MODULE IN FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION (CDI 6)

Prepared By: Ms. Kenneth S. Diodos, MSCRIM (CAR)

MODULE 8
(Midterm – Second Week)

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the importance of photographing the fire scene.
2. Demonstrate the techniques in photographing the fire scene.
3. Enumerate some areas in photographing the fire scene.

Lesson 3.2 – PHOTOGRAPHING THE FIRE SCENE

It is normally impractical to take physical evidence from a fire scene to a court room so the investigator
must rely on the use of photographs to document much of the evidence and to support the observations,
opinions and conclusions the investigator wishes to make as to the cause of the fire. As well as supporting the
investigator's conclusions, the photographs should also provide evidence which would counteract arguments of
alternative causes of the fire which might be suggested at a later date.

Photographs are also useful for jogging the investigator's memory at the time of writing the report or
before appearing in court. Also in extremely dark fire scenes the photographs could provide detail which may
not be available using torch light.

A conclusion made by the investigator which is well supported by photographs can often lead to a guilty
plea or, in a civil case, settlement of an issue without trial.

The photograph provides a pictorial representation which is easily understood and evaluated in the
context of the average viewer's experience, as most people are able to interpret what they can see. In a report,
the investigator should provide at least one or two photographs wherever possible to support each observation
he or she wishes to state.

The photographs should be numbered and captioned and referred to as "Photograph 1, 2 etc.” A plan
should also be made showing the view angles of each photograph or alternatively the photographs should be
presented in a sequence which will provide some type of continuity to allow the reader to determine the view
angle of each one.

In former times an investigator needed to have considerable photographic skills to produce quality
evidence suitable for use in court. Producing photographs at a fire scene which is normally dark, drab and often
dangerous was a difficult task as the photographer had to read and adjust the camera settings in torch light and if
all went well the investigator found out several days after the inspection what technical aspect of the exercise
had been overlooked.

1. PHOTOGRAPHING THE EXTERIOR

Where to photograph and what to photograph.

The exterior of the building should be photographed

2) The location of the building to neighbouring buildings or fire fighting access areas should also be made
apparent,

3) As well as any objects which may be material to the circumstances of the fire, such as the location of
nearby power poles. The investigator may need to prove at a later date the fire had not spread from such
an outside source.

4) Evidence of tyre tracks, footprints and the location of explosion debris should also be photographed to
show their relationship with the building and they should be photographed in close detail, as well as
from a distance.

The exterior photographs generally shows the nature and material of construction and the locations of the
doors, windows, chimneys, flues, electricity fuse box or gas meter. The openings where the fire vented are
usually clearly shown in the exterior photographs.

If the fire started inside a building near an exterior wall or in a roof cavity the area of fire origin can often be
determined from studying the heat or burn patterns on the exterior of the window frames, wall or roof. Exterior
burn patterns are generally easier to interpret than the equivalent interior burn pattern as they generally provide
good colour and texture contrast, and are less affected by smoke.

Panoramic views are valuable in reports as they provide in great detail an overall view of the scene. They
can be produced by joining together a sequence of photographs or by using a wide angled lens or a disposable
camera equipped with a wide angled lens.

The investigator should seriously consider carrying one in the car, as a sequence of panoramic photographs
of a large fire scene significantly enhances a report.

Overhead shots of the fire scene should be taken if access can be made through the use of a ladder, cherry
picker or a nearby building. The overhead shot provides the viewer with an idea of the plan of the building and
can be used as a reference by the viewer to determine the location of objects shown in later photographs. In
large warehouse fires where the structure collapses sequentially as a response to the spread of the fire, an
overhead shot is invaluable for showing the manner in which the structural members have collapsed. If
photographs of the actual fire can be obtained from eyewitnesses or media sources then they should be included
in the report.

2. PHOTOGRAPHING THE INTERIOR

Photographs of the interior of a building are generally more difficult for the viewer to interpret than the
exterior photographs as the interior surfaces are usually burnt and covered with a layer of soot, and the viewer is
generally unfamiliar with such an environment. A good quality flash unit is essential as the photographs need to
provide as much detail as possible to allow the viewer to familiarise themselves with the nature of the damage
and possibly the identity and purpose of the room before the fire.

Where to photograph and what to photograph.

1. All rooms and areas inside the building affected by the fire should be photographed, and the
photographs should be sequentially presented in a report from the areas of least damage to the areas
of greatest damage, or to the area of fire origin, if this is not the area of greatest damage.
 2. Photographs of the peripheral areas where the fire had not originated should be presented and
discussed first in a report so these areas can be eliminated from further discussion.

3. When photographing each room the walls, ceilings and doorways should be shown and, unless a
wide angled lens is used, several photographs of each room may be needed.

4. A prominent object such as a fireplace or a large appliance can be used as a reference point in
sequential photographs to allow the viewer to maintain their perspective and their familiarisation
with the fire scene.

5. The area of fire origin should be photographed before excavation has commenced and again
photographed during excavation, if the process has yielded points of interest. The floor should be
cleaned so a photograph can be taken to show the nature of the flooring materials. If the floor has
completely combusted and a nearby wall has survived then the original floor level can be marked on
the wall through the use of a string and some chalk, and the chalk line photographed.

6. At areas where an accelerant is suspected the areas of localised damage to the floor as well as the
overhead damage should be photographed. The amount of overhead damage should be well
documented by photographs as the continued combustion at floor level of combustible materials
which, have fallen from above could account for the localised damage at floor level. If debris
samples are taken then the sample container should be numbered or labelled and the container
photographed at the point of sampling.

7. The burn patterns at doorways should be photographed to show the spread of the fire between rooms.
The burn patterns on the walls in hallways normally show the room from which the fire originated
and the direction of spread of the fire.

8. If appliances are suspected of causing the fire they should be photographed from a distance and in
close up in the location where they were found, The remains should then be taken outside to allow
closer inspection and so that they can be photographed in sunlight or later in the laboratory.

3. POINTS OF ENTRY AND SECURITY OF BUILDING

Fire Brigade personnel will usually give an account of the security of a building as they found it. In
many cases their accounts will need to be verified at each point of entry by an inspection of the burn patterns
and soot deposits to surfaces around the point of entry, and an examination for tool marks.

Where to photograph and what to photograph.

1) If possible the doors should be first photographed in the position in which they were found. If the door
was found closed then both sides of the door should be photographed.

2) The burn patterns and soot deposits around the door and the door frame should be photographed as they
normally ascertain the position of the door at the time of the fire.

3) Any parts of the door or lock which may have been dislodged as a result of some type of forced entry
should be photographed at the location where they were found and later reconstructed at their original
position. Photographs of the door jamb may also be vital.

On Windows
 1) The position of the windows at the time of the fire should also be determined and the evidence used for
such an evaluation should be photographed.

2) The position of the window frames and in the case of a sliding aluminium window,

3) The position of the falling glass could both indicate the position of the window at the time of the fire.

4) The smoke and heat patterns above a window can also indicate the position of the window at the time of
the fire.

5) The window locks should also be recovered and photographed.

4. CAR FIRES

If possible the remains of burnt cars should be photographed at the scene and the surrounding area
should also be photographed. A fire where the car has burnt in an isolated area can usually be regarded as being
deliberately lit. Conversely a fire where the car has burnt in view of independent witnesses can normally be
regarded as being accidental in nature. If the car has been transported to a wrecking yard then attempts should
be made to examine the original scene as evidence such as petrol trail residues or bonfires which were originally
under the car can sometimes be found.

1) The exterior of the car should ideally be photographed from all sides and then again with the bonnet and
doors opened. Cars generally have three compartments being the engine, passenger and boot
compartments and all three compartments should be examined and photographed.

2) The engine and the underside of the bonnet should be photographed and parts such as the fuel line
connection, air filter, carburettor, radiator and associated hoses, exhaust manifold, battery, terminals and
electrical wiring looms photographed in detail. For comparison, a photograph of the same engine from
an unburnt car can be shown next to that of the burnt engine and the major parts of the engine labelled.

3) A good overall view of the passenger compartment can normally be made by kneeling on the bonnet or
the boot and photographing the seats, doors and dashboard. Such a photograph can often show the area
of severest fire damage which is generally the area of fire origin as cars have a relatively uniform
distribution of naturally available fuel such as plastics.

4) The window winding mechanisms, window glass and the smoke deposits on the hinges can establish the
status of the windows and doors at the time of the fire and should be photographed. Any damage which
may indicate the car had been stolen should be photographed.