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Accelerant Patterns For

This document discusses fire patterns associated with ignitable liquid accelerants. It provides guidance from NFPA 921 on indicators of accelerated fires, including holes in floors caused by glowing combustion or liquids. It outlines symptoms of ignitable liquid use like burn injuries. Patterns like intense localized rusting, inconsistent structural damage, and intermixed burn severity can indicate accelerant use. The document provides details on collecting evidence and detecting common ignitable liquids through their properties and detectable patterns.

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Farrukh Iqbal
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289 views

Accelerant Patterns For

This document discusses fire patterns associated with ignitable liquid accelerants. It provides guidance from NFPA 921 on indicators of accelerated fires, including holes in floors caused by glowing combustion or liquids. It outlines symptoms of ignitable liquid use like burn injuries. Patterns like intense localized rusting, inconsistent structural damage, and intermixed burn severity can indicate accelerant use. The document provides details on collecting evidence and detecting common ignitable liquids through their properties and detectable patterns.

Uploaded by

Farrukh Iqbal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fire and Arson Investigation

Fire Patterns associated


with Ignitable Liquid
Accelerants

By

Bob Corry
www.sceneinvestigator.com

One of the

major
objectives
of a fire scene
examination
is the
recognition,
identification
and analysis of
fire patterns.

Success in
Recognizin
g Arson
begins with
recognizing
possible
Arson Fire
Patterns

NFPA 921 on Fire Patterns

Holes in the floor may be caused by glowing combustion, radiation


or an ignitable liquid. 6.2.3.1

There is no justification that the appearance of large, curved blisters


is an exclusive indicator of an accelerated fire. 6.5.5

The presence or absence of spalling should not, in and of itself, be


construed as an indicator of the presence or absence of a liquid fuel
accelerant. 6.6.2.3

The collapse of springs cannot be used to indicate exposure to a


specific type of heat source or ignition such as smoldering ignition or
the presence of an ignitable liquid. 6.14

Inverted cone patterns have been interpreted as proof of flammable


liquid fires, but any fuel source that produced flame zones that do
not become vertically restricted can produce inverted cone patterns.
6.17.3.1.2

First!
Search for

Odd Variations in Fire


Patterns

Unusual,
localized
damage
to the bed

Unusual localized
localize
wall pattern
Unusual floor
burn pattern

Witnesses Reported:
Odor of Gasoline!
A low pressure wave!
Furniture moved before fire!

SymptomsofIgnitableLiquidUse
(Possibleindicatorsofanacceleratedfire)

Burn injuries
to the
hands, face, legs
or hair of a suspect/witness.

Unnatural Fire Spread

Afternoon Program

(downward, unusually fast, etc.)

nnatural Fire Damage

One gallon
of gasoline
was
poured
here!

Bright yellow/orange flames


accompanied by black smoke.

Intense localized rusting/warpin


especially to the undersides o
metal objects within the patte

Intense localized
rusting/warping,
especially to the undersides o
metal objects
within the pattern

Structural damage
inconsistent
with fire loading

ntermixed light,
medium & heavy
burn patterns
within
he overall pattern

Rainbow-colored
sheen
on the surface
of
suppression water
over the
pour area.

Accelerant containers
in or near the scene.

Increased
burn damage
pattern
at the
bottom of
boxes,
furniture
legs, etc.

Pool shaped, intermixed,


mottled black and brown
staining
on concrete
together with a tendency
to repel water.

Ghost marks
between seams
of floor tiles
within the pour area.

Localized clean burnar


on a wall or appliance
above a pattern
where intense heat
burned away
soot deposits.

Inverted Cone
fire pattern

Search for the


soot plume!

Key Properties of Common Ignitable


Liquids

Behave like any liquid before ignition.


Most float on water, are immiscible, rainbow
Form explosive vapors at room temperatures
Vapors are heavier than air
Readily absorbed
Powerful solvents
Dont spontaneously ignite
Explosive Limits/Ignition Temperature
Sampling the accelerant fire pattern

Related Physical Evidence

The Accelerant Container


Other instrumentalities (i.e. ignition
device)
Changing the arrangement of
combustibles to increase fire
loading
Propping open doors & windows
The ignition device
Explosion/Deflagration?
Burn patterns and the burned
perp

Fo
rS
ww p e
w.i cia
nte lize
rfr d T
e.o rai
rg nin
g:

Accelerant Detection K-9 Teams are


very important especially
in large loss fres.

A Pocket Guide to
Accelerant Evidence Collection,
2nd Edition

Cited as a reference in
all editions of NFPA
921, Kirks Fire
Investigation 5th
Edition, interFIRE VR

Go to www.maiaai.org
for more information

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