Skip to main content

Introduction to Fire Debris Analysis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris and Explosives

Abstract

This chapter serves as an introduction to the fire debris analysis discipline. It covers a wide range of topics including an introduction to fire investigation, analysis of fire debris evidence, classification of ignitable liquids, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data interpretation, other fire debris examinations, and report writing. Though this chapter cannot cover every aspect of fire debris analysis in details, it should provide a great foundation and starting point for students and examiners working in this discipline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. An Overview of the US Fire Problem (2017) National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Fires/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics/Fact-sheets/FireOverviewFactSheet.pdf. Accessed 09 June 2018

  2. Sandercock PML (2017) A survey of fire debris casework in Canada, 2011–2016. Can Soc For Sci J 45:64–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/00085030.2017.1380979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. NFPA® 921 (2017) Guide for fire and explosion investigations, 2017 edn. National Fire and Protection Association

    Google Scholar 

  4. De Haan JD, Icove, DJ (2011) Kirk’s fire investigation, 7th edn. Pearson, London

    Google Scholar 

  5. Baerncopf J, Anuszczyk C (2016) Comparing the response of portable hydrocarbon detectors to laboratory analysis of household substrates. Fire Arson Invest 66(4):16–21

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lentini JJ, Dolan JA, Cherry C (2000) The petroleum-laced background. J Forensic Sci 45(5):968–989

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Stauffer E, Dolan J, Newman R (2008) Fire debris analysis. Elsevier Inc, Burlington

    Google Scholar 

  8. Williams MR, Sigman M (2007) Performance testing of commercial containers for collection and storage of fire debris evidence. J Forensic Sci 52(3):579–585

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schwenk L (2014) Evidence packaging for fire debris: why vapor-tight containers matter. Fire Arson Invest 64(4):24–27

    Google Scholar 

  10. ASTM E1492-11(2017) Standard practice for receiving, documenting, storing, and retrieving evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  11. ASTM E1459-13 (2013) Standard guide for physical evidence labeling and related documentation. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  12. Gambrel AK, Reardon MR (2008) Extraction, derivatization, and analysis of vegetable oils from fire debris. J Forensic Sci 53(6):1372–1380

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kassin SM, Dror LE, Kukucka J (2013) The forensic confirmation bias: problems, perspectives, and proposed solutions. J Appl Res Mem Cogn 2:42–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Butt L (2013) The forensic confirmation bias: problems, perspectives, and proposed solutions—commentary by a forensic examiner. J Appl Res Mem Cogn 2:59–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Caddy B, Smith FP, Macy J (1991) Methods of fire debris preparation for detection of accelerants. Forensic Sci Rev 3(1):58–69

    Google Scholar 

  16. ASTM E1388-17 (2017) Standard practice for static headspace sampling of vapors from fire debris samples. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  17. ASTM E1412-16 (2016) Standard practice for separation of ignitable liquid residues from fire debris samples by passive headspace concentration with activated charcoal. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  18. ASTM E1413-13 (2013) Standard practice for separation of ignitable liquid residues from fire debris samples by dynamic headspace concentration. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  19. ASTM E2154-15a (2015) Standard practice for separation and concentration of ignitable liquid residues from fire debris samples by passive headspace concentration with solid phase microextraction (SPME). ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  20. ASTM E2451-13 (2013) Standard practice for preserving ignitable liquids and ignitable liquid residue extracts from fire debris samples. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  21. Dietz WR (1991) Improved charcoal packaging for accelerant recovery by passive diffusion. J Forensic Sci 36(1):111–121

    Google Scholar 

  22. Newman RT, Dietz WR, Lothridge K (1996) The use of activated charcoal strips for fire debris by passive diffusion. Part 1: The effects of time, temperature, strip size, and sample concentration. J Forensic Sci 41(3):361–370

    Google Scholar 

  23. Williams MR, Fernandes D et al (2005) Adsorption saturation and chromatographic distortion effects on passive headspace sampling with activated charcoal in fire debris analysis. J Forensic Sci 50(2):316–325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Phelps JL, Chasteen CE, Render MM (1994) Extraction and analysis of low molecular weight alcohols and acetone from fire debris using passive headspace concentration. J Forensic Sci (39(1):194–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Demers-Kohl JF, Ouderkirk SL et al (1994) Evaluation of the DFLEX® device for fire debris analysis. Can Soc Forensic Sci J 27(3):99–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Saferstein R, Park SA (1982) Application of dynamic headspace analysis to laboratory and field arson investigations. J Forensic Sci 27(3):484–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sandercock PML (1994) Comparison of passive charcoal adsorption with a dynamic charcoal adsorption technique. Can Soc Forensic Sci J 27(3):179–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Furton KG, Bruna J (1995) A simple inexpensive, rapid, sensitive, and solventless technique for the analysis of accelerants in fire debris based on SPME. J High Resol Chromatogr 18:625–629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Furton KG, Almirall JR, Bruna JC (1996) A novel method for the analysis of gasoline from fire debris using headspace solid-phase microextraction. J Forensic Sci 41(1):12–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Buchem BV (2018) Tenax® https://www.buchem.com/. Accessed 09 June 2018

  31. ASTM E1386-15 (2015) Standard practice for separation of ignitable liquid residues from fire debris samples by solvent extraction. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  32. ASTM E1618-14 (2014) Standard test method for identification of ignitable liquid residues in extracts from fire debris samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

  33. Baerncopf J, Hutches K (2014) A review of modern challenges in fire debris analysis. Forensic Sci Int 244:e12–e20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Leffler WL (2000) Petroleum refining in nontechnical language, 3rd edn. PennWell Corporation, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gary JH, Handwerk GE, Kaiser JK (2007) Petroleum Refining Technology and Economics, 5th edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  36. Newman R, Gilbert M, Lothridge K (1998) GC-MS guide to ignitable liquids. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ignitable Liquids Database (2018) National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida. https://ilrc.ucf.edu. Accessed 09 June 2018

  38. Reardon MR, Allen L, Bender EC, Boyle KM (2007) Comparison of motor oils using high-temperature gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Forensic Sci 52:656–663

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Reardon MR, Bender EC (2005) Differentiation of composition of C-4 based on the analysis of process oil. J Forensic Sci 50:564–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Hibbard R, Goodpaster JV, Evans MR (2011) Factors affecting the forensic examination of automotive lubricating oils. J Forensic Sci 56:741–753

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Stauffer E (2005) A review of the analysis of vegetable oil residues from fire debris samples: spontaneous ignition, vegetable oils, and the forensic approach. J Forensic Sci 50:1090–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Stauffer E (2005) A review of the analysis of vegetable oil residues from fire debris samples: analytical scheme, interpretation of the results, and future needs. J Forensic Sci 51:1016–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Gambrel AK, Reardon MR (2008) Extraction, derivatization, and analysis of vegetable oils from fire debris. J Forensic Sci 53:1372–1379

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Schwenk LM, Reardon MR (2009) Practical aspects of analyzing vegetable oils in fire debris. J Forensic Sci 54:874–880

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. ASTM E2881-13e1 (2013) Standard test method for extraction and derivatization of vegetable oils and fats from fire debris and liquid samples with analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Baerncopf, J., Thomas, S. (2019). Introduction to Fire Debris Analysis. In: Evans-Nguyen, K., Hutches, K. (eds) Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris and Explosives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25834-4_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics