Fire Protection
and Arson
Investigation
Teacher-in-Charge:
John Patrick M. Cañelas, Rcrim
Part-Time Instructor
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce Basic fire and arson investigation practices. Emphasis on fire
behaviour principles related to fire cause and origin determination.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this course the student will:
1. Understand the fire and the chemistry of fire
2. Be familiar with determining the origin and cause of a fire.
3. Understand the methods of collection and analysis of fire scene.
4. Understand the behaviour, causes and classification of fire.
5. Understand the prevention of fire.
6. Be familiar of the fire fighting operation
I. INTRODUCTION
A. IMPORTANCE OF FIRE
Source of warmth and light
Protection against enemies
Cause chemical changes to foodstuffs to suit man’s body structure
Provides processes for modifying chemicals into medicines
Provides heat to convert woods, metals, and bones into domestic tools or instrument for
aggression.
B. HISTORY
Earliest findings regarding use of fire – Kenya and Ethiopia, about 1.5 million years ago.
Evidence exist for deliberate fire in the PALEOLITHIC PERIOD, about 500,00 years
ago.
NEOLITHIC sites have yielded objects that may have been used in fire making drill for
producing friction heat in word and flints for striking sparks from iron pyrites.
Homo Erectus was the first human species to leave equatorial Africa. Many scientist
believed that the use enabled Homo Erectus to adapt to new environment.
C. EARLY METHODS IN PRODUCING FIRE
FRICTION METHOD, Friction raises the temperature of a combustion material
(kindling) ignition temperature.
PERCUSSION METHOD produces a spark to set a kindling fire.
D. IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES and their INVENTIONS
1. JOHN WALKER – English Pharmacist, invented the first match in 1827.
2. ANTOINE LAVOISIER- French Chemist who proved in 1777 that burning is
the result of the rapid union of oxygen with other substance.
3. THOMAS ALVA EDISON- American inventor who was able to send an electric
current through a carbon filament (wire) until the filament became so hot that it
gave off light.
II. THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
A. DEFINITION OF FIRE
Fire is the heat and light that comes from burning substances, produced by
combustion of substances.
It is the manifestation of rapid chemical reaction occurring between a combustible
matter and an oxidizer. This reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light
Burning is also called Combustion.
Fire results from the rapid chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen.
OXIDATION REACTIONS- are reactions that involve oxygen and other
elements.
COMBUSTION- refers to the oxidation reaction that produces fire.
Combustion generates light, heat, gases and soot.
B. THREE(3) ELEMENTS OF FIRE
1. Fuel
-For a fire to start there must be something to burn. The physical state of the fuel
may be gases (natural gas, propane, butane, hydrogen, etc.); Liquids (gasoline,
kerosene, turpentine, alcohol, paint, varnish, lacquer, etc.) or solid (coal, wood,
paper, cloth, grease, etc.)
-Combustible Material
2. Heat
- For a fire to start there must be a source of ignition, usually heat or spark. Heat
sources include: open flame, hot surface, sparks and arcs, friction-chemical
action, electrical energy and compression of gases.
-Ignition Temperature
3. Oxygen
- A source of oxygen is needed. Approximately 16 % is required.
Normal Air contains 21% oxygen. Some fuels contain enough
oxygen within their make up support burning.
- Air is composed of :
-OXYGEN 21%
21% normal oxygen
12% Oxygen- Insufficient to produce fire.
14-15% Oxygen- Can support flashpoint
16-21%- can support fire point
-NITROGEN 78%
-INERT GASES 1%
C. BASIC CONCEPT OF FIRE
- To burn a fuel, its temperature must be raised (increased) until ignition point.
Before a combustible matter starts to burn, it has to be exposed to a certain degree
of temperature.
- When the temperature is very high, it releases highly combustible vapors known
as FREE RADICALS (combustible vapors such as Hydrogen Gas, Carbon
Monoxide, Carbon dioxide, and Nitrogen).
- FLASHPOINT- lowest temperature at which a substance gives off vapor that
burns momentarily when a flame a spark is applied.
- FIRE POINT- as temperature increases, it continuously releases combustible
vapors resulting to sustained burning (combustion), continues to burn even if the
source of ignition is removed.
- AUTO-IGNITION POINT or SELF- IGNITION POINT- the lowest
temperature at which a substance can be heated to release vapors that will ignite
without the application of a flame or spark.
D. . THE FIRE TRIANGLE
THE FIRE TRIANGLE ALL THREE ELEMENTS: FUEL/ AIR / IGNITION MUST BE PRESENT
FOR IGNITION TO OCCUR.
E. THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON
F. TWO (2) BASIC MODES OF FIRE.
1. Surface or Smoldering Mode (GLOWING COMBUSTION)- manifested by
embers, Fire Triangle.
2. Flaming Mode (GAS PHASED COMBUSTION)- Flame, Fire tetrahydron.
FIRE LIFE CYCLE
Input of heat
Fuel
Oxygen
Proportioning
Mixing
Ignition continuity
G. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
Specific Gravity – the ratio of the weight of a solid or liquid substance to the weight of
an equal volume of water.
Vapor density – the weight of a volume of pure gas composed to the volume of dry air at
the same temperature and pressure.
Vapor Pressure – the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of a liquid.
Temperature – the measure of the degree of thermal agitation of molecules.
Boiling Point – the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is
equal to the atmospheric pressure.
Ignition/Kindling temperature – the minimum temperature at which the substance must
be heated in order to initiate combustion.
Fire point – the lowest temperature of a liquid in an open container at which vapors are
evolved fast enough to support combustion.
Flash point – the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a vapor-air mixture that
ignites (mixture with in the explosive range).
H. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE
Endothermic Reactions – changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is added
before the reaction takes place.
Exothermic Reactions – those that release or give off energy (heat) thus they produce
substances with less energy than the reactants.
Oxidation – a chemical change that is exothermic, a change in which combustible
material (fuel) and an oxidizing agent (air), react. Example of oxidation is combustion
which is the same as actual burning (rapid oxidation)
Flames – flames are incandescent (very bright/glowing with intense heat) gases. It is a
combustion product and a manifestation of fire when it is in its gas-phased combustion.
I. PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION
Fire Gases – chemical composition of the fuel, percent of oxygen present, and the
temperature of the fire.
Flame- the luminous body of a burning gas. It is the manifestation of fire when in
its gas phased combustion.
Heat – a form of energy generated by the transmission of some other form of
energy.
COMMON SOURCES OF HEAT
1. Chemical Energy– chemically produced heat is the result of rapid
oxidation.
2. Mechanical Energy – mechanical heat is the product of friction.
The rubbing of two sticks together to generate enough heat is an example.
3. Electrical Energy – electrical heat is the product of arcing,
shorting or other electrical malfunction. Poor wire connections, too much
resistance, a loose ground, and too much current flowing through an
improperly sized wire are other sources of electrical heat.
4. Compressed gas – when a gas is compressed, its molecular
activity is greatly increased producing heat.
5. Nuclear Energy – Nuclear energy is the product of the splitting or
fusing of atomic particles (Fission or fusion respectively). The tremendous
heat energy in a nuclear power plant produces steam to turn steam
turbines.
Smoke- a visible product of incomplete combustion a mixture of a oxygen,
nitrogen, CO1 C02 and finely divided particles released from the burning material
J. FLAME DEFINED
Its is the matter produced by fire. It is composed of burning incandescent gases. It
is the manifestation of fire when the fire is in its gas-phased combustion.
K. PYROLYSIS
The fire consumes the most solid part of the fuel; thermal decomposition of
combustible matter; chemical decomposition of a solid fuel through the action of
heat.
PROCESS OF PYROLYSIS:
1. the fuel is heated until its temperature reaches its fire point,
2. decomposition takes place – moisture in the fuel is converted to vapor,
3. decomposition produces combustible vapors that rise to the surface of the fuel
(free radicals)
4. free radicals undergo combustion.
L. STAGES OF BURNING
1. Incipient Phase (Initial Stage) – beginning stage of fire.
Characteristics:
1. normal room temperature
2. the temperature at the base of the fire is 400-800 F
3. ceiling temperature is about 200 F
4. the pyrolysis products are mostly water vapor and carbon dioxide, small quantities of
carbon monoxide and sulfides maybe present.
2. Free Burning Phase – burning stage whereby materials or structures are burning in
the presence of adequate oxygen supply.
Characteristics:
1. Fire has involved more fuel.
2. Oxygen supply is depleted.
3. Heat accumulates at upper area.
4. Temperature exceeds 1300 degrees F
5. Area is fully involved.
3. Smoldering Phase – burning stage wherein flame ceases but dense smoke and heat
completely fill the confined room.
Characteristics:
1. Flames may die and leave only glowing embers or superheated fuel under pressure
with a little oxygen
2. Intense heat will vaporize lighter fuel components such as hydrogen, methane,
increasing the hazard
3. Temperature throughout the building is very high and normal breathing is not
possible.
4. when sufficient supply of oxygen is introduced, backdraft occurs.
III. THE ELEMENTS OF FIRE
A. FUELS (COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS)
DEFINITION:
FUEL – is matter and matter exist in three physical states : Solid, Liquid and Gas.
Solid – Molecules are closely packed together.
Liquid- Molecules are loosely packed.
Gas- molecules are free to moved.
