What is the role of forensic chemist in arson investigation?

Forensic chemists analyze the physical and chemical properties of different materials in order to identify them correctly where one or more materials may have similar properties. Using that evidence, forensic chemists can help connect the evidence to the perpetrator of the crime and to the victim.

What are the techniques used as part of an arson investigation?

Their responsibilities include collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and identifying possible suspects. They use different techniques in their investigations to ultimately make a determination of the cause. These techniques include collecting physical evidence and processing that evidence in a laboratory.

How does being a fire investigator use the scientific method?

Based on the data analysis, the investigator produces a hypothesis, or hypotheses, to explain the phenomena, whether it be the nature of fire patterns, fire spread, identification of the origin, the ignition sequence, the fire cause, or the causes of damage or responsibility for the fire or explosion incident.

How do Arson investigators analyze evidence?

Fire and arson investigators examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene. During the scene examination, investigators may find evidence such as accelerants, tampered utilities, and specific burn patterns, which may indicate criminal activity.

Do Arson investigators use chemistry?

Chemistry Matters provides scientific support for all phases of an arson investigation: Creating a chemical fingerprint to identify ILR source and to match across evidence.

How is chemistry used in crime investigation?

Chemistry is vital in forensic science. With chemistry, forensic scientists can paint a picture of what happened, sometimes on a molecular level. Chemical analysis can reveal how long ago a person died, which gunshot the fatal bullet, and where the tape that tied them up was manufactured.

What is the most important step in conducting an arson investigation?

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). Conduct a scene examination in accordance with NFPA 921 and other guidelines.

What are the five components using a systematic approach with which fires are investigated?

as fire patterns, direct observations, measurements, documentation such as photography, evidence collection, testing, experimentation and witness interviews.

Is fire investigation a science?

After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the fire or explosion. Investigations of such incidents require a systematic approach and knowledge of basic fire science.

What are the kinds of evidence that are commonly present in arson cases?

They include:

• Burn pattern: multiple origins or unusual origin location.
• Presence/absence, and/or condition of ignition key.
• Ignition lock/switch condition.
• Accelerants in unexpected location(s)
• Missing accessories, components, or personal property.
• Components that have been tampered with.
• Evidence of forced entry.

What is chemistry of fire?

Fire is a chemical reaction in which energy in the form of heat is produced. When forest fuels burn, there is a chemical combination of the oxygen in the air with woody material, pitch and other burnable elements found in the forest environment. The Combustion process releases this heat.

What does a fire and arson investigator do?

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.

How do I determine if a fire has been started by an arsonist?

To determine if a fire has been started by an arsonist, the arson investigator needs to begin examining a fire scene for signs of arson as soon as the fire has been extinguished. Looking for accelerants is the first step.

How do we distinguish arson from other forms of fire?

So now we know how a fire works chemically and how to extinguish a fire by combating those properties that make it burn, but how do we distinguish arson from other forms of fire? Arson is the criminal setting of a fire to commit at least vandalism and at worst murder or even mass murder. Arson is difficult to investigate for three main reasons:

How does the arsonist plan out the arson attack?

The arsonist can plan out the arson well in advance and bring all the tools needed to commit the act with him/her. The arsonist does not need to be present at the time of the act. The fire itself destroys evidence tying the arsonist to the crime.