Why Fires/Arson should be investigated?

Two reasons:
To determine the cause
To prevent similar occurrence
The determination of the origin and cause of fire is arrived at only after a
thorough investigation. Since basic investigation is a prelude to the discovery
of the true cause, an understanding on the chemistry of fire and its
attendant behaviour should be a concern for successful investigation.
Not all fires burn in the same manner because:
Each fire has its source of kindling material and property
Each fire, in its burning process, is influenced by its environment
Who Are Qualified to Investigate Fires?
A fire investigator should have the following traits
Should possess knowledge of investigation techniques
Should have an insight of human behaviour
Should have a firsthand knowledge of the chemistry of fire and fire
behaviour
Should be resourceful

Complexity of Fire Investigation

While fire investigation generally follows the principles of crime
investigation, it is more unique and complex than other police inquiry. It is
more unique in the sense that fire destroys evidence.
THREE KINDS OF ORIGIN OF FIRE
The Philippine Supreme Court recognize the following as the origin of
fires:
Providential Fires are caused by act of God, like lightning
fires and erupting volcanoes. They cannot be controlled nor
prevented by man.
Accidental Fires are caused mostly by human negligence
and human errors, such as smoking in bed, leaving
plugged electrical appliances like flat irons, air-conditioning
units, and defective LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
containers.
Intentional Fires are those set on purpose with a motive,
legally classified as arson or incendiarism, such as burning
a structure for insurance or to cover up another crime.
THREE ELEMENTS OF FIRE

FUEL- is probably the most important part of the fire triangle, for fuel is
what burns. Therefore, the nature and properties of fuel become essential
information. Fuel comes in three forms tabulated as follows:
FUELS
CHARACTERISTICS
EXAMPLES
1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gaseous

Have definite volume and Paper, rugs, etc.

shape
Have definite volume but no Gasoline, etc.
shape
Have no volume and shape
Neon gas, etc.

OXYGEN - the second element of fire is generally everywhere; it is a

colourless, tasteless and odourless gas in the earths atmosphere which is
vital to human life and fire. Its chemical symbol is O.
HEAT - The third element is the ignition heat. Heat is any device to
start a fire. It can be a safety match, a lighted candle, or the more
sophisticated forms such as chemicals, electrical, mechanical, or electronic
contrivance diabolically designed to start a blaze.
HOW DOES A FIRE START?
A person who wants to start a fire should have in his possession
two of the three elements of fire a piece of paper (representing fuel) and a
safety match (representing ignition heat) ready to fire. The third element
(oxygen) need not be produced because it is virtually all around him.
PYROLYSIS
The chemical process whereby fire consumes most solids is called
Pyrolysis.

Most solid organic compounds, such as wood, plastics, or

charcoal do not burn- they actually pyrolyze.
FIRES SPREAD AND HEAT IS TRANSFERRED BY THREE METHODS:
Conduction, Radiation, Convection
CONDUCTION refers to the passage of heat energy from particle to
particle in a substance. Heat travels by conduction through solids or between
solids in contact with each other.
RADIATION simply refers to the process in which energy in the form of
rays of light, heat, ., is sent out from the atoms and molecules as they
undergo internal change. Radiation (or DARANG, in Tagalog)
Heat travels by CONVECTION by moving from one molecule to
another, creating a thermal column of fire called convection currents
which circulates and rise and may produce fire balls (ALIPATO in Tagalog), a
phenomenon usually generated by a very intense fire.

THREE PHASES OF FIRE

A fire is usually considered to consist of stages or phases:
A. Initial or incipient, B. Free burning, C. Smouldering
B. In the INCIPIENT phase, the base area of the fire has a
temperature of 400 to 800 F. The room has a normal temperature,
and as the heat from the fire rises, the ambient temperature cools it
until the ceiling temperature is about 200F.
C. In the FREE BURNING phase, as the fire continues to burn and
build up heat, the burning process accelerates. The thermal column
of fire begins to develop and the heat rises. The temperature in the
base area of the fire may reach 800 F - 1000 F, and at the
ceiling, 1200 F to 1600 F. If the fire is in the vicinity of a wall, the
rising pattern of the thermal column begins to be apparent on the
wall.
D. SMOULDERING PHASE-Fire consumes oxygen. Should the air and
oxygen become exhausted in the area of the fire, other changes
take place in fire behaviour. When the oxygen content drops to 13%,
the fire begins to smolder (nagbabaga) because the fire can no
longer support the flames.
THE ROLE OF FIREMEN
Firemen who usually arrive at the fire scene ahead of fire investigators
are valuable sources of information. They are, so to speak, the eyes and
ears of the police and arson investigator, before, during and after the fire
has been placed under control.