Fire Investigation Origin Determination Survey

Reference Material

Study Performed by:

Andrew Tinsley

Greg Gorbett

Department of Fire and Safety Engineering Technology

Eastern Kentucky University

Purpose: Due to space limitations in most academic publications, the researchers were unable to

provide all details regarding the questions asked and the scenario used to pose the questions. As such,

this document will serve as a reference source to accompany papers in effort to provide the community

with as much information on the project as possible.

Results will be published and provided at the discretion of the researchers.

Part 1: Demographics

1. In what year were you born?

2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

3. How long have you worked as a full time fire investigator (years)?

4. How long have you worked as a part time fire investigator (years)?

5. How many fires have you worked as part (in any role) of an investigation team?

0

1-25

26-50

51-75

76-100

More than 100

6. How many fires have you worked as the lead investigator?

0

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

More than 100

7. Are you currently employed as a public or private investigator (if you are employed as both,

please choose the one that is your main employer)?

Public

Private

8. If you have ever worked as a PUBLIC investigator, how long have you been/were you employed

in that role (years)?

9. If you have worked as a PUBLIC investigator, was your main employer:

Law Enforcement

Fire Department

Fire Prevention Bureau

Other

10. If you have ever worked as a PRIVATE investigator, how long have you been/were you employed

in that role (years)?

11. Have you ever worked as a firefighter?

Yes

No

12. Have you worked as a firefighter? If so, indicate department type. Check all that apply.

Paid

Volunteer

Paid On Call

Not Applicable

13. What was/is your position in the fire service? Check all that apply.

Firefighter

Fire Investigator

Fire Inspector

Fire Chief

Training Officer

Other Officer

Not Applicable

14. What is your highest level of education?

GED (General Education Development)

High School Diploma

Post High School Trade School

Associates Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree (or other advanced degree)

15. If attending/attended college, what was your primary area of study?

Fire Science

Criminal Justice

Fire Protection Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Other Engineering

Public Administration

Forensic Science

Other

16. What certifications do you currently hold? Please check all that apply.

IAAI-FIT (Fire Investigation Technician)

IAAI-CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)

IAAI-ECT (Evidence Collection Technician)

IAAI-CI (Certified Instructor)

CFEI (Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator)

CVFI (Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator)

CFII (Certified Fire Investigation Instructor)

CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist)

PE (Professional Engineer)

ATF-CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)

PI (Private Investigator)

CFO (Chief Fire Officer)

EFO (Executive Fire Officer)

Firefighter I

Firefighter II

Fire Officer I

Fire Officer II

Fire Instructor I

Fire Instructor II

Hazardous Materials Awareness

Hazardous Materials Operations

Hazardous Materials Technician

Fire Inspector I

Fire Inspector II

Fire Investigator

17. Please select any professional organizations you are a member of. Check all that apply.

IAAI (International Association of Fire Investigators)

NAFI (National Association of Fire Investigators)

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)

SFPE (Society of Fire Protection Engineers)

ICAC (Insurance Committee for Arson Control)

AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)

ACJA (American Criminal Justice Association)

IABTI (International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators)

IFE (Institute of Fire Engineers)

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)

ISFSI (International Society of Fire Service Instructors)

IFMA (International Fire Marshals Association)

18. Please select any industry journals/magazines you READ on a regular basis. Check all that apply.

IAAI Fire and Arson

NAFI Fire Investigator

NFPA Fire Technology

Firehouse

Fire/Rescue

SFPE Journal of Fire Protection Engineering

Fire Protection Engineering

Fire Safety Journal

Fire Risk Management

Fire Safety Journal

Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Science

Journal of Forensic Science

19. Please select any conferences/seminars you have attended in the last 5 years.

NAFI International Symposium of Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI)

NAFI/NFPA National Training Seminar

NFPA Conference and Expo

IAAI Annual Training Conference

IAAI State Chapter Training Conference

ICAC Fire and Arson Investigation Training Seminar

Any National Fire Academy (NFA) Course

Public Agency Training Council

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Technical Working Group on Fire and Explosions

20. Have you participated in online training with any of the following Organizations?

CFI Trainer (IAAI)

UL University

Fire Protection Engineering

Pennwell Fire Engineering

21. In an average year, how much formal training related to fire investigation do you receive?

0 hours

1-10 hours

11-20 hours

21-30 hours

31-40 hours

41-50 hours

More than 51 hours

22. Please select any books that you currently own or have immediate access to.

NFPA 921

NFPA 1033

Kirk’s Fire Investigation

Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction

Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation

IFSTA Fire Investigation Text

Any fire dynamics/behavior text

SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering

NFPA Fire Protection Handbook

Ignition Handbook

23. Please rank your self-assessed proficiency in each of the following areas.

Options will be: Very Weak, Weak, Competent, Very Strong, Strong

Areas: Fire Science, Fire Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Thermometry, Fire Dynamics,

Explosion Dynamics, Computer Fire Modeling, Fire Investigation, Fire Analysis, Fire

Investigation Methodology, Fire Investigation Technology, Hazardous Materials, Failure

Analysis and Analytical Tools.

Safety on the Fire Scene

24. Do you use any of the following while investigating a fire scene?

Options will be: Always, Most of the Time, Some of the Time, Never

Hardhat, Safety Glasses, Goggles, Steel Toed Boots, Gloves, Dust Mask, Respirator, Air

Quality Monitor, Latex Booties, Tyvek Coveralls, Ear Plugs

25. How often do you investigate fire scenes by yourself?

Always

Most of the Time

Some of the Time

Never

26. Have you received training on performing a hazard and risk assessment?

Yes

No

27. Do you perform a hazard and risk assessment at all scenes?

Yes

No

28. If so, is the hazard and risk assessment documented in writing or electronically?

Yes

No

29. Are you HAZWOPER certified?

Yes

No

Initial Opinions

Options will be: Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Somewhat Disagree, Strongly Disagree

30. The area of origin determination can be reliably determined through the use of visible damage

only.

31. There is a difference between fire effects and fire patterns.

32. I specifically use fire effects in my analysis.

33. I use geometric shapes for helping you in my determination of the area of origin.

34. I use flame plume shapes to aid in my origin determination (triangular, columnar, conical).

35. I use truncated cone patterns in identifying the area of origin (i.e. V-, U-, Hourglass-shaped

patterns).

36. I typically prepare a heat and flame vector analysis.

37. I think performing a heat and flame vector analysis is helpful.

38. I use comparative lines of demarcation in identifying an area of origin.

39. I use measurable data (i.e. depth of calcination, depth of char).

40. I believe the origin of a fire can be accurately determined using photographs alone.

41. I believe the collection of measurable data is time consuming to collect.

42. I believe the collection of measurable data yields little relevant data.

43. I believe that NFPA 921 is an authoritative document.

44. I believe that NFPA 1033 is an authoritative document.

45. During your scene examination, a fuel item has to be present at the hypothetical area of origin

for the area of origin to be determined?

46. During your scene examination, an ignition source has to be present at the hypothetical area of

origin for the area of origin to be determined?

47. Indicate which of the following items you feel is necessary to collect at MOST fire scenes. Check

all that apply.

Photographs

Physical Dimensions

Diagram of Structure

Witness Statements (if available)

Depth of Calcination

Depth of Char

Arc Mapping

Part 2: Pattern and Effect Identification (See also: Appendix 1)

1. Using the provided photograph, please indicate all fire effects observed. Check all that apply.

Mass Loss

Char

Spalling

Oxidation

Color Changes

Melting

Thermal Expansion and Deformation of Materials

Shiny Char

Deposition of Smoke on Surfaces

Clean Burn

Pour Pattern

Calcination

Window Glass

Collapsed Furniture Springs

Distorted Lightbulbs

Rainbow Effect

Victim Injuries

2. Using the provided photograph, please indicate all fire patterns observed. Check all that apply.

Triangular

Columnar

Conical

V-Pattern

Inverted Cone

Hourglass

U-Shape

Truncated Cone

Pointer and Arrow

Circular

Radial

Irregular

Donut

Linear

Area

Saddle Burns

3. If the fire pattern indicates a direction of fire travel, please indicate below.

Movement to Left

Movement to Right

Movement from Center Out

No Direction

Part 3: Origin Determination – Photographs Only (See also: Appendix 2)

1. After reviewing ONLY the items in the first part of the “investigation book”, which grid most

accurately describes your chosen area of origin? Please choose only one grid without crossing

lines.

There will be a diagram of the room and contents with a grid system overlaid (Appx. 32

Grids). The participants will be allowed to choose only one grid.

2. Did you use fire effects in your analysis?

Yes

No

3. Did you use fire patterns in your analysis?

Yes

No

4. Did you perform a heat and flame vector analysis?

Yes

No

5. How long did it take you to analyze the information to arrive at your area of origin

determination?

0-30 min

30 min-1 hour

1-2 hours

2-3 hours

3 or more hours

6. How confident are you this is the correct area of origin?

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

7. What was your primary consideration in choosing this area of origin? Choose only one.

Fire Effects

Fire Patterns

Heat and Flame Vector Analysis

Greatest Degree of Damage

8. On a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the most, list the value that you placed on the following items

in your consideration for the area of origin determination:

Visible Damage to the Walls

Visible Damage to the Contents

Fire Effects

Fire Patterns

Greatest Degree of Damage

Part 4: Origin Determination – Photos and Measurable Data (See also: Appendix 3)

1. After reviewing all information in both parts of the “investigation book”, which grid most

accurately describes your chosen area of origin? Please choose only one grid.

There will be a diagram of the room and contents with a grid system overlaid (Appx. 32

Grids). The participants will be allowed to choose only one grid.

2. How long did it take you to analyze the information to arrive at your area of origin

determination?

0-30 min

30 min-1 hour

1-2 hours

2-3 hours

3 or more hours

3. How confident are you this is the correct area of origin?

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

4. On a scale from 01-5, with 5 being the highest, list the value that you placed on the following

items in your consideration for the area of origin determination:

Measurable damage to walls

Measurable damage to contents

Visible damage to the walls

Visible damage to the contents

Fire effects

Fire Patterns

Greatest degree of damage

Concluding Opinion

1. As a result of the measurable data, I came up with a different area of origin.

Yes

No

2. What other information would you like to have seen to increase your confidence in your area of

origin determination? Check all that apply.

Fire Modeling

Arc Mapping

Witness Statements

Other

Appendix 1: Photo for Part 2

Appendix 2: Photos for Part 3

Ceiling - East View

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Ceiling - North View

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Coffee Table - East Side

6 of 29

Coffee Table - North Side

7 of 29

Coffee Table - South Side

8 of 29

Coffee Table - Top Side

9 of 29

Coffee Table - West Side

10 of 29

Couch - Left Side

11 of 29

Couch - Right Side

12 of 29

Couch - Top Side

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East Wall

14 of 29

North Wall

15 of 29

South Wall

16 of 29

West Wall

17 of 29

Left End Table - Front Side

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Left End Table - Left Side

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Left End Table - Right Side

20 of 29

Left End Table - Top Side

21 of 29

Right End Table - Front Side

22 of 29

Right End Table - Right Side

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Right End Table - Top Side

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Love Seat - Right Side

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Love Seat - Front

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Love Seat-Left Side

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Furniture Layout - Northeast View

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South Wall-Couch 2 End Tables Coffee Table

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Appendix 3: Photos and Measurable data for Part 4

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2 of 29

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Coffee Table – Depth of Char Measurements All measurements are recorded in millimeters (N=Nothing remaining to measure)

North Side of Coffee Table

South Side of Coffee Table (near couch)

West Side of Coffee Table

East Side of Coffee Table

2

1 1

1

2

1

0

~6”

~6” 1

1

0

2

2 2

4

3

3

1

3

2

2

5 2

5

4

3

2

2

1

1

1 1

2

1

1

0

2

3

2

2 2 2 2

5 4 4 4 4 2

Ceiling - East View

4 of 29

Ceiling - North View

5 of 29

Coffee Table - East Side

6 of 29

Coffee Table - North Side

7 of 29

Coffee Table - South Side

8 of 29

Coffee Table - Top Side

9 of 29

Coffee Table - West Side

10 of 29

Couch - Left Side

11 of 29

Couch - Right Side

12 of 29

Couch - Top Side

13 of 29

East Wall

14 of 29

North Wall

15 of 29

South Wall

16 of 29

West Wall

17 of 29

Left End Table - Front Side

18 of 29

Left End Table - Left Side

19 of 29

Left End Table - Right Side

20 of 29

Left End Table - Top Side

21 of 29

Right End Table - Front Side

22 of 29

Right End Table - Right Side

23 of 29

Right End Table - Top Side

24 of 29

Love Seat - Right Side

25 of 29

Love Seat - Front

26 of 29

Love Seat-Left Side

27 of 29

Furniture Layout - Northeast View

28 of 29

South Wall-Couch 2 End Tables Coffee Table

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