NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Fire investigation

Forensic science
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Forensic engineering
Fire investigation
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People in Forensics
Edmond Locard
Bill Bass
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Crime scene · CSI Effect
Trace evidence
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Fire investigation, sometimes referred to as origin and cause investigation, is the analysis of fire-related incidents. After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the fire or explosion. Investigations of such incidents are done using a systematic approach and knowledge of basic fire science. Download high resolution version (1760x1164, 1116 KB)Public domain. ... Agents of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division investigate a crime scene Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. ... Forensic pathology is a branch of medicine concerned with determining cause of death, usually for criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. ... Forensic dentistry or forensic odontology, the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence, which will be then presented in the interest of justice. ... Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology (the study of the human skeleton) in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victims remains are more or less skeletonized. ... Forensic entomology is the science and study of insects and other arthropods related to legal investigations. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Forensic psychiatry is a subspeciality of psychiatry. ... A macro shot of a palm and the base of several fingers; as seen here, debris can gather between the ridges. ... Forensic accounting is the specialty practice area of accounting that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or litigation. ... For other uses, see Ballistics (disambiguation). ... Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is one of several specialties in the field of forensic science. ... Forensic genetics refers to the application of genetic science to legal matters. ... Forensic toxicology is the use of toxicology and other disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid medicolegal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use. ... Forensic footwear evidence can be used in legal proceedings to help prove the identities of persons at the crime scene. ... Questioned document examination (QDE) is known by many names including forensic document examination, document examination, diplomatics, handwriting examination, and sometimes handwriting analysis, although the latter name is not often used as it may be confused with graphology. ... Preparing C-4 explosive This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Information Forensics is the science of investigation into systemic processes that produce information. ... The simple definition of computer forensics - Chris L.T. Brown, Computer Evidence Collection and Preservation, 2006 Thus, it is more than the technological, systematic inspection of the computer system and its contents for evidence or supportive evidence of a civil wrong or a criminal act. ... Forensic engineering is the investigation of materials, products, structures or components that fail or do not operate/function as intended, causing personal injury for example. ... Vehicular accident reconstructions are often conducted by specialized units in law enforcement agencies, to answer questions about automobile accidents, such as who was driving, where were the victims seated, were they using seat belts? Through accident reconstruction, rigorous analysis is done, with expert witnesses that can present results in trial. ... Dr. Edmond Locard (1877-1966) was a pioneer in forensic science who became known as the Sherlock Holmes of France. ... Dr. William M. Bass is a U.S. forensic anthropologist, renowned for his research on human osteology and human decomposition. ... A crime scene is a location where an illegal act took place such as molestation, rape or illegal turnip smoking, and comprises the area from which most of the physical evidence is retrieved by [[forensics|forensic scientists] for example the reknowned criminal investigator and skilled forensic scientist, who is unfortunately... The CSI Effect (sometimes referred to as the CSI syndrome) is a reference to the phenomenon of popular television shows such as the CSI franchise, the Law & Order Franchise and Crossing Jordan raising crime victims and jury members real-world expectations of forensic science, especially crime scene investigation and DNA... Trace evidence is evidence that is found at a crime scene in small but measurable amounts. ... Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ... For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ... Fire protection is the prevention and reduction of the hazards associated with fires. ...

1 Investigating fires
2 See also
3 Footnotes
4 References
5 External links

Investigating fires

Fire investigation is one of the most difficult of the forensic sciences to practice. In most forensic disciplines, even the basic question of whether a crime has been committed is normally obvious. During a fire investigation, an entire process must be undertaken just to determine if the case involves arson or not. The difficulty of determining whether an arson fire has occurred or not arises because fires destroy evidence. Agents of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division investigate a crime scene Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. ... The Skyline Parkway Motel in Afton, Virginia after an arson fire on July 9, 2004. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

A fire investigator looks at what is left behind after a fire and obtains information to piece together the events that occurred in the moments leading up to the fire.

One of the challenging aspects of fire investigation is the multi-disciplinary base of the investigator's job. Fires can be caused by or involve most things people see or use. For this reason, fire investigators need to know not only basic science of fire behavior, but knowledge of many different areas of study (including construction, electricity, human behaviour, vehicles etc) is helpful. If the fire origin has, for example, a gas appliance, an investigator should know enough about appliances to either include or exclude it as a possible cause of the fire. Fire investigators must also know their own limitations and call upon experts to assist when needed. Accordingly, fire investigators sometimes work with forensic electrical engineers (when examining electrical appliances, household wiring, etc.) or others skilled in forensic engineering (gas-powered appliances, air handling equipment, gas delivery systems, etc.). Forensic electrical engineering is a branch of forensic engineering, and is concerned with investigating electrical failures and accidents in a legal context. ... Forensic engineering is the investigation of materials, products, structures or components that fail or do not operate/function as intended, causing personal injury for example. ...

Recommended practices

In the United States, fire investigators refer to a guide published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for codes, standards, and suggested practices about conducting fire investigations. The most recent edition of this guide, titled NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, was published in 2004. The information, standards, and practices discussed below are those which appear in NFPA 921. The National Fire Protection Association (established 1896) is an independent, voluntary-membership, nonprofit (tax-exempt) organization. ...

Conducting investigations

Fire investigators conduct their investigations using a systematic approach.^[1] The approach endorsed by the NFPA is that of the scientific method^[2] (for a more detailed discussion, see the article on NFPA 921). There are five components that create a methodology with which fires are investigated using a systematic approach: Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ... NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, is a guide published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). ...

The assignment is received and the investigator is notified of his/her responsibilities^[3]
The investigator plans the investigation and assembles tools, equipment, and personnel^[4]
The scene is examined and data is collected^[5]
Physical evidence is collected, documented, tested, and evaluated^[6]
The scientific method is used to analyze the information obtained^[7]

Licensure

In the USA, some states require that fire investigators obtain certification as a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI). The International Association of Arson Investigators, a professional group of fire investigators, grants CFI certification. The National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), a professional association of fire and explosion investigators, offer several National Board Certified fire investigation certifications, including Certified Fire and Explosion Investigatior (CFEI), Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI), and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII). For more information, please visit their website at http://www.nafi.org. The International Association of Arson Investigators (abbreviated IAAI) is a professional association of individuals who conduct fire investigations. ...

Footnotes

^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
^ NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations

References

(2004) NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, 2004, National Fire Protection Association. ISBN 0-00-653937-8.

External links

The Science of Arson and Fire Investigation: All About Forensic Science Blog Post
High Quality Virtual Tours of Fire Investigation Scenes - Virtual Vision

Categories: Firefighting | Forensics

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