FIRE PROTECTION AND

ARSON INVESTIGATION
FO1 Christian Paolo M Quiñones
 Methods
of
Extinguishments
Cooling effect
COOLING – the most
commonly used medium is
water. Water absorbs heat
from the fire & cools the fuel
Starving effect
Smothering/Blanketing
SMOTHERING – by excluding
the oxygen in the
surrounding atmosphere, the
fire will be extinguish.
STARVATION – is achieved by
removal of the fuel burning in the
fire. Sometimes combustible
materials can be removed by
shutting valves or fuel flows.
Break the chain
STOP CHAIN REACTION – stop or
interrupt the chain reaction between
the fuel, heat & oxygen the fire will be
extinguished. Specific methods of
extinguishing fires often involve a
combination of more than one of the
four principles.
 Methods
of
Heat Transfer
 c t i on
ondu
C
- is the movement of heat through a material
- movement of heat through direct contact
Is the mass movement of a hotter, less dense gas through its cooler, denser
surroundings
(‘hot air rises’).
Radiation
Is the transfer of heat energy as electromagnetic
waves (heat wave).
Classes of Fire
Class A
Materials are:
Solids
Wood
Paper
Plastic Rubber
Coal

“A” stands for “ash”

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 Class B
Materials are:
Flammable Liquids

Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel

Greases, Hydraulic fluid
Gases; i.e.
Acetylene, Propane
Natural Gas

“B” stands for “boil”

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 Class C
Materials are:
“Energized” Electrical
Equipment & Cables

Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!

Once the power has been removed, you can probably treat it like a
Class A or B fire, but remember that cables & equipment can hold
electricity even after the power is off!

“C” stands for “current”

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 Class D
materials include
Combustible Metals
 Magnesium
 Titanium
 Zirconium
 Sodium
 Potassium
 Lithium
 Calcium
 Zinc

D stands for “ding”

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Class K Fires are fires
that involve cooking
oils, grease or animal
fat and can be
extinguished using
Purple K, the typical
agent found in kitchen
or galley extinguishers.
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Dry Chemical extinguishers
are usually rated for multiple
purpose use. They contain an
extinguishing agent and use a
compressed, non-flammable
gas as a propellant.
Most effective on A, B and C
fires.
Dichlouroflouroethane/
Hydrochlouroflourocarbon
(HCFC) this agent claims to
have the same advantage of
Halon, but with the additional
advantage of not damaging
the environment.
Most effective on A, B and C
fires.;
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
extinguishers are most effective
on Class B and C (liquids and
electrical) fires. The carbon
dioxide is stored as a
compressed liquid in the
extinguisher; as it expands, it
cools the surrounding air.
FOAM (AFFF) EXTINGUISHERS
coat the surface of a burning
flammable liquid with a chemical
foam. When using a foam
extinguisher, blanket the entire
surface of the liquid to exclude the
air. Most effective on Class A and
B Fires.
 Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
DISCHARGE LEVER
PRESSURE GAUGE
(not found on CO2
extinguishers)

DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN CARRYING

AND SEAL HANDLE

DISCHARGE HOSE

DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE BODY

DISCHARGE ORIFICE

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ARSON
INVESTIGATION
POLICY
The BFP shall have power to investigate all causes of
fire and if necessary, file the proper complaint with the
City or Provincial Prosecutor who has jurisdiction over
the case (R.A 6975)
The law of Arson
1. Article 320 – 326 of the Revised Penal Code defines Arson its
forms and penalties.
2. PD 1613 – Amending the Law on Arson. Defining the Prima Facie
Evidence of Arson.
3. PD 1744 – Amending Article 320 of RPC. Imposing death penalty
to arsonist.

*But after the EDSA Revolution 1, death penalty was abolished by then
President Corazon C. Aquino.
The law of Arson
4. 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.

5. RA 6975 Sec. 54 – Which 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.
BASIC CONCEPTS/PRINCIPLES AND
GUIDEPOSTS:

The origin of a fire is one of the most important

hypothesis that the investigator needs to develop
and test during the investigation. Generally, if
the origin cannot be determined, the cause
cannot be determined and if the correct
origin is not identified, the subsequent cause
determination will also be incorrect.
FIRE ARSON INVESTIGATION TEAM
TEAM LEADER
LEAD FIRE ARSON INVESTIGATOR
FIRE SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER
FIRE SCENE SKETCH PREPARER
EVIDENCE RECOVERY PERSONNEL AND CUSTODIAN
TEAM SECURITY PERSONNEL
DEFINITIONS
Incident Command Post (ICP)- the designated area for planning and
communication point for members of the Fire Arson Investigation.

Fire Spread – the movement of fire from one place to another.

Fire Pattern – the visible or measurable physical changes, or identifiable

shapes, formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects.
DEFINITIONS
Point of Fire Origin/Base of Fire – exact physical location where heat source
and fuel came in contact with each other and where the fire began.

Methodical Examination - the systematic approach in all relevant details found

at the fire scene during the actual conduct or investigation

Scientific Method – the analytical process in a successful conduct of

investigation
DEFINITIONS
Evidence Spoliation – loss, destruction or material
alteration of an object or document which can be used in a
legal proceeding by a person who has the responsibility for
its preservation
 Burn Patterns
1.Pour Pattern – the kind of burn pattern that results from
pouring an accelerant onto the floor of a room is particularly
important.
2.Alligator Pattern – it is burn residue of a camp fire is
familiar with how the blisters on the logs resemble the skin
of an Alligator.
3.V Pattern – the fire is at the bottom of the cone pattern.
4.Charring- is observed in structural fires and can be an
indicator of fire travel and point of origin.
V pattern, pour pattern, Alligator and
Charring
Arson Investigation
FATAL FIRE INVESTIGATION
Six Phases Investigative Approach
1.Fire Incident
2.Body Examination
3.Cause and Origin
4.Investigative Procedure
5.Follow-up Investigation
6.Arrest and Trial
Time and Duration of Death
680 DEGREE CELSIUS (1256 F)
10 MINS – ARMS CHARRED
15 MINS – LEGS CHARRED
15 MINS – FACE, ARM BONES
CHARRED
20MINS – RIBS AND SKULL SHOWING
25 MINS – SKIN BONES SHOWING
35 MINS – ALL LEG BONES SHOWING
Motives of the crime of arson
1. FINANCIAL GAIN
-INSURANCE FRAUD
-- ELIMINATION OF COMPETITION
-- MOVING AND RESETTLEMENT
ALLOWANCE
2. INTIMIDATION
-FEAR FOR SAFETY
-THREATENED ECONOMIC LOSS
-CHANGE OF POLICY
3. Emotional Reasons
-Jealousy
--spite
--Revenge
-Hatred
4. CONCEALMENT OF ANOTHER CRIMES
-HOMICIDE
-ROBBERY
-FRAUD, FORGERY AND EMBEZZLEMENT
--OTHER CRIMES
5. PYROMANIA-
6. RECOGNITION AS A HERO
7. VANDALISM
Fire Origin
Determination
 1st Phase:

I. Recording
a. Photograph
1. Crowd
2. Vehicles
- make and color
- speedometer reading
- key position
- plate number
3. Color of Flames and Smoke
b. Audio, Video Utilization
c. Sketch Preparation
1. Rough Sketch
a. Noting Characteristics of the Fire:
II. Information Gathering

1. Rapidity of the spread of flame.

2. Color of the Smoke and Flames.
3. Identifiable Odors
4. Area of origin2. Progression Sketch
Taking notes on the
following:
a. Noting Characteristics of the Fire:
1. Rapidity of the spread of flame.
2. Color of the Smoke and Flames.
3. Identifiable Odors
4. Area of origin
b.
1. Unnatural state of the premises.
2. Obstacle on entry point.
3. Door and window locked.
4. Fire alarm or other fire protection
Equipment’s disconnected/sabotage.
5. Artificial drafts by making opening.
6. Blocked entrance.
7. Contents of the building.
c. Interview and Elicitation
1. Witnesses - Discoverer of fire
2. Fire Victims
3. Responding Firefighter as to area of
origin.
4. Neighbors
- Outside the Involved Building
- Inside the Involved Building
 III. Secure and Protect the Scene

a. Determine the extent to which the scene has been protected.

b. Check the adequate scene security.
c. Take extensive notes, do not rely on memory.
d. Keep a record of persons/ individual who enters & leave.
e. Established frame of minutes to take control of scene regardless
of circumstances observed on arrival
f. Post Uniform Personnel, provide cordon rope and or barricade
tape
Learning Objective 2
Detail Analysis of Information
from Witnesses

a) Location of Area of Origin

b) How Fire Detected
c) Unusual Event Prior to Fire
d) Fire Cause
e) Last Person seen prior to the fire
 Learning Objective 3

Learning Objective 3
f) Non-Communicating Fires
g) Present Condition & Location of Victim
h) Incendiary Devices
i) Missing Items
j) Unusual Appearance & Location
k) Trace Evidence Discover
Learning Objective 4

Fire Pattern Analysis

1. Lines or areas of Demarcation (action of fixing the
boundary or limits of something)
2. Surface Effects
3. Penetration of Horizontal Surface
4. Consumption of Material in Melting
Consumption of Material in
Melting
-Typically when wood or other combustible surfaces burn they lose
material and mass. The shapes and quantities of remaining
combustibles can themselves produce lines of demarcation and
ultimately, fire patterns to be analyzed by the investigator.
Fire Damage Assessment

Photography

-The patterns should be photographed several different ways to

effectively show their shape, size, relationship to other patterns, and the
location within the fire scene. These variations should include changes in
the viewing angle of the camera when documenting the pattern and
different lighting techniques to highlight the texture of the pattern.
Vector Diagram
Vector- Diagrams that depict the direction and
relative magnitude of a vector quantity by a vector
arrow. This can be used to describe the velocity of a
moving object during its motion.
DEPTH-OF-CHAR SURVEY
GRID DIAGRAMS
The investigator should record in his or her notes the
results of any depth-of-char surveys that are conducted.
This notation should be documented in the notes as well as
on a drawn diagram. For analysis purposes, the investigator
can construct a depth-of-char grid diagram.
3rd Phase

Search, Recognize, Collect, Preserve Evidence

1. Search
Strip Method
-ideal for investigating large areas. Executed by
beginning at one end of search area and continuing
forward in the same direction.
Double Strip/Grid Method
-done by two or more people overlapping separate
line searches forming a gird.
Zone Method/Quadrant
-crime is scene is divided into smaller sections
(zones or quadrants) and team members assigned
to search each section.
-commonly used indoors.
Spiral
-often used to find a particular object at crime
scene
-investigator move inward spiral from the boundary
to the center of the scene or in an outward spiral
from the center to the boundary of a scene
2. Record/Document Evidence Prior
to Collection

Photograph Evidence Prior to Collection

Sketch & measure Evidence Location
Audio & video utilization
Note taking
3. Recognize/Identify Evidence

Flagging
Marking
-Recognition Marking
-Evidence Marking
4. Evidence Collection,
Packaging Transport

Observe Standard Collection Requirements (Wearing of

Gloves)
Place Evidence to Suitable Container
Tag, Seal & Mark
Prepare Evidence Chain of Custody Form
Packaging/Transmittal Letter
2 witness requirements
Organization and Basic Stages in Search
Operations

1. Preparation
2. Preliminary Survey
3. Depict scene photographically
4. Prepare sketch of the scene
5. Collect and Preserve Evidence
6. Conduct Final Survey
4th Phase
Fire Cause Determination

The systematic approach recommended is that of the

scientific method, which is used in the physical sciences.
This method provides for the organizational and analytical
process so desirable and necessary in a successful fire
investigation.
Relating fire investigation to
the scientific method

The scientific method is a principal of inquiry

that forms a basis for legitimate scientific and
engineering processes, including fire incident
investigation. The scientific method is applied using
the following six steps.
Scientific Method
1. Recognize the need (identify the problem)
2. Define the Problem
3. Collect the Data
4. Analyze the Data
5. Develop a Hypothesis
6. Test the Hypothesis
7. Select Final Hypothesis
REFERENCES
RA 9514
NFPA 1001
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES MANUAL 2015