Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, Second Edition

Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Arson: The American Experience 1(10) Fire Service 1(1) Police Service 2(2) Public Awareness 4(1) Fire Investigation Methodology 5(1) Model Arson Task Force 6(1) Role of the Fire Investigator 6(3) Basic Steps for Fire Investigation 9(1) References 10(1) Arson Motives and Pathology 11(18) Arson for Profit 12(6) Commercial Fire Checklist 18(2) Revenge and Prejudice 20(1) Vanity 20(1) Juvenile Fire Setters and Vandalism 21(1) Crime Concealment 22(1) Psychological Compulsion 23(3) Mass Civil Disturbance (Riot) 26(1) Terrorism 26(1) References and Selected Readings 27(2) Building Construction: Fire Problems and Precautions 29(26) Classification of Building Construction 29(1) Building Components 30(2) Structural Loads 32(1) High-Rise Construction 33(2) Structural Fire Precautions 35(1) Fire Extension and Accepted Architectural Design 36(1) Design Problems 37(1) Construction and Materials Problems 38(2) Fire-Detection,-Alarm, and -Suppression Systems 40(7) Neutralizing Fire-Protection Systems 47(1) Glossary of Building Terms 47(7) References and Selected Readings 54(1) Chemistry and Behavior of Fire 55(36) Components of Fire 55(10) Chemistry of Fire 65(2) Behavior of Fire 67(1) Classification of Fire 67(1) Phases of Fire 68(3) Rate of Burn 71(1) Fuel Load 72(1) Fire Spread 72(4) Burn Patterns 76(1) Rapid Movement-Slow Movement 77(1) Smoke and Flame Color 77(2) Fire Suppression 79(1) References and Selected Readings 80(2) Appendix 4.1: Materials Subject to Spontaneous Heating 82(9) Determining Origin and Cause 91(30) Physical Examination of the Fire Scene 92(1) Exterior Examination 93(3) Interior Examination 96(1) Room and Points of Origin 97(1) Fire Language 98(17) Evidence of Incendiarism 115(5) References and Selected Readings 120(1) Eliminating Accidental Causes 121(70) Electrical Fires 122(19) Lightning 141(2) Gas Fires 143(8) Fuel Oil Fires 151(3) Operation of Systems 154(17) Auxillary Home Heating Equipment 171(4) Cooking-Related Fires 175(1) Exposed or Unprotected Flames and Sparks 176(4) Children and Pets 180(1) Improper Storage of Combustibles/Flammables 180(1) Smoking 181(2) Clandestine Laboratories 183(2) Construction, Renovation, and Demolition 185(1) Direct Sunlight 185(1) Product Liability and Subrogation 186(4) References and Selected Readings 190(1) Investigating Fatal Fires 191(52) Six-Phase Investigative Approach 191(2) Fire Incident 193(4) Examination of the Body 197(12) Origin and Cause/Investigative Canvass 209(1) Determining Investigative Procedure 210(2) Cause of Death and Investigative Procedure 212(7) Arrest and Trial 219(4) External Bloodstains 223(2) Interpretation of Evidence 225(2) A Case Study 227(13) References and Selected Readings 240(3) Investigating Vehicular Fires 243(32) The Four Categories of Fire 245(1) Requirements Needed for a Fire to Occur 246(2) Policies 248(1) Notification and Response 249(1) Vehicle Collisions and Relation to Vehicle Fires 250(22) References and Selected Readings 272(1) Appendix 8.1: Sample Vehicle Inspection Form 273(2) Evidence 275(54) Accelerants and Related Burn Patterns 277(1) Legal Aspects of Evidence Collection 278(3) Evidence Collection 281(2) Influences on Evidence Collection 283(5) Identification of Evidence 288(5) Laboratory Analysis and Testing 293(9) Evidence Storage 302(1) Shipment and Transferral of Evidence 303(1) Presenting Evidence in Court 304(2) Disposal of Evidence 306(1) Time-Delayed Ignition Devices 307(7) Conclusion 314(1) References and Selected Readings 315(1) Appendix 9.1: Requesting Laboratory Assistance 316(4) Appendix 9.2: Evidence Chart 320(9) Documenting the Fire/Crime Scene 329(22) The Crime Scene 329(2) Documentation Sequence 331(12) References and Selected Readings 343(1) Appendix 10.1: Existing Structure Fire/Crime Scene 344(5) Appendix 10.2: Total Burn Fire/Crime Scene 349(2) Surveillance 351(12) Planning the Surveillance Operation 352(1) Reconnaissance 352(1) Surveillance Methods 352(5) Applying Surveillance to Arson Investigation 357(3) Summary 360(1) References and Selected Readings 361(2) Interviewing and Interrogation 363(24) Investigative Canvass 363(1) Evaluating the Subject 364(2) Timeliness 366(9) Interviewing and Interrogation Strategies 375(2) Common Interviewing Errors 377(1) Summary of Guidelines 378(3) The Lying Witness 381(1) Constitutional Rights of the Individual 382(1) References and Selected Readings 383(1) Appendix: Sample Owner/Tenant Interview Form 384(3) Court Qualification and Testimony 387(6) Pretrial Testimony 387(1) Trial Preparation 388(1) Witness-Stand Behavioral Guidelines 389(1) Cross Examination 390(1) Defense Expert 391(1) Standard for Professional Qualifications of Fire Investigator 392(1) Legal Aspects 393(12) Introduction 393(1) Problems of Proof in Arson Investigations 394(6) Exigent Circumstances 400(2) Federal Rules of Evidence 402(1) Prosecution of Insurance Fraud 402(1) Summary 403(2) Index 405