Analysis and Interpretation of Fire Scene Evidence PDF
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Analysis and Interpretation of Fire Scene Evidence José R. Almirall and Kenneth G. Furton © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Analysis and interpretation of fire scene evidence / edited by José R. Almirall and Kenneth G. Furton. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8493-7885-0 1. Fire investigation. I. Almirall, José R. II. Furton, Kenneth G. TH9180.A53 2004 363.37'65--dc22 2003065359 This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the authors and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All rights reserved. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the personal or internal use of specific clients, may be granted by CRC Press LLC, provided that $1.50 per page photocopied is paid directly to Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA The fee code for users of the Transactional Reporting Service is ISBN 0-8493-7885-0/04/ $0.00+$1.50. The fee is subject to change without notice. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying. Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com © 2004 by CRC Press LLC No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 0-8493-7885-0 Library of Congress Card Number 2003065359 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Printed on acid-free paper © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Preface The field of forensic science is a diverse, interdisciplinary field that is rapidly expanding in terms of public interest and importance in the administration of justice. A primary reason for the increasing importance of scientific evi- dence in the courtroom is the increasingly individualizing information being provided by advances in scientific techniques and instrumentation. This book represents the inaugural volume of a new series entitled “Forensic Science Techniques,” which will focus on recent developments in the rapidly expand- ing realm of forensic sciences and emphasize the improvements in the scien- tific techniques utilized. This book focuses on advances in the analysis and interpretation of fire scene evidence used to help solve arson crimes. The word “arson” comes from the Latin ardere, to burn, and the willful setting of fires has been a recognized crime for thousands of years. The earliest attempt by the Romans to create a code of law was the Laws of the Twelve Tables (c. 455 B.C.). This law detailed incendium, the crime of setting any object on fire and resulting in endangering a person’s property. Severe pun- ishments were dispensed to those found guilty of this crime, including the sentence of death possibly by burning alive. Of course, the methods of detect- ing malicious burning of property at that time were rudimentary. Today, the sentences for arson are significantly less severe and the methods for detecting indications of arson are becoming increasingly sophisticated and more selec- tive and sensitive than ever before. This first book in the series focuses on the scientific advances in the analysis and interpretation of fire scene evidence for the investigation of suspicious fires. It is written to assist those who conduct the chemical analysis and interpretation of physical evidence found at the scene of a fire to deter- mine whether there is a presence of ignitable liquid residues (ILRs). The detection and identification of an ILR at the scene of a fire, in and of itself, does not necessarily result in the conclusion that a crime has been committed. The presence of an unexplained ILR at the scene of a fire often does assist the investigation of an arson. Attorneys and judges involved in criminal and civil judicial proceedings may also find the book a useful reference in prep- aration for these types of cases. © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Practicing forensic chemists and students of forensic chemistry will find Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 useful in better understanding the process that occurs before the laboratory analysis of fire scene evidence can begin. The first two chapters are written from the investigator’s point of view to aid chemists and others to better understand basic fire dynamics, ignition, heat transfer, and fire scene investigation techniques. This introduction is impor- tant because forensic chemists must be aware of the actions taken in the field. Scientists and investigators interface at some point in the process of analyte detection, collection, packaging, and transport to the laboratory. Therefore, it is essential that investigators and forensic chemists maintain excellent com- munication and collaboration during the process. The third chapter, entitled “Detection of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Scenes: Accelerant Detection Canine (ADC) Teams and Other Field Tests,” describes the field methods used to identify potential evidence at the scene of a fire suspected as arson. The use of biological detectors (canines) is compared to the use of emerging instrumental field tests. Chapter 4, entitled “Essential Tools for the Analytical Laboratory: Facilities, Equipment, and Standard Operating Procedures,” is useful to those who are interested in the initial organization of a new laboratory and setting up standard operating procedures, as well as for revising existing laboratories and procedures. The next chapter contains a detailed description of the analytical methods used in the detection and characterization of ILRs from fire debris, and the sixth chapter, entitled “ASTM Approach to Fire Debris Analysis,” details the con- sensus standards widely used in the discipline. Chapter 7 deals with the interpretation of the data generated from the analyses and includes helpful suggestions for report writing and testimony in these types of cases. The final chapter summarizes new developments in extraction and analysis that can be used to improve the detection of ILRs in fire debris and describes current quality assurance methods in fire debris analysis. We wish to thank the chapter authors for their expertise and contributions to this volume. We also thank the staff of CRC Press, particularly Becky McEl- downey and Julie Spadaro, for their persistence, patience, and encouragement. We wish to thank the many people who have contributed to our education and success, including our parents, academic mentors, colleagues, and students. Last but by no means least, we wish to thank our families for their support and encouragement even after countless weekends and late nights spent in front of our computers. José R. Almirall, Ph.D. Kenneth G. Furton, Ph.D. Miami, Florida © 2004 by CRC Press LLC The Editors José R. Almirall, Ph.D., is an Assistant Profes- sor in the Department of Chemistry and Bio- chemistry, the Associate Director of the International Forensic Research Institute, and the Director of the Graduate Program in Forensic Science at Florida International Uni- versity in Miami, Florida. He earned a B.S. in chemistry from Florida International Univer- sity, an M.S. in chemistry from the University of Miami, and a Ph.D. in pure and applied chemistry from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. He was a practicing forensic scientist at the Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Laboratory in Miami, Florida, for 12 years prior to his academic appointment in 1998. Dr. Almirall has testified in more than 100 criminal trials as an expert witness in the areas of drugs, trace evidence, and arson evidence analyses. Dr. Almirall has authored or co-authored over 40 publications in the field of analytical chemistry and forensic chemistry and has presented over 140 papers and workshops in the U.S., Europe, Central America, Australia, and Japan. The interests of his research group include the development of analytical methods for the detection and analysis of arson evidence, mate- rials characterizations by a variety of methods, and new applications of mass spectrometry in forensic science. © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Kenneth G. Furton, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Direc- tor of the International Forensic Research Insti- tute at Florida International University (FIU). He earned a B.S. in forensic science at the Uni- versity of Central Florida in 1983, a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at Wayne State University in 1986, and completed postdoctoral studies in nuclear chemistry at the University of Wales, Swansea, in 1988 before becoming a faculty member at FIU. Since then, he has directed the research of scores of undergraduate and gradu- ate students and is the author or co-author of more than 300 publications and presentations. Professor Furton’s research program has focused on forensic science and separation science, including the development of novel sample preparation methods prior to chromatographic analysis. Recent work includes studying the chemical basis of detector dog alerts to forensic specimens. He has testified in county and federal court in areas including drug analysis and the use of canines as chemical detectors. © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Contributors José R. Almirall Gregg A. Hine International Forensic Research Institute and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Explosives Florida International University National Laboratory Center Miami, Florida Ammendale, Maryland Carl Chasteen Perry M. Koussiafes State of Florida Fire Marshal’s Laboratory State of Florida Fire Marshal’s Laboratory Havana, Florida Havana, Florida Reta Newman Julia A. Dolan Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Largo, Florida Explosives National Laboratory Center Ammendale, Maryland Jeannette Perr International Forensic Research Institute and Kenneth G. Furton Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Florida International University International Forensic Research Institute and Miami, Florida Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Florida International University Miami, Florida David T. Sheppard Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Ross J. Harper Explosives National Laboratory Center International Forensic Research Institute and Ammendale, Maryland Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Florida International University Miami, Florida © 2004 by CRC Press LLC Contents Preface The Editors Contributors 1 Fire Dynamics David T. Sheppard 2 Fire Scene Investigation: An Introduction for Chemists Gregg A. Hine 3 Detection of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Scenes: Accelerant Detection Canine (ADC) Teams and Other Field Tests Kenneth G. Furton and Ross J. Harper 4 Essential Tools for the Analytical Laboratory: Facilities, Equipment, and Standard Operating Procedures Carl E. Chasteen 5 Analytical Methods for the Detection and Characterization of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Julia A. Dolan © 2004 by CRC Press LLC 6 ASTM Approach to Fire Debris Analysis Reta Newman 7 The Interpretation of Data Generated from Fire Debris Examination: Report Writing and Testimony Perry M. Koussiafes 8 New Developments and Quality Assurance in Fire Debris Analysis José R. Almirall and Jeannette Perr © 2004 by CRC Press LLC 1 Fire Dynamics DAVID T. SHEPPARD Contents 1.1 What Did the Witness See? 1.2 Fire 1.2.1 Flame Types 1.2.2 Thermochemistry 1.2.3 Heat Release Rate 1.2.3.1 Measuring Heat Release Rate 1.2.3.2 Predicting Heat Release Rate 1.3 Enclosure Fires 1.4 Ignition 1.4.1 Gaseous Ignition 1.4.2 Liquid Ignition 1.4.3 Ignition of Solids 1.4.4 Flame Height 1.5 Fire Plume 1.6 Ceiling Jet 1.7 Heat Transfer 1.7.1 Radiation 1.7.2 Conduction 1.7.3 Convection 1.8 Smoke and Visibility 1.9 Recommended References Notes 1.1 What Did the Witness See? A witness states that he saw the fire while it was still small and before it caused fatalities and destruction. What questions should the investigator ask about the fire itself? What will a fire scientist be able to deduce from the witnesses’ answers to the questions? © 2004 by CRC Press LLC
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