12//13 Incendiary Fires Knowledge Objectives (1 of 2) Identify incendiary fires and how they may be accelerated and spread. Document evidence regarding origin and cause. Use indicators to develop ignition hypotheses. Record and examine other evidentiary factors. Knowledge Objectives (2 of 2) Identify reasons that may explain away incendiary causes. Recognize the signals for fire setter motives. Skills Objectives (1 of 2) Examine fuel loads and their composition and location to understand fire growth. Recognize the motive(s) for a fire based on the recognized list of motives for fire setters. Skills Objectives (2 of 2) Examine fire protection systems to determine whether they have been altered or sabotaged by an arsonist. Introduction Incendiary fire Deliberately ignited Person knows fire should not be ignited 1
12//13 Incendiary Fire Indicators Multiple fires Trailers Lack of expected fuel load Lack of expected ignition sources Exotic accelerants Unusual fuel load or configuration Burn injuries Incendiary devices Multiple Fires Fires with no obvious connection among them Investigator must determine that fire spread was not natural Avoid being confused by sites of previous fires. Obtain fire history of structure Trailers (1 of 2) Combustible fuels or ignitible liquids used to spread fire May leave distinctive patterns on horizontal surfaces such as floors Determine these patterns do not result from other mechanisms Trailers (2 of 2) Materials that can be used: Ignitible liquids Clothing Paper Straw Courtesy of Joseph Whittaker, Nassau County Fire Marshals Lack of Expected Fuel Load When observable damage is inconsistent with observable fuel load, further investigate. Absence of fuel is not enough to classify as incendiary Low fuel load locations: Corridors, stairways, hallways Vacant homes Lack of Expected Ignition Sources Search debris for burned, melted, or consumed sources. Some areas have limited heat sources: Closets, crawl spaces, attics Examine the fire burned area in its totality. 2
12//13 Exotic Accelerants Mixtures of fuels with Class 3 or 4 oxidizers Thermite mixtures Some oxidizers are capable of self ignition. Indicators of high temperature accelerants (HTAs): Rapid growth rate, brilliant flares, melted steel or concrete Unusual Fuel Load or Configuration Arsonist may move contents or materials together to allow for more rapid fire growth Position of contents prior to fire Fuel type Do not assume that an unusual fuel load or configuration is related to the fire cause. Burn Injuries (1 of 2) Analyze all known burn injuries. Determine relationship to fire ignition and investigative hypothesis Attempt to determine type of burn injury. Burn Injuries (2 of 2) Contact hospitals for identification of recent burn victims. The arsonist may have been burned while setting the fire. E.M. Singletary, M.D. Used with permission. Incendiary Devices (1 of 5) Wide range of mechanisms Most any appliance or heat producing device can be used. Incendiary Devices (2 of 5) Some are constructed as delay devices. Allow fire setter to leave area safely If you find a device that has not activated, do not move it. 3
12//13 Incendiary Devices (3 of 5) Fire setter may try to mask cause of the fire with an obvious appliance Beware of spoliation issues Inspect the building for multiple fires. Examine these areas for debris that may contain delay or other incendiary devices. Incendiary Devices (4 of 5) Note presence of ignitable liquids in area of origin. Accelerants or liquid accelerants Note their location Incendiary Devices (5 of 5) An accelerant sniffing canine (AK 9) may be a useful addition to a fire investigation. Assessment of Fire Growth and Damage Investigate if fire spreads either: More quickly than explained by expected fuel load Beyond area where it would normally be confined Fire growth is related to many variables. Do not use subjective terms. Use of a fire model can be helpful. Potential Indicators Not Directly Related to Combustion (1 of 3) Remote locations with blocked or obstructed view Fires near service equipment and appliances Removal, replacement, or absence of contents prior to fire Useful in establishing fraudulent insurance claim Use corroborated witness statements, inventory, or sales receipts Potential Indicators Not Directly Related to Combustion (2 of 3) Blocked or obstructed entry Sabotage Damage to fire protection systems Improper construction Lack of maintenance System shutdown Equipment or structural assembly failure 4
12//13 Potential Indicators Not Directly Related to Combustion (3 of 3) Sabotage (cont d) Damage to buildings Openings cut in the floors Jammed or barricaded doors or windows Sabotaged fire rated doors, fire dampers, etc. Opening windows and doors To provide additional ventilation to the fire Other Evidentiary Factors (1 of 2) Indicators analyzed after the fire is classified as incendiary Determine whether fire setting is repetitive Serial fire setter or serial arsonist Consider: Geographical or cluster Temporal frequency Materials and methods Other Evidentiary Factors (2 of 2) Motive can include covering another crime Financial stress History of code violations Fires at additional properties under same ownership Overinsured property Timed Opportunity Fire setters may view some conditions as good opportunities for fire setting. Floods, snowstorms, hurricanes Civil unrest Fire department occupied (e.g., parade, false alarm, another fire) Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (1 of 6) Motive is the inner drive or impulse that is the cause, reason, or incentive that induces or prompts a specific behavior. Victimology is a thorough understanding of the offender activity with the victim or targeted property. Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (2 of 6) Three manifestations of offender behavior: Modus operandi (MO): Predominantly applies to serial arsonists. Personation: Arsonist s signature Staging: Alteration of the crime scene 5
12//13 Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (3 of 6) Motive vs. Intent Intent refers to the state of mind that exists at the time the person acts or fails to act. Intent generally necessary to show proof of crime Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (4 of 6) Three classifications of repetitive fire setting behavior Serial arson: 3 or more fires with cooling off period in between them Spree arson: 3 or more fires at different locations with no cooling off period Mass arson: 3 or more fires at the same site during a limited period of time Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (5 of 6) Vandalism Excitement Thrill seeking, attention seeking, recognition (vanity or hero fire setters), sexual perversion Revenge Personal, societal, institutional, or group retaliation Motives for Fire Setting Behavior (6 of 6) Crime concealment Murder or burglary concealment Destruction of records or documents Profit e.g., insurance fraud or an attempt to escape financial obligations Extremism e.g., terrorism, riots, civil unrest Summary (1 of 6) Indicators of incendiary fire include multiple fires, trailers, lack of expected fuel load or ignition sources, exotic accelerants, unusual fuel load or configuration, burn injuries, and incendiary devices. Summary (2 of 6) If a fire spreads more quickly than can be explained by the expected fuel load or beyond the area where it would normally be expected to be confined, then the investigator should look more closely at what contributing factors could have caused this to happen. 6
12//13 Summary (3 of 6) Important to the investigator are obscurations that occur just prior to the fire, such as papercovered/painted windows, or furniture strategically placed in front of exterior openings. Summary (4 of 6) Careful documentation of the remains and the debris may be useful in establishing a fraudulent insurance claim, even in situations in which the fire cause cannot be determined. Summary (5 of 6) A fire setter might sabotage the fire protection systems in order to delay notification to occupants and the fire department. Motive indicators are used in the fire investigation process to help identify potential suspects, not to determine the fire cause. Summary (6 of 6) The NCAVC has identified six motive classifications tied to fire setting behavior: vandalism, excitement, revenge, crime concealment, profit, and extremism. 7