning
building

Types of ladder
1. Ground ladders (10 to 55 ft. long)
2. Aerial ladders

Purposes of ladders
a. for rescue
b. to stretch line into a fire building
c. to provide ventilation by giving access to places that are hard to reach

Forms of ground ladders

a. Wall
b. Extension
c. Hook or straight ladder
d. Attic ladder

LADDER TERMINOLOGY
1. Bed ladder - the lowest section of an extension ladder
2. Fly ladder - the top section of an extension ladder
3. Butt - the bottom end of a ladder
4. Heel - the part of the ladder that touches the ground
5. Halyard - a rope or cable used to raised the fly ladder
 6. Pawl or dog - the mechanism located at the end of the fly ladder that locks to the bed
ladder
7. Rung - the cross member of the ladder that is used for climbing
8. Top or tip - it is the top part of the ladder
9. Hooks - part of a ladder that is used to hook over a roof peak, sills, or walls where the
heel does not rest on a foundation. (roof type ladders)
10. Stops - made of metal or wood blocks used to prevent the fly of an extension ladder from
extending out further from the ladder
11. Guides - light metal strips of an extension ladder that guides the fly ladder while it is
being raised or lowered

ARSON INVESTIGATIVE GUIDE AND PROCEDURES

ARSON
- the willful and malicious burning of all kinds of buildings and structures including
personal properties

INVESTIGATION
- an art that deals with the identity and location of the offender and provides evidence of
his guilt in criminal proceedings

ELEMENTS OF ARSON
1. Actual burning took place
2. Actual burning is done with malicious intent
3. The actual burning is done by person(s) legally and criminally liable

LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

The law on arson in the Philippines is covered by Articles 320 to 326 of the Revised
Penal Code, as amended by PD No. 1613, PD No. 1744, and Sec. 50 Rule VIII IRR of RA 6975
which provides that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall have the power to investigate all
causes of fires and, if necessary, file the proper complaint with the City/Provincial prosecutor
who has jurisdiction over arson cases.

LAWS ON ARSON
1. Article 320 326 of the Revised Penal Code
- defines arson, its forms and penalties
2. PD 1613 the law amending the law on arson
- defining the prima facie evidence of arson

3. RA 7659
- An Act to Impose Death Penalty on Certain Heinous Crimes, amending for that
purpose the Revised Penal Code as amended, other special laws, and for other
purposes
4. RA 6975 Sec. 54
- provides that the Fire Bureau shall have the power to investigate all causes of
fires and if necessary file the proper complaint with the City/Provincial Prosecutor who
has jurisdiction over the case

What Constitutes Arson?

1. Burning
 2. Willfulness means intentional and implies that the act was done purposely and
intentionally
3. Malice denotes hatred or ill will or a desire for revenge; deliberate intention of doing
unjustified harm for the satisfaction of doing it
4. Motive the moving cause which induces the commission of a crime; something that
leads or influences a person to do something
5. Intent the purpose or design with which the act is done and involves the will; an
essential element of crime, motive is not

Why is arson very hard to investigate?

Arson is one of the most difficult offenses to investigate because the arsonist can be
able to set a fire and escape undetected. The fire can consume the scene and destroy much
physical evidence of the offense. Harder forms of evidence are often buried in debris and
grossly altered in appearance.

What Constitutes Burning?

The mere fact that a building is scorched or discolored by heat is not sufficient nor will
bare intention or even an attempt to burn a house amount to arson, if no part of it is
burned.
Yet, if there is actual ignition of any part of the building, arson is committed, although
there be no flame or the fire immediately goes out of itself.
To burn means to consume by fire and in the case of arson, if the wood is blackened but
no fibers are wasted, there is no burning, yet the wood need not be in flame or blaze,
and the burning of any part, however, small is sufficient to constitute arson, and if the
house is charred in a single place so as to destroy the fibers of the wood, it is sufficient
to constitute arson.

What is Attempted Arson?

In attempted arson, it is not necessary that there be a fire before the crime is committed.
No hard and fast rule is laid down by the law as to the requirements for attempted arson.
The peculiar facts and circumstances of a particular case should carry more weight in
the decision of the case. Thus, a person intending to burn a wooden structure, collects
some rags, soaks them in gasoline and places them beside the wooden wall of the
building. When he is about to light a match to set fire to the rags, he is discovered by
another who chases him away.

The crime committed is attempted arson, because the offender begins the commission
of the crime directly by overacts (placing the rags soaked in gasoline beside the wooden
wall of the building and lighting a match) but he does not perform all the acts of
execution (the setting of the fire to the rags) due to the timely intervention of another who
chases away) the offender.

What is Frustrated Arson?

In frustrated arson, the fact of having set fire to some rags and jute sacks soaked in
kerosene oil and placed near the partition of the entire soil of an inhabited house, should
not be qualified as a consummated arson, in as much as no part of the house had begun
to burn, although fire would have started in the said partition had it not been
extinguished on time. The crime committed was frustrated arson.
What is Consummated Arson?
The offender did in fact set fire to the roof of the house and said house was partially
burned. The crime was consummated arson, notwithstanding the fact that the fire
afterwards extinguished for once it has been started, the consummation of the crime of
arson does not depend upon the extent of the damage caused.
Setting fire to the contents of a building constitutes the consummated crime of setting
fire to a building even if no part of the building was burned.

Basis of Liability in Arson:

1. Kind and character of the building, whether of public or private ownership.
2. Its location, whether in an uninhabited place or in a populated place.
3. Extent of damage caused; and
4. The fact of its being inhabited or not.

Some of the Arson Evidence that the Investigator should seek at the Fire scene are the
following:
1. Unusually rapid spread of the fire.
2. Where it originated?
3. Separate fires when two or more separate fires break-out within a building, the fire is
certainly suspicious.
4. Unusual odors the odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other inflammable liquids
are indicated by their characteristics and oftentimes, arsonists are trapped because of
this tell tale signs.
5. Objects that appear to be foreign to the scene such as cans, candles, matches,
explosives, electrical appliances such as irons, heating elements, clocks, radios,
flammables, trailers, etc.
6. Charring pattern may indicate fire characteristics. The fact that the fire feeds on
combustible while propagating itself, indicates that the char will generally be deepest
from where the fire originates. When a fire is extinguished quickly, the charring is only
slightly below the surface. Fire burning for a longer period of time will indicate a char that
is deep and pronounced. These facts are most apparent in the charring of wood as a fire
burns. The charring from fire on woods looks like the hide of a black alligator. Fire
extinguished quickly on wood will show a large alligatoring pattern that has not penetrate
the wood to any extent. Fire burning for a long period of time on wood will show small
alligatoring pattern but the char will go deep into the wood. The direction of fire can also
be taken into consideration with charring. The exposed side of combustible will have a
deeper char than the unexposed side.
7. Evidence of forcible entry or lack of same may be important depending on the
circumstances at the time of the fire. If the investigator determines there was no forcible
entry and finds that the building was secured prior to discovery of the fire, he can
reasonably suspect there is possibility that the person who sets the fire entered the
building with a key. Doors and windows showing signs of forced entry may point to
arson preceded by burglary or arson by someone without a key to the premises.

Motives of Arson
Motive
Motive is the moving cause which induces a person to commit a crime.

Is Motive Necessary to be Proven in Criminal Proceedings?

 No. motive is not necessary to be proven in criminal proceedings but once motive is
shown, then intent can easily established.
In the crime of arson, the distinction between motive and intent is clearly defined.
INTENT is a material element of arson while motive is not. INTENT is the purpose of
design with which the act is done and involves the will while MOTIVE is what induces the
criminal.

Motive Can Be Established By:

I. Economic Gain
A. Insurance fraud with the assured directly benefiting:
1. Desire to move
the premises may no longer be desirable because of the condition of the building,
the fact that the quarters are outgrown or because of the locality.
2. Disposing of Merchandise
the stocks on hand may have lost value by reason of the seasonal nature of the
business, obsolesce, scarcity of materials necessary to complete the contracts,
overstock in the absence of expected order or a changing market.
3. Property Transaction
the business itself may no longer be desirable because of impending liquidation,
settlement of an estate of which it is a part, the need for cash, prospective failure,
the comparatively greater value of the land, or the comparatively greater value of
the insurance benefits.
B. Profit by the Perpetrator other than the assured:
1. Insurance agents wishing business
2. Insurance adjusters desiring to adjust a loss by securing a contract
3. Business competitors
4. Persons seeking jobs as protection personnel
5. Salvagers
6. Contractors wishing to rebuild or wreck

Concealment of Crime:
the arsonists may set fire to a building in order to conceal a projected or past
crime. He may wish to divert attention in order to loot the burning premises or
steal in other places. The burning may be for the purpose of destroying
evidences.

Punitive Measure:
- An arsonists may use fire as a means of punishing another person for reason of
jealousy, hatred or revenge.

Intimidation or Economic Disabling:

- The fire may be used as a weapon of the saboteurs, the strikers or the racketeers to
intimidate or to disable economically as a step toward forcing submission to certain
demands.

Pyromania
is the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn anything without motivation.
Pyromaniacs usually do not run away from the scene of the crime, usually alone and feel
satisfied watching the flame

Types of Pyromaniacs:
 1. Abnormal Youth Epileptics, imbeciles and morons may set fire without knowing the
seriousness of the act.
2. The Hero Type a person may set fire on a building, subsequently pretends to discover
it and turn in the alarm so that he will appear a hero to the public. A person may burn a
building and endeavor to achieve spectacular rescue in order to attract the attention of
spectators.
3. Alcoholics and Drug Addicts persons who subject themselves to intense artificial
stimulants such as narcotics sometimes develop a strong urge toward incendiaries.
4. Sexual Deviates some sex perverts derive sexual stimulation from setting a fire and
watching the flame. Frequently, he is chronic masturbator who stimulates and enhances
his sexual gratification by means of arson.

Public Disturbance
- an offender may resort to arson as a means of a public disturbance because a fire
attracts people and destruction causes confusion that gives rise to attendant problems
that divert police attention.

Vandalism
is a general term denoting intentional burning to destroy properties.

In determining motive, a fire investigator concentrates on three major factors:

1. Points of origin of the fire
2. Modus operandi of the arsonist
3. Identify of persons who might benefits from the fire.

Incendiary Materials
- materials used to start a fire; combustible fuels
1. Arson Chemicals (liquids) are incendiary materials often used by arsonists as
accelerants. Possess excellent properties. Examples: alcohol, benzene, petroleum
ether, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, turpentine.
2. Gases as acetylene, butane, CO, ethylene, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, these are
common gases resulting in fires from explosion. These when mix with air possess
excellent in ignition properties and when present in an enclosed area can lead to
explosion.
3. Solids as chlorates, perchlorates, chromates, bichromates, nitrates, permanganates
are typical families of oxidizing agents which give off oxygen on decomposition thus
aiding in combustion.

FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Republic Act No. 9514

- Approved on December 19, 2008
- Repealed PD 1185
- known as the "Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008".

Definition of terms
Abatement - Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.
Administrator - Any person who acts as agent of the owner and manages the use of a building
for him.

Blasting Agent - Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off
explosives.

Cellulose Nitrate Or Nitro Cellulose - A highly combustible and explosive compound produced
by the reaction of nitric acid with a cellulose material.

Cellulose Nitrate Plastic (Pyroxylin) - Any plastic substance, materials or compound having
cellulose nitrate (nitro cellulose) as base.

Combustible, Flammable or Inflammable - Descriptive of materials that are easily set on fire.
Combustible Fiber - Any readily ignitable and free burning fiber such as cotton, oakum, rags,
waste cloth, waste paper, kapok, hay, straw, Spanish moss, excelsior and other similar
materials commonly used in commerce.

Combustible Liquid - Any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8_C (100_F).

Corrosive Liquid - Any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with
certain chemicals.

Curtain Board - A vertical panel of non-combustible or fire resistive materials attached to and
extending below the bottom chord of the roof trusses, to divide the underside of the roof into
separate compartments so that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.

Cryogenic - Descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction with
other elements produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings.

Damper - A normally open device installed inside an air duct system which automatically closes
to restrict the passage of smoke or fire.

Distillation - The process of first raising the temperature in separate the more volatile from the
less volatile parts and then cooling and condensing the resulting vapor so as to produce a
nearly purified substance.

Duct System - A continuous passageway for the transmission of air.

Dust - A finely powdered substance which, when mixed with air in the proper proportion and
ignited will cause an explosion.

Electrical Arc - An extremely hot luminous bridge formed by passage of an electric current
across a space between two conductors or terminals due to the incandescence of the
conducting vapor.

Ember - A hot piece or lump that remains after a material has partially burned, and is still
oxidizing without the manifestation of flames.

Finishes - Materials used as final coating of a surface for ornamental or protective purposes.

Fire - The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion.
Fire Trap - A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks
adequate exits or fire escapes.

Fire Alarm - Any visual or audible signal produced by a device or system to warm the occupants
of the building or fire fighting elements of the presence or danger of fire to enable them to
undertake immediate action to save life and property and to suppress the fire.

Fire Door - A fire resistive door prescribed for openings in fire separation walls or partitions.

Fire Hazard - Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability
of the occurrence of fire, or which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with fire fighting
operations and the safeguarding of life and property.

Fire Lane - The portion of a roadway or public way that should be kept opened and
unobstructed at all times for the expedient operation of fire fighting units.

Fire Protective And Fire Safety Device - Any device intended for the protection of buildings or
persons to include but not limited to built-in protection system such as sprinklers and other
automatic extinguishing system, detectors for heat, smoke and combustion products and other
warning system components, personal protective equipment such as fire blankets, helmets, fire
suits, gloves and other garments that may be put on or worn by persons to protect themselves
during fire.

Fire Safety Constructions - Refers to design and installation of walls, barriers, doors, windows,
vents, means of egress, etc. integral to and incorporated into a building or structure in order to
minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the building is evacuated. These
features are also designed to achieve, among others, safe and rapid evacuation of people
through means of egress sealed from smoke or fire, the confinement of fire or smoke in the
room or floor of origin and delay their spread to other parts of the building by means of smoke
sealed and fire resistant doors, walls and floors. It shall also mean to include the treatment of
buildings components or contents with flame retardant chemicals.

Flash Point - The minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Forcing -A process where a piece of metal is heated prior to changing its shape or dimensions.

Fulminate - A kind of stable explosive compound which explodes by percussion.

Hazardous Operation/Process - Any act of manufacturing, fabrication, conversion, etc., that

uses or produces materials which are likely to cause fires or explosions.

Horizontal Exit - Passageway from one building to another or through or around a wall in
approximately the same floor level.
Hose Box - A box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment are stored and
arranged for fire fighting.

Hose Reel - A cylindrical device turning on an axis around which a fire hose is wound and
connected.
Hypergolic Fuel - A rocket or liquid propellant which consists of combinations of fuels and
oxidizers which ignite spontaneously on contact with each other.
Industrial Baking And Drying - The industrial process of subjecting materials to heat for the
purpose of removing solvents or moisture from the same, and/or to fuse certain chemical salts
to form a uniform glazing the surface of materials being treated.

Jumper - A piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an

electrical system.

Occupancy - The purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be used.

Occupant - Any person actually occupying and using a building or portions thereof by virtue of a
lease contract with the owner or administrator or by permission or sufferance of the latter.

Organic Peroxide - A strong oxidizing organic compound which releases oxygen readily. It
causes fire when in contact with combustible materials especially under conditions of high
temperature.

Overloading - The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume
electrical current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.

Owner - The person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a building or real property.

Oxidizing Material - A material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient to stimulate or
support combustion.

Pressurized Or Forced Draft Burning Equipment - Type or burner where the fuel is subjected to
pressure prior to discharge into the combustion chamber and/or which includes fans or other
provisions for the introduction of air at above normal atmosphere pressure into the same
combustion chamber.

Public Assembly Building - Any building or structure where fifty (50) or more people congregate,
gather, or assemble for any purpose.

Public Way - Any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed from the ground to the sky,
deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated for public use.
Pyrophoric - Descriptive of any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.

Refining - A process where impurities and/or deleterious materials are removed from a mixture
in order to produce a pure element of compound. It shall also refer to partial distillation and
electrolysis.

Self-Closing Doors - Automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and heat and
delay the spread of fire.

Smelting - Melting or fusing of metallic ores or compounds so as to separate impurities from

pure metals.

Sprinkler System - An integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building,

structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges
water when activated by heat or combustion products from a fire.
Standpipe System - A system of vertical pipes in a building to which fire hoses can be attached
on each floor, including a system by which water is made available to the outlets as needed.

Vestibule - A passage hall or antechamber between the outer doors and the interior parts of a
house or building.

Vertical Shaft - An enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor, as well as
from the base to the top of the building.

Collection of Liquid Samples for Accelerant Testing

Liquid accelerants may be collected with
a. New syringe
b. Siphoning device
c. Evidence container itself
d. Sterilize cotton balls or gauge pads may also be used to absorbed the liquid

Where liquid accelerants are believed to have become trapped in porous materials such as
concrete floor:
a. Lime
b. Diatomaceous earth
c. flour

Collection of liquid evidence absorbed by solid materials including soils and sand:
a. Scooping
b. Sawing
c. Scraping
d. Core drilling
Collecting of Solid samples for accelerant testing
Solid accelerant may be common household materials and compounds or dangerous
chemicals. When collecting solid accelerants:
a. The fire investigator must ensure that the solid accelerant is maintained in physical state
in which is found
b. Some incendiary materials remain Corrosive and Reactive
c. Ensure the corrosive nature of these residue does not attack the packaging container

Collection of Gaseous samples

Method of Collection:
a. Use of commercially available mechanical sampling device
b. Utilization evacuated air sampling cans. These cans are specifically designed for taking
gaseous samples
c. Use of clean glass bottled filled with distilled water. Distilled water use as it has had most
of the impurities removed from it. This method simply require the investigator poured the
distilled water out of its bottle in the atmosphere to be sampled. As distilled water leaves
the bottle it is replaced by the gaseous sample

Guide on Interpreting the Damage on Electrical Wire

Collection of Electrical Equipments and Components

Before wires are cut, a photograph should be taken of the wires, and the both ends of the wire
should be tagged and cut so that they can be identified as one of the following:
a. The device or appliance to which it was attached or from which it was severed
b. The circuit breaker or fuse number or location to which the wire was attached or from
which it was severed
c. The wires path or the route it took between the device and the circuit protector,
electrical switches, receptacles, thermostats, relays, junction boxes, electrical
distribution panels, and similar equipment and components are often collected as
physical evidence.