Knowledge of the science behind fires is critical to understanding a fire’s cause and successfully presenting that determination to the authorities or in litigation. Now in its second edition, Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation focuses on the practical application of scientific principles to determine the causes of fires. Uniquely qualified with years of experience in on-site investigations, lab analyses, and courtroom presentation, the author provides a resource that is unparalleled in depth and focus.
The book explores:
The history of fire investigation and the basic chemistry and physics of fire
The science of fire dynamics—how things burn and how they interact with their surroundings while doing so
Practical procedures for conducting fire scene inspections
Laboratory examination of fire debris to test for the presence of ignitable liquid residues and for potential ignition sources
Relevant scientific principles as applied to 30 actual fires
The evolution of the mythology of arson investigation
The common root causes of errors in fire investigation
The final chapter discusses the professional practice of fire investigation. It examines quality assurance, business practices, and the fundamentals of being an expert witness, with advice for giving testimony in depositions and at trial. Other highlights of the second edition include new and expanded discussions on novel training methods, first assumptions, computer fire modeling, low voltage ignition sources, the questionable validity of some origin determinations, and recent changes in NFPA 921.
Thorough and accessible, this volume not only provides the practical information necessary to conduct an effective inquiry but also offers insight into the science, history, and theory behind what makes fire investigation a multi-faceted profession.
John Lentini discusses the book in a video on the CRC Press YouTube Channel.
Contents
Fire and Science
Introduction
Argument versus nt
Fire and the Enlightenment
Scientific Approach to Fire Investigation
Modern Fire Analysis
NFPA 921
NFPA 1033
CFITrainer.net
Science, Law, and Law Enforcement
Chemistry and Physics of Combustion
Fire and Energy
Basic Chemistry
States of Matter
Behavior of Gases
Stoichiometry and Flammable Limits
Behavior of Liquids
Behavior of Solids
Fire Dynamics and Fire Pattern Development
Introduction
Ignition
Self-Heating and Spontaneous Ignition
Chemical Ignition
Smoldering Ignition
Flames
Flammability
Compartment Fires
Plume Pattern Development
Ventilation Pattern Development
Penetrations through Floors
Horizons, Movement, and Intensity Patterns
Clean Burn
Electrical Patterns
Fire Modeling
Fire Investigation Procedures
Recognize the Need
Presumption of Accidental Cause: The Nu...
