Forensic Evidence Collection - National Fire Academy downloads

650 Pages·2016·13.55 MB·English

Fire Investigation:
Forensic Evidence
FI: FE-Student Manual
3rd Edition, 1st Printing-July 2016
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Fire Investigation:
Forensic Evidence
FI: FE-Student Manual
3rd Edition, 1st Printing-July 2016
This Student Manual may contain material that is copyright protected. USFA has been
granted a license to use this material only for NFA-sponsored course deliveries as part of the
course materials, and it shall not be duplicated without consent of the copyright holder.
States wishing to use these materials as part of state-sponsorship and/or third parties
wishing to use these materials must obtain permission to use the copyright material(s) from
the copyright holder prior to teaching the course.
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FIRE INVESTIGATION: FORENSIC EVIDENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................. iii
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................. v
Course Goal ....................................................................................................................................................... vii
Audience, Scope and Course Purpose ............................................................................................................... vii
Grading Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... vii
Schedule ............................................................................................................................................................ ix
Firefighter Code of Ethics ................................................................................................................................. xiii
A Student Guide to End-of-course Evaluations ................................................................................................. xv

UNIT 1: COURSE OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... SM 1-1

Appendix: Forensic Evidence Collection Kit — Inventory Sheet 8/2/14 and Student
Activity/Skills Assessment

UNIT 2: COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF IGNITABLE LIQUIDS ................................. SM 2-1

UNIT 3: OTHER IGNITABLE LIQUID SAMPLING TOOLS ................................................ SM 3-1

UNIT 4: AN OVERVIEW OF THE ANALYSIS OF FIRE DEBRIS FOR
IGNITABLE LIQUIDS .................................................................................................. SM 4-1

Appendix A: Comparing Gasoline to an Unknown
Appendix B: Ignitable Liquid Classifications

UNIT 5: COLLECTING FORENSIC EVIDENCE OTHER THAN IGNITABLE
LIQUIDS IN FIRE SCENES .......................................................................................... SM 5-1

Appendix: Instructions for Use of Gypsum Products

UNIT 6: POST-MORTEM AND TOXICOLOGY ...................................................................... SM 6-1

UNIT 7: SAMPLE PRESENTATION OF DOWNRANGE EXERCISE .................................. SM 7-1

Appendix A: Scenarios 1-4
Appendix B: Photo Log
Appendix C: Evidence Transmittal Form

UNIT 8: EVIDENCE AND THE ISSUES AFFECTING IT IN THE SCENE .......................... SM 8-1

UNIT 9: ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A FORENSIC REPORT ...................................... SM 9-1

Appendices

Acronyms

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FIRE INVESTIGATION: FORENSIC EVIDENCE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The development of any National Fire Academy (NFA) course is a complex process aimed at providing students
with the best possible learning opportunity we can deliver.

There are many players in course development, each of whom plays an equally important part in its success. We
want to acknowledge their participation and contribution to this effort and extend our heartfelt thanks for making
this quality product.

The following people participated in the creation of this course:

Robert A. Neale
Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy
Emmitsburg, Maryland

Lee Vogtman
Instructional Systems Specialist
U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy
Emmitsburg, Maryland

Danielle Jolly
McKinley Group Instructional Designer
Rockville, Maryland

Carl Chasteen
Chief of Forensic Services
Havana, Florida

Thomas Petty
Senior Inspector/Outreach Coordinator/K-9 Handler
Houston, Texas

Jess Dunn
Criminalist
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Ankeny, Iowa

Sharee Booke Wells, M.S., F-ABC
Lab Director/Senior Forensic Scientist
Forensic and Scientific Testing
Thorsby, Alabama

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FIRE INVESTIGATION: FORENSIC EVIDENCE
COURSE GOAL

The goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and tools used to identify requirements for the
“Fire Investigation: Forensic Evidence” (FI: FE) course (R0214). FI: FE is a six-day, intermediate-level course that
addresses the critical skills essential to the effective collection, packaging, preservation, processing and testing of
evidence from a fire and/or explosion scene. This course uses state-of-the-art techniques, practices, protocols and
standards for both the investigator and the laboratory scientist, ensuring legally defensible evidence presentations in
a court of law. This course also addresses the interaction and collaboration between fire/arson investigators and
laboratory scientists. This partnering encourages collaborative efforts of the entire investigative community involved
in all aspects of evidence from fire and explosion incidents.

AUDIENCE, SCOPE AND COURSE PURPOSE

This course is designed to better prepare federal, state and local fire service and law enforcement personnel to apply
FI: FE principles and practices to effectively identify, document, collect and submit evidence for laboratory analyses
to support their arson cases in court. It will also provide necessary knowledge regarding the use of outside resources
and the proper presentation of cases that are based on physical evidence other than ignitable liquid (IL) evidence.
Students should have completed “Fire Investigation: Essentials” (FI: E) course (R0206) or an equivalent as approved
by the training specialist.

GRADING METHODOLOGY

Final examinations will be administered for the purpose of gauging knowledge gained. Upon completion of the
course, credit will be notated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Knowledge Center.

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