FIRE & ARSON

INVESTIGATION
“Fire Destruction Is One
Man's Job,
Fire Prevention Is
Everybody's Job.”
“Be Alert, Avert Fire.”
“Let's Blaze The Way, To
Keep The Blaze Away.”
“Fire Is A Welcome
Visitor, But Always See
It Out.”
 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATION
VS
FIRE PROTECTION & PREVENTION
 Agenda
Fire incidents
History
Introduction
Definition
Characteristics & Behavior of Fire
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Prevention
Prime Purposes of Fire Prevention
3 E’s of Fire Prevention
Elements of Fire Safety
Hazard Recognition & Analysis
A fireman inspects the bodies
of four victims who were
trapped to death Manor Hotel
 History of Fire

A million years ago, primitive people used fire which

very crucial to their development. Every human culture of the
recent past is known to have had endless experience with fire ;
a site near in Nice France. It is likely thought that some means
of generating heat by friction . The earliest people used of fires
was to keep them warm.
On the other hand, the first sources of fire were
assumed to be the results of the natural effects (lightning or
volcano).
As civilization advanced, people learned to used fire
in many other ways. People learned to use fire to cook food, to
shape weapons and tools, to change clay into pottery and to
furnish light. But early people had extremely slow and quite
satisfactorily ways of kindling fires
 Today, we have not only improved
the methods of kindling fires, but we
also use fire in many ways.
1. energy to drive machines and keeps industry
running.
2. power to drive trains, ships and plane and it
generates electricity.
3. used to remove and destroy waste materials.
In additions, fire is used is separating
most metals from their ores, as well as
forging and shaping metal into useful
things
 Legend & Religion of Fire
 Prehistoric people may have gained knowledge of
fire from observing things in nature
1. lightning
2. volcanoes
3. heat of the sun
4. sparks fly when stones are struck upon one another
5. hoofs or claws of an animal strike
6. hard substance
 In Persian literature belief is;
1. the discovery of fire is a fight with a dragon
2. stones that the hero used as weapon missed the monster and
struck a rock;
early people regarded fire as a true gift of the
Thus,
Gods
 The Temple of Vesta in Rome was
outstanding example of the importance of the fire
to the Romans since Vesta was originally the
goddess of the hearth (fire place) and her shine
was in every home.
Promethous bestowed godlike power when
he stole fire from the Gods to give it to humanity.
Humans have always worshiped fire for its role in
religion because they were recognized as
1. symbols of home and family in many cultures.
2. symbols of purification and of immorality and
renewal,
Hence, the lightning of flame is remembrance and
the myth of POENIX
EARLY MEANS OF PRODUCING
FIRE
Two Sticks- oldest methods of starting fires consists of
rubbing two sticks together.

Hand Drill - rubbing two pieces of wood together

Bow drill- Drawing the bow back and forth spins the stick
rapidly

Weighted Bow Drill- weighing down the wooden

stick, making it push with more force against the other piece of wood.

Striking Flint- consists of striking flint against another

piece of flint to produce sparks

Magnifying Glass- focuses the sunlight on tinder, and

the energy of the sunlight's heats the tinder until it ignites.
 Introduction

Most of the fires

occurrences in the
Philippines resulted in
catastrophe,
fatalities and major
property damage for
example, the Ozone
Disco fire.
 Fire - Definition

Fire - is a chemical reaction known as

combustion
It is the rapid oxidation of combustible
material
It is accompanied by a release of
energy in the form of heat and light.
• It is the biggest contributor to the economic losses
of many countries in the world.
• It is one of the worst accidents that can happen to
an industrial enterprise or even to a residential
building or house.
• It can turn a quiet crowd into a wild eyed, panic-
stricken mob.
• It can ravage whole forests, or bring huge building
crumbling to the ground.
• But most terrifying of all -

It can KILL!!!
May 17, 2005
 COMPONENTS OF FIRE

Concept
 Fireneeds fuel, the fire also
requires oxygen, the fire also
requires heat. Therefore, to
create fire we must have fuel,
oxygen, and heat
 COMPONENTS OF
FIRE

Fuel
Heat
Oxygen
Characteristics & Behavior

THE FIRE TRIANGLE

In flaming combustion, fuel

and the oxidizing agent are
both in the gaseous state,
Fuel hence this is referred to as gas-
to gas reaction
 Characteristics & Behavior

Fire Tetrahedron Theory –

simply adds a fourth component of fire
termed as the chain reaction
the tetrahedron is a transition from the
plane geometric triangle to a four-
sided pyramid
The chain reaction will rage until one of
the 3 elements is exhausted.
 COMPONENTS OF FIRE
FUEL - Is any material or any substance capable of
burning. It maybe solid liquid or gas.
a. Solid Fuels- the principal substance is
carbon
b. Liquid Fuels- the principal component
is hydrocarbon
c. Gaseous Fuels- the principal component is
hydrocarbon
SOLID FUELS
Examples: woods, fibers and plastics
WOOD AND WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS
- used for construction, furniture and interior
decoration among others.
- thermal environment is conductive to a given
reaction, they will char, smolder, ignite burn.
PYROLYSIS -generally defined as “
chemical decomposition of matter by the
action of heat.”
Before solid fuel will burn, it must be changed to
the vapor state.
In a fire situation, this changes usually result
from the initial application of heat
the decomposition causes a change from the
solid state to the vapor state.
It is heated to a high enough temperature(by
flame, spark, hot motor etc) combustion occurs, If
the vapor mixes sufficiently with air
FACTORS AFFECTING IGNITION AND BURNING OF
WOOD

PHYSICAL FORM - Example; woods

a. Chopped to smaller pieces in order to speed
up burning test;
b. Heavier wood logs or timber shows considerable
resistance to ignition.

Therefore,
a. The sizes of the particles are smaller. The ratio
surface area to volume (mass) increases.
b. There is a greater exposure of fuel to air and less
mass to conduct heat away from the surface of the
particle. Hence, heat does not readily dissipate within
the material.
 Moisture Content- (Example; laboratory ignition
and burning test)
a. The behavior of combustible solids of the same size,
shape, and chemical composition will vary with
moisture content.
b. moisture content of the material also influences the
rate of burning.

Therefore, the specific of heat of water is high, and the

amount of heat necessary to drive off moisture is quite
considerable.
 Heat of Conductivity- Ex; wood, matchstick
burning, steel needle of the same size as a
matchstick.

Therefore,

a. measure of the rate in which absorbed heat will flow

through the mass material.
b. inverse the property of insulating
c. plays a major role in its behavior under fire condition
 Rate and Period of Heating

woods and woods products to ignition

Combustible solids are usually considered less
hazardous compared to flammable liquid or
gases

Because
- not vaporize readily nor do the give off
flammable vapors at ordinary temperature and
atmospheric pressure.
- Ignition of solids usually requires contact
between the heat source and the material for a long
period enough to permit release of flammable
vapors.
 Rate of Combustion

influence by physical form combustible

air supply present,
complete combustion

Which resulted to progressive

evaporation of the solid
 Ignition Temperature

wood is difficult to determine

because of variable concerned.
 Ignition temperature of woods
varies widely Depending on a
number variables

The specific gravity of a sample

The physical characteristics of sample i.e.
size form moisture content
The rate and period of heating
The air (oxygen) supply
The nature of heat source
 Fiber and Textiles

Combustible
intimate part of daily living
Factors to influence the burning of
textiles

Chemical Composition
a. Natural fibers
1) Vegetables (cellulosic) as cotton; kapok (seed fibers); pulp
(woods fibers); coconut coir(nut fibers)
2) Animal (protein) as wool (from sheep); silk(from cocoon of silk
worn)
3) Mineral (inorganic) asbestos
b. Synthetic or Artificial Fibers
b1. Organic - imitates vegetables fibers, divided
into cellulose,
- as cellulose ac etate which is prepared by
creating cellulose
- acetic acid; non- cellulose includes rayon.

b2. Inorganic- Fiberglass and steel

FIBER FINISH - sufficient combustible coating or
decorative materials are placed on fabric, this will support
continued flaming

FABRIC WEIGHT - It affects the rate of combustion. The

heavier the fabric of the same composition, the more
considerable resistance to ignition.

TIGHTNESS OF WEAVE - The closer the fibers are in the

weaving of fabrics the more it will minimize the air space
between them and thus delay the rate burning.

Flame Retardant Treatment -The effect of

chemical treatments in reducing the flammability of
combustible fabrics is varied and complex.
III- PLASTICS
Plastics, other than cellulose nitrates are classified as ordinary
combustibles.

Group of material consisting mainly of organic substances or

high molecular weight substances.

Solid in the finished state at some stage of manufactured

plastics can be made to follow into a desired shape, usually
through the application of heat or pressure or both.
III. LIQUID FUEL
The most common liquid fuels are: kerosene, gasoline, oil based
products and other volatile substance.

Liquid like gases assume the shape of their containers and may
diffuse.
Classification of liquid fuels

Flammable liquid -Any liquid having a flash

point below 37.8C.

Combustible Liquid -Any liquid having a flash

point at or above or 37.8C
 Principle by Redsicker and
O’connor,1997

Flammable and combustible liquid strictly

speaking, will not cause fire. It is then the
vapors from the evaporation of this liquid
when exposed to air and under the influence
of heat, which will burn or explode. Gasoline in
the most widely used flammable liquid. Its
generation of flammable vapors at
atmospheric temperature is common
knowledge
Burning Characteristics of Liquids
 Pound by pound flammable liquid produced about 2.5 times
more heat than wood.
 Heat is progressive 3 to 10 times faster than liquid than from
woods.

Q: Why flammable liquid vapor

burns with that intensity?
ANS: Flammable liquids spill, they expose a very large
surface area, release a great amount of vapor.

Therefore,

It produce great amount of heat when ignited.

This is one reason why large open tank fires
and liquid spill fires burn so violently.
GASEOUS FUEL
Natural or manufactured flammable gases.
molecules are in rapid movement and random motion.

Q: Has there be a definite shape or

volume in the container?

ANS: have no definite shape or volume,

and assume the shape and volume of the
container. Other properties include
compressibility, expandability,
permeability , and diffusion.
 CLASSIFICATION OF GASES

Concept:
Gases are of primary concern of fire protection
since they affect the behavior gases when they are
accidentally released.

According to Physical Properties

Compressed Gas- a normal atmospheric temperature
Liquefied Gas – normal atmospheric temperature inside its
container, exist solely partly in the liquid state and partly in the
gaseous state.
Cryogenic Gases- is a liquefied gas which exist in tis
container at temperature far below normal atmospheric temperature
Classification of Gases
Concept:
The primarily concern of this methods of classification is
the relation between principal use and life protection. Not
only does general industry use this classification but also
standards and codes.

According to Usage
Fuel Gases - customary used for burning with air to produce
heat, which in turn is utilized as power, light and process.

Industrial Gases- used for industrial processes as those used in

welding and cutting

Medical Gases- used for treatment and respiratory therapy.

 HAZARD OF GASES
Concept:
The purpose of systematic evaluation of gas hazards,
distinction should be made by hazards presented by gas when
confined in a container and the hazards when the gas
escapes from a container.
Hazard confinement explanation
 Gas expands when heated, and when confined , the heating
results in an increase in pressure, which can results in gas
release and or cause container failure
 Heat container can fail due to contact with flames from an exposing
fire, thus loss in strength of the material of which the container is
made.
 Hazards of Gas when released
from their container
Explanation:
it may vary with the physical
and chemical properties of the
gas and the nature of the
environment into which they
are released.
 Physical Properties of Matter
Related to Fire

1.Specific Gravity- weight of a substance compared with an

equal volume of water(thus water= 1.0)

2.Boiling point – (constant temperature which vapor pressure of

the liquid is equal or above to the atmospheric
pressure)

3.Ignition temperature - a flammable material will ignite,

whether it be gas, liquid, or solid

STATE MATERIAL TEMPERATURE

Gas Acetylene 571
Liquid Turpentine 448
Solid Magnesium 1200
 Redsicker and O'Conner
Theory for Specific
Gravity

The most flammable liquid has a specific

gravity of less than that water. Gasoline
specific gravity is 0.70, so it will float on
water. That of carbon disulfide is 1.3 so it will
sink.
4. Flash Point- the lowest temperature at which a
substance will give off enough vapors to form flammable mixture with
air near the surface of the substance that will burn when a flame or
sparked is applied.

Example: fire point of gasoline, is 50 F, for kerosene,

is 100F

5. Fire point – the temperature at which a fuel will

continue to burn after it has been ignited. This is a few degrees hotter
than the flash point.
 Gayon Theory
Hold a match above the block of wood. Note
that the ignition does not occur because the wood
has not reached its flashpoint. Place the block of
wood on a heating material ( such as hot plate) .
Allow time for the wood to heat , and then apply
the match to the vapors given off by the wood. The
vapors will ignite and flash back to the wood, but
will not continue to burn, demonstrating that it has
reached its “flashpoint”. Heating the wood further
and applying the match to the vapors, they will
continue to burn indicating that it has reached its
“fire point”
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
OF FIRE

Endothermic Reactions-energy (heat)

is absorb or is added before the reaction takes place

Exothermic Reactions - release or give

off heat thus they produced substances with less energy than
the reactants. (chemical change)

Oxidation- actual deterioration or aging

materials

Flames - incandescent gases. In order to be

sustained , it should maintain a high temperature and a
concentration of short live intermediate chemical
reactions between fuel and oxidizer
 Types of Flames

1. Based on color and completeness

of combustibility of fuel
a. Luminous flame is orange red –incomplete
combustion of fuel and has a lower temperature.

b. Non- Luminous flame is blue – almost

complete combustion of the fuel and has relatively
high temperature.
2. Based on fuel and air mixture

a. Premixed flame- Bunsen Type laboratory

burner where the hydrocarbon is thoroughly mixed with
air before reaching the flame zone.

b. Diffusion flame- gas (fuel) alone is force

through the nozzle into the atmosphere, in order to form
a flammable mixture.
Based on smoothness

Laminar Flames – flames that follow a smooth

path through a gaseous flame.

Turbulent flames –unsteady, irregular swirls and

eddy. As physical size, gas density or velocity is increased, all
laminar gas flows tend to become turbulent.