Forensics For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 8

Burning Down the House: Is It Arson?

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding the basics of fire

Identifying why arson happens

Using accelerants

Investigating the fire scene

Wiring explosives

Fire is great for roasting marshmallows or cooking a steak, but it wreaks havoc on evidence. Evaluating scenes where fire or explosions have occurred is difficult, at best. This task usually falls to specialized arson investigators, who are trained in suspicious fire analysis. They often face crime scenes where the evidence is severely damaged, if not completely destroyed, by the fire. In addition, the efforts of the firefighters themselves can destroy evidence.

A successful arson investigation overcomes these obstacles to answer two basic questions: Where was the fire’s point of origin, and what was the cause of the fire? The investigator uses physical and chemical evidence to uncover the answers. Based on those findings, the investigator may determine, in general, whether the fire was accidental ...