Fire spread depends on the principal methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation and direct burning.

Most of the time, this is accomplished by cutting an opening in the roof and refraining from opening any windows or doors on or below the fire floor until conditions have changed. This means that no search and rescue can occur and no water is being put on the fire until the vertical ventilation can be completed.

Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the “fire triangle.” Add in the fourth element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire “tetrahedron.” The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.

Ways to prevent fire incidents:

1. Avoid unattended or careless use of candles. No open flames are allowed inside any Tufts University building.
2. Keep BBQ grills at least 10 feet from the house.
3. Do not disable smoke or CO detectors.
4. Do not smoke indoors.
5. Do not leave your cooking unattended.

Some common signs of arson include:

• Evidence of multiple sites of ignition.
• Lines of accelerant residue indicating it was poured from space to space in the structure.
• The majority of the burning taking place at the floor rather than the ceiling.

Common Signs of Arson

• A large amount of damage.
• No “V” burn pattern present, unsual burn patterns and high heat stress.
• Lack of accidental causes.
• Evidence of forced entry.
• Absence of valuable items.
• The same person shows up at unconnected fires.
• Low burning point with unidentifiable point of origin.
• Multiple points of origin.

Types of arson motives identified are (1) pyromania, 10.1 percent; (2) revenge, 52.9 percent; (3) vandalism, 12.3 percent; (4) insurance fraud, 6.55 percent; (5) welfare fraud, 6.55 percent; (6) the psycho firesetter, 8.7 percent; and (7) crime concealment, 2.9 percent.

The first step in a fire investigation is the preliminary scene examination/size-up. For best results, a trained fire investigator should be notified about and respond to serious fires or possible arson fires immediately after fire apparatus is dispatched.

Arson is also a difficult crime to investigate because of its destructive nature (Saferstein, 2004), and this also calls for a great deal of training and knowledge on the part of those who seek to research the act and catch the actor.

Within this process, the NIJ states that investigators should “identify, collect and preserve evidence; prevent evidence contamination, package and transport evidence, and establish and maintain the chain of custody.” Identifying, collecting, and preserving the evidence means that investigators have to physically sift …

Fire marshals, fire inspectors, and fire investigators are responsible for conducting detailed investigations and analysis beyond the initial determination of fire origin and cause.

In California, a conviction for arson of property that is not one’s own is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison. Aggravated arson, which carries the most severe punishment for arson, is punishable by 10 years to life in state prison.

Fire and arson investigators examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene. This evidence is then analyzed to help determine if the cause of the fire was accidental or deliberate.

These elements of arson include (1) the malicious, (2) burning, (3) of a dwelling, (4) belonging to another.

As with most occupations, the salary for arson investigators can depend largely on experience, performance, location, organization, and specialization. The shifts that an investigator works can affect salaries as well.

The investigator should: Identify a distinct origin (location where the fire started) and an obvious fire cause (ignition source, first fuel ignited, and circumstances of the event that brought the two together).

Arson and fire investigators generally work for local, state, or federal law enforcement or firefighting agencies. Arson and fire investigators with experience and a graduate degree, such as a master’s degree, may move into advanced positions such as supervisor.

Arson as a state crime 1 Although arson is generally a felony, many state laws include different degrees of severity depending on the defendant’s intent, how the fire or explosion was caused, and whether the fire or explosion resulted in physical injury or death.

Safety requirements may require that cleanup and salvage operations begin quickly. Accelerants in soil may rapidly degrade. Arson investigators must work quickly to collect evidence at a fire scene because any accelerant residues may evaporate within a few days or even hours.