Methods of Detecting Arson

By: Nawen MAN

 Methods of Establishing Arson: Gathering,
Preserving, and Analyzing Arson Evidences

Occasionally, detection of arson during a fire is done by a team

of fire investigator in the form of surveillance of the fire scene:

1.Suspicious behavior of fire spectators

2.Overzealous offer of assistance of a spectator

3.Someone who is constantly driving over fire hoses

4.Behavior of owner, occupants and other person present as to

their reactions.
GATHERING, PRESERVING, AND ANALYZING EVIDENCE

• The arsonists expect the fire to destroy all evidences, but

sometimes it does not destroy all of it. The investigator should
dig hard enough to come up with evidences. The cause of fire
should be investigated shortly after the fire was extinguished;
otherwise, very little can be done. Essentially all potential
evidences are destroyed by the firemen during the mop – up
and salvage operation. This is a crucial stage in arson
investigation because cases rely on evidences that are
analyzed and preserved at this point.
Guidelines in the Investigation of Arson:

I. Arrival and Observation

• Upon arrival at the fire scene, it is important for the
firefighters to observe person/vehicle leaving the area; know
the characteristics of person/vehicle leaving the area; notice for
unusual road/street condition; place barricade slowing the
progress of response; and make a mental note on the vehicle
parked in such a manner as to create obstruction to the fire
scene.
Observation

• It is also important to identify the person who called the fire

department; and to recognize the first person who leave the fire
scene. Time is also significant in the investigation such as knowing if
the fire occurred during or after business hour or during the day or
night. The condition of traffic in the area should also be considered
since the arsonist might want to set fire when he knows that the
response time for firefighting is delayed to give him ample time to
leave the area or enough time to watch the fire.
II. The Fire Scene:

Protecting the Fire Scene

• In protecting the fire scene, there should be a cooperation

between the firemen and the police. The policemen will manage
traffic flow and crowd control while the firefighters will work on
search, rescue, fire extinguishment and salvage. The
assignment of guards to barricades and control booth is needed
so that unauthorized person will not enter the crime scene; and
to ensure the security of the evidence collected.
Collecting and Preserving of Evidence

• Photography. Just like other crimes scene processing,

photography is an essential element in arson investigation. The
fire scene, in all angles, and the pieces of evidence must be
photographed before it is gathered and preserved for further
analysis.

• • Sketching. The sketch of the fire scene is needed in order to

post the exact location of the pieces of evidence identified and
gathered.
• Assistance of Qualified Experts. The assistance of qualified experts
such as the laboratory personnel is needed especially in the scientific
analysis of the evidence gathered from the fire scene.

• Handling of Physical Evidence. The physical evidence need to be

handled properly because it can be delicate and fragile. The shape of
the glass fragments and coals need to be maintained because it
cannot be analyzed if deformed or damaged.

• • Forwarding of Physical Evidence. The gathered and preserved

physical evidence need to be turned over to authorities properly to
avoid the loss of the evidence.
 III. Post Investigation

Methods

Among the most likely method to be used by investigators are the

recording of the facts noted at the fire scene, sketches and photographs as
well as statements taken from the witnesses. And other sources of
information that may be useful in developing the investigation and
completing the reports, fire inspection reports and financial reports.

• All notes should be thorough, accurate, detailed and neat so that they
are easily to transcribe and/or read. They will readily assist in correlating
observations and developing leads. These notes are the principal basis of
all reports the investigator makes and submits.
The Fire Investigation Report
It is the final written results of taking notes, recording observations and
interviewing witnesses. It includes the written results of the construction
and size of the burned structure, what the firemen observed and
encountered upon their arrival at the fire scene, the color of the smoke and
flame, and the intensity and location of the fire.
Inventory of Evidence
As the evidence is collected and marked for identification purposes, it
should be entered on some type of inventory sheet. In all cases, it will
improve the admissibility of evidence by establishing chain of custody
necessary to prove during the trial on an arson case.
Burn Indicators and Ignition Devices

• BURN INDICATORS -are the

effects of heat or partial burning
that indicate a fire’s rate of
development, point of origin,
temperature, duration, time of
occurrence, and the presence of
flammable liquid/ substances.
Interpretation of the burn
indicators is a principal means for
determining the causes of fire,
especially arson.
Some of the burn indicators

• Alligatoring: Checking of
charred wood, giving it the
appearance of alligator skin.
Large rolling blisters indicate
rapid, intense heat; small, flat
alligatoring indicates long low
heat.
 Crazed and fractured glass:

• Crazing refers to the cracking of glass

into smaller segments or subdivision in
an irregular pattern. Crazing into small
segment or pieces suggest that the item
was subjected to a rapid and intense
heat buildup. It also suggests that the
item may be located at or close to the
point of origin. A glass item that inhibits
a larger crazing pattern implies that it
may have been in an area some distance
away from the point of origin.
Depth of char:

• This is the depth of burning

of wood – used to determine
length of burn and thereby
locate the point of origin.
 Distorted light bulbs:

• Incandescent light bulbs can

sometimes show the direction
of heat impingement. As the
side of the bulb facing the
source of heat is heated and
softened, the gases inside a
bulb can begin to expand and
bubble out of the softened
glass. This is traditionally being
called a pulled light bulb.
 Line of demarcation

• Boundary between charred and

uncharred material. On floor or rugs, a
puddle – shaped line of demarcation is
believed to indicate a liquid fire
accelerant. In a cross section of wood, a
sharp, distinct line of demarcation
indicates a rapid intense fire.
 Sagged furniture spring:

• Because the heat required for

furniture spring to collapse from
their own weight is 1, 150
degrees Fahrenheit, and because
of the insulating effect of the
upholstery, sagged spring are
believed to be possible only in
either the fire originating inside
the furniture or an external fire
is intensified by a fire accelerant.
 Spalling:

• Is a condition ordinarily associated with

masonry and cement building materials.
It may appear as a distinctive
discoloration of bricks or concrete; in
some cases, the surface of the building
may be pitted and rough. This is
because an intense fire may cause the
moisture inside the masonry or brick
element to convert to steam.
Freezing of leaves:

• Drying of leaves in a forest fire

into their position at the time
of the fire. Because leaves turn
during the day to face the sun,
their position indicates the
time of day the fire occurred.
Tell Tale Signs

• 1. Burned Building. The type of

building may indicate a set fire under
certain circumstances. A fire of
considerable huge size at the time the
first apparatus arrives at the scene is
suspicious if a modern concrete or
semi-concrete building is involved.
2. Separate fires.

• When two or more fire breaks

out within a building, the fire is
certainly suspicious because it
is unusual for a house fire to
occur from 2 or more locations.
 3. Color of smoke.

• Some fire burn with little or no smoke

but there are exceptions to this. The
observation of the smoke must be made
at the start of the fire since once the
fire has consumed a major proportion;
the value of the smoke is lost, because
the smoke will not indicate the material
used by the arsonist.
 Indication of Color of Smoke and Fire

Color of Smoke Material/Substance

Black smoke with deep red flame Petroleum products such as tar, rubber, plastics,
etc.

Heavy brown with bright red flame Nitrogen products

White smoke with bright flame Magnesium products
Black smoke with red and blue green flame Asphalt

Purple-violet flame Potassium products

Greenish-yellow flame Chloride and manganese products
Bright reddish-yellow flame Calcium products
 4. Smoke Marks

• an experienced investigator will

determine the volume of smoke
involved at a fire and the character
as residue deposited on walls or
elsewhere. Smoke marks have often
been of assistance in determining
the possibility of a fire having more
than one place of origin.
5. Color of Flame

The color of the flame is a good indicator of the intensity of the

fire, it is an important factor in determining incendiarism.
• A reddish glow indicates heat of about 5000 ºC., a real light
red about 1000 ºC
• Red flames indicate presence of petroleum products
• Blue flame indicates use of alcohol as accelerant
6. Size of fire

• The size of fire is important when correlated with the type of

alarm, the time received and the time of arrival of the first
responder at the fire scene. Fire makes what might be termed
a normal progress. Such progress can be estimated after an
examination of the material burned in the building, and the
normal ventilation offered to the fire. The time element and
the degree of headway much by the flames became important
factors to determine possible incendiarism.
7. Direction of Travel

• While it is admitted that no two fires burn in identical fashion,

yet it can be shown that the fire makes normal progress
through various types of building. Considering the type of
construction, the building materials, combustibility of
contents, channel of ventilation and circumstances
surrounding the sending of alarm, an experienced investigator
can determine whether a fire has spread abnormally fast.
8. Intensity

• The degree of heat given off by a fire and the color of its flame
often times indicate that some accelerant has been added to
the material normally present in a building and the
investigator must look further for more evidence used of such
accelerant. Difficulty in extinguishing the fire is often a lead to
suspect presence of such fluid or liquid as gasoline and
kerosene.
9. Odor

• The odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other flammable

liquids which are often used as an accelerant is a
characteristic, and often times an arsonist is trapped because
of this tell-tale sign. Most of fire-setters are inclined to use
substances which will make the blaze certain and at the same
time burn up any evidence of their crime.
10. Condition of Content

• Persons tending to set their house on fire frequently remove

objects of value either materially or sentimentally. Store and
other business establishments remove a major portion of their
content or replace valuable merchandise with, out of style
articles.
11. Doors and windows

• Locked doors and obstructed entrance and passageways are

sometimes point to an attempt to impeded firemen in their
operation to put out the fire. 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.
Items commonly used by Arsonist to ignite a Fire

• Matches- Only juvenile arsonist and pyromaniacs seem to

favor striking matches. Other fire setters want some delay, so
they adapt the ordinary match to some timing mechanism.
Several matches may be affixed to a lighted cigarette with
rubber band or tape, the heads of the matches set about half
way down the cigarette from its glowing end. Unburnt or
partially burnt matches found around the point of origin
should be carefully preserved. A suspect may have similar
matches in his or her pocket.
Candles

• Candles are mostly used in conjunction with containers of

easily combustible materials, which are sometimes set within
or close to other containers of inflammable liquids or in an area
sprinkled with such accelerant. However, many candles leave a
deposit of wax as their tell-tale signs. Wax may have sipped
through the wood of the floor, or it may be found in a pool at
the low point of a floor or table top.
Chemicals

Various chemical combustions have been used to set fire.

Saboteurs have used such means for years. Units that provide
for an acid to be released upon some combination of chemicals
are a favorite device, with the acid releasing itself by eating its
way out.
• Most chemical ignition units leave some residue; have a
distinctive odor, or both. Debris must be analyzed at a
laboratory when it is suspected that chemicals have been used
as ignition device.
Gas

Although not commonly encountered, the combination of

gas and the pilot light on the kitchen stoves of many residences
is always a possibility.

• In such cases, investigators should get help from an

engineer at local public utility. The time lag between the initial
release of the gas and the explosion can be estimated from the
size of the room involved, number of openings, type of gas, and
related data.
Electrical System

Any wiring system, including doorbells and telephone circuits,

can be used as a fire setting tool. Electrical appliances have
also been used to trigger off fires. An open heater is placed
close to a flimsy set of curtains, and an apparently accidental
fire results. Investigators generally discover physical traces of
electrical ignition device after a fire such as tissue paper on
the switch box.
The following are some important reminders in searching
for the evidence:

Searching for Evidence

• The safest procedure is for the investigator to start at the top
of the heap and carefully removing the objects one by one,
laying them aside until reaching the bottom where he will
find the “pot of gold”, the evidence.
Steps in Tracing the Origin of Fire and Searching for
Evidence

1. External/Outside Survey
careful conduct of inspection to the burned building

2. Internal/Inside Survey
enter the building to correlate the same with the outside survey
of the structure in question
Look for Prima Facie Evidence of Arson

1. Entering the Building: When entering the building, the

investigator should observe the following:
2. Look for mark on doors and windows not burned for possible
indication of forcible entry.
3. Notice whether the intruder has discarded tools used for forcible
entry.
4. Notice unusual arrangement of the building content.
• 5. Stocks or substitution of stocks, new expensive stocks have been
removed, substituted by second hand or old stocks
RA 9263

• Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and

Penology Professionalization Act of 2004. This law provides for
the powers and functions of the BFP personnel, BFP
organization, and the qualifications of the personnel who will
hold key positions in the organization.
BFP Powers/Functions

• 1. Prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on:

a. buildings
b. houses
c. other structure
d. forest
e. land transportation vehicles
f. ships/vessels
g. petroleum industry installations
h. plane crashes and similar incidents
 2. Enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines
3. Investigation of all causes of fire
4. File proper complaints with the prosecutor’s office
• note: Vessel/Ship must be docked at piers or
wharves or anchored in major seaport.
 BFP Organization

• Headed by a Chief who shall be assisted by a Deputy Chief. It shall

compose of a Provincial, District, City and Municipal stations.
• In large provinces, district offices may be established to be headed
by a district fire marshal.
• In large cities and municipalities, district offices may be established
with subordinate fire stations headed by a district fire marshal.
• There shall be at least one fire station in every provincial, capital, city
and municipality.
• The local government unit shall provide the site of the fire station.
 BFP Key Positions

• The Chief of the Fire Bureau - rank is Director.

• The Deputy Chief of the Fire Bureau - rank is Chief Superintendent.
• Assistant Regional Director for Fire Protection - rank is Senior
Superintendent.
• District Fire Marshall of NCR District Offices - rank is Senior
Superintendent.
• Provincial Fire Marshall - rank is Superintendent.
• District Fire Marshall of Province - rank is Chief Inspector.
• Chief of City/Municipal Fire Station - rank is Senior Inspector.
Reports filed after a Fire and Arson Investigation.

• Spot Investigation Report (SIR) – Shall be made and

accomplished by the FAI concerned during the actual
response to a fire incident. The SIR should contain basic
information about the fire incident. All SIR must be
submitted immediately (within 24 hours) to respective
Fire Marshals

• Progress Investigation Report (PIR) – Shall be made and

accomplished by the FAI concerned after the conduct of
follow-up investigation was made. The PIR or any succeeding
PIRs (2nd PIR) shall be accomplished within 7 to 15 days.
Final Investigation Report (FIR)

– Shall be made and accomplished by the FAI concerned upon

the completion of the exhaustive investigation. All completed
FIR should be signed by the concerned FAI and its respective
Chief of the Investigation and Intelligence Office.
The FIR should be submitted the soonest time the case was
resolved by the investigating office handling the case. The
maximum allowable time for the investigating body to submit
the FIR shall be 30 to 45 DAYS commencing from the first day
of investigation.
Fire Incident Investigation Report
(FIIR)
❑– This kind of investigation report can only be made in such
circumstances that the investigation report cannot be
completed for some reasons independent to the will of the FAI.
• FIIR can only be accomplished in fire cases with
UNDETERMINED cause and this kind of case should be
considered as ON_PENDING INVESTIGATION, subject to
REOPENING in circumstances that relevant evidence and /
or a witness shall surface in the future.